Water damage on a hardwood floor can ruin the appearance of an entire room. This is especially true if the stain occurs somewhere that is difficult to hide with furniture or a rug, such as the water rings left by an overwatered plant right in front of a window. The following guide can help you fix the damage so that the floor looks like new again.

Assess the damage

Water stains come in two varieties – black and white. Black stains occur when the water has been sitting on the floor unnoticed for awhile, so it has seeped beneath the finish and into the wood itself and discolored it. White stains occur when the water only penetrates into the finish but not into the wood. The white color is a result of moisture separating the layers of the finish. This is the easier stain to remove.

Dry the water

Simply drying out the finish may be sufficient for removing white stains. If the stain is fresh, use a blowdryer on the low setting to evaporate the moisture out of the spot. Often the stain will fade as the warm air speeds drying.

For white stains that are older or a bit more stubborn, your clothing iron can fix the problem. Simply lay a dry white cloth over the stain and press the hot iron on top for a few seconds. Then lift, check the stain, and repeat. The stain will begin to fade as the heat draws out and dries the water in the finish. Just don't leave the iron in place for long, since it can damage the wood if overheating occurs.

Try some bleach

Black stains are more difficult to remove since they are deeper in the wood. You may be able to bleach out the damage using a wood bleach. You will have to mix the bleach according to the package instructions and then apply it over the stain. It is usually left in place for several hours before it is removed.

The bleach will lighten the wood considerably, so you will need to restain the area to match the surrounding floor. To do this, apply thin coats of stain to the area as soon as the wood dried. Continue to add one coat at a time, allowing it to dry completely, until the damaged area blends in with the surrounding floor.

Consider refinishing

In some cases refinishing the entire floor is the best solution. A refinishing contractor can sand down your hardwood floor. This may remove the stain entirely if it is only in the finish or if it only penetrated slightly into the wood. For deeper dark stains, opting for a refinishing stain in an even darker color can help camouflage the damage. In severe cases, your contractor may be able to remove the stained board and replace it with a new one or even flip it over to reveal the undamaged side.

For more help, talk to a flooring contractor in your area such as Kenton Carpet - Hardwood Floor Care.

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