Renewal & Repairs
Unlike most other floor covering options, wood
is very forgiving. Most problems can be prevented
with proper maintenance, but when problems do occur,
renewal and repair usually is possible. For renewing
and repairing stains and scratches on any wood floor,
always begin at the outer edge of the stain or scratch
and work toward the middle.
To renew or repair a wood floor, you first will
need to determine which kind of finish is on your
floor.
Wax Floors
If the stain or scratch has penetrated the surface
and is in the wood, you are dealing with a wax-finished
floor.
Stains
How you tackle renewing and repairing stains depends
on the type of stain.
* Chewing Gum, Crayon,
Candle Wax
Apply a plastic bag filled with ice until the deposit
is brittle enough to crumble off. Crayon or candle
wax can be removed by placing an ink blotter on
the area and applying a hot pressing iron to the
top of the blotter. Solvent-based wax also can be
applied around the area to loosen the deposit.
* Cigarette Burns
If the burn is not very deep, rub the area with
fine sandpaper or steel wool. Moisten the steel
wool with wax for better results. If the burn is
deep, scrape the area with a penknife to remove
charred fibers. Rub the area with fine sandpaper.
Stain, wax and hand buff.
* Dark Spots, Dog
Spots, Ink Stains
Rub spot with #000 steel wool. Wax the affected
area. If this fails, lightly sand the area with
fine sandpaper, and clean it using #00 steel wool
and mineral spirits or a wood floor cleaner . Allow
the floor to dry. Stain, wax and hand buff. If the
spot remains, apply a household bleach or vinegar
and allow it to soak for an hour. Rinse with a damp
cloth, wipe dry and smooth with fine sandpaper.
Stain, wax and hand buff.
* Dried Milk, Food
Stains
Gently rub the stain with a damp cloth. Rub the
area dry and wax.
* Mold
Rub with a wood cleaner.
* Oil, Grease Stains
First rub the area with kitchen soap having a high
lye content, or saturate cotton with hydrogen peroxide
and place over the stain. Then saturate a second
layer of cotton with ammonia and place over the
first layer. Repeat until stain is removed. Let
the area dry and then hand buff.
* Water Stains,
White Spots
Rub spot with #000 steel wool. Wax the affected
area. If this fails, lightly sand the area with
fine sandpaper, and clean it using #00 steel wool
and mineral spirits or a wood floor cleaner . Allow
the floor to dry. Stain, wax and hand buff.
* Wax Build Up
Strip the old wax away with odorless mineral spirits
or a wood floor product made for stripping wax.
Use cloths and fine steel wool to remove all residue.
After the floor is dry, wax and buff.
Scratches
To renew and repair scratches, wax the area thoroughly.
* Heel Marks
Rub in a small amount of wax with fine steel wool
and hand buff to a shine.
Surface Finished Floors
If the stain or scratch has penetrated the finish
only and is not in the wood, you are dealing with
a surface finished floor.
Stains
* Chewing Gum, Crayon,
Candle Wax
Apply a plastic bag filled with ice on top of the
stain until it is brittle enough to crumble off.
Clean the area with a product made for urethane
finishes.
* Cigarette Burns
Most common burns can be treated with a touch-up
kit made for urethane finishes. Rub with sandpaper,
stain and refinish. For burns that reach deep into
the wood, individual plank or parquet boards may
need to be replaced.
* Food, Water, Dark
Spots, Dog Spots
Use a cleaner developed specifically for urethane
finishes to remove the spot or stain. More stubborn
spots may require additional scrubbing with the
cleaner and a wood flooring scrub pad made for urethane
floors.
* Oil, Grease Stains
Rub the area with a cleaner developed for urethane.
Scratches
* Repair with a touch-up kit made for urethane
finishes available from any wood flooring retailer.
|
