How can I remove oily stains from my light hardwood floors, or do I need to refinish them to prevent future staining?
Asked by Jeppe Kryger 
3 months ago
Last Updated: August 17, 2024
I recently moved into a new spot with these light hardwood floors. It’s driving us crazy because any little bit of grease that drops on them leaves a stain right away. We’ve tried a bunch of stuff but nothing seems to work. Any suggestions on how to remove these oily stains? Should we just consider refinishing them to avoid this issue in the future?
I have a feeling they’re stained and not sealed because that’s unusual. Have you tried wiping the stain with a spray and a rag to see if it comes off?
Seems like it might be stained without a sealant. Maybe it would be a good idea to have a hardwood refinisher check it out.
Can baking soda absorb the oil?
Water-based finishes are likely to stain easily if something is spilled on them.
So, I learned that if you accidentally spill grease or oil on the floor, you can usually clean it up with soap and water. Castile soap works best because of its high lye content, but dish soap can also do the trick. Just mix an ounce of soap in a quart of warm water and use it to clean the affected area. For tough grease stains, try rubbing the spot with a cotton swab soaked in peroxide first, followed by one soaked in ammonia. Removing dye that has seeped into the wood is a bit like getting rid of black water stains. After sanding off the finish, use chlorine bleach to remove the dye, making sure to rinse with water before reapplying the finish.
Just give it a gentle wipe down with Dawn dish soap and warm water
I don’t see any polyethylene coating on them. If it’s there, it’s not apparent. Even if there’s a water-based poly, this issue shouldn’t occur.