How can I safely remove carpet padding stains from my 80-year-old hardwood floors without refinishing them and potentially losing their original color?
Asked by پارمیس سالاری 
3 months ago
Last Updated: August 25, 2024
What can I use to get rid of the stain left by the carpet padding on my hardwood floors? The floors have been cleaned since we removed the carpet, pad, and tacking strip, so I don’t think it’s leftover padding. It seems like the padding stained the floors in the whole house. I really don’t want to refinish them since they’re 80 years old and I love the current color. Plus, I’m concerned about matching the color if I refinish them. The house was built in 1944. Any suggestions for other options?
If denatured alcohol isn’t doing the trick, give peroxide a shot. And if peroxide still doesn’t do the job, it might be time to refinish those floors. Once you’ve sanded them down, consider using a natural stain for a beautiful finish that you can easily do yourself.
If the marks are stuck in the wood, your best bet is to sand the floor down to get rid of the discoloration.
I would leave it as it is! It looks fantastic and really stands out, especially if it covers the entire surface.
No need to hesitate about refinishing. We recently refinished these floors that are nearly 80 years old, and they turned out beautifully.
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Is absolutely stunning. I totally agree about the need for refinishing. Our floors are over 60 years old and could use some sprucing up.
I think the stain is on the finish, not the actual wood. You can try a mixture of distilled white vinegar and water to clean it, just leave it on for a few minutes and then wipe it off with a microfiber cloth. Just be careful if it’s shellac or varnish.
You should consider renting a sander to refinish the whole floor – it will turn out great! Just be careful not to let the sanding wheel dig a hole in the floor too quickly. Remember to lift it! It’s not too difficult to do with that in mind.
Our floors look identical! I removed the carpet a couple of years back and the stains faded on their own in a few months. I just vacuumed regularly every other day.
The finish has worn off due to the pad, it’s not a stain. I had a similar issue at my mom’s place. We rented a floor sander, just removed the varnish, and refinished the floors. They looked great in the end.
Try using Murphy’s Oil Soap to clean a specific area where the rubber pad has removed oils from the finish.
Have you ever considered using a ‘restore-a-finish’ product like the one made by Howard’s? It works great with a medium-coarse synthetic pad, just make sure to always rub in the direction of the wood grain. And by the way, I have tons of experience in residential historic restoration! 👍
My daughter just purchased a new house and decided to remove the carpets. To her surprise, she found some pretty gnarly stains on the original hardwood floors. She had them refinished to match the original color, only to discover that there was no color – just a clear finish that had darkened over time. The before and after pictures are incredible!
Russell is looking fabulous! We’ve had floors refinished in other homes before, but we’re trying to steer clear of that route this time around.