Do You Know How to Remove Mold Stains From Your Hardwood Floors?

If you have hardwood floors in your home, count yourself among they blessed. These floors are not only lovely they are also extremely practical. Wood floors are good under all types of weather conditions and known to last a very long time when properly cared for and maintained. For many, this is the area that gets a little gray. Even those who are very careful about water on their wooden floors have been known upon occasion to have mold develop.

Flowerpots are the primary culprit when it comes to exposing your wood to unattended moisture issues that often lead to mold and/or mildew on your hardwood floors. Even the smallest of leaks if not properly and immediately cared for can cause big problems when it comes to your hardwood floors. Most of the time the damage beneath the pot is fairly extensive by the time you realize the damage has been done.

The good news (if you can believe there is good news in a situation like this) is that this is not damage that is permanent. With a little work and the proper information this problem can be repaired. In most cases, if your floor is finished, the mold can be removed and you will find that only the finish of your floor is actually damaged.

Your first step is to find a scraper (these can be found at local hardware stores, often in the paint supply department). While size isn't the most important feature of this scraper, 8 inches wide is a good start. Pull the scraper along the grain of the wood and adjust your pressure so that the edge of the scraper is in contact with the finish of your floor. Be careful that you do not dig too deep with this tool or your will run the risk of damaging your floors.

You will also need a 180 grit sanding sponge that is designed especially for the purpose of finish removal. Then you should sand along the grain until all of the mold is removed. If it seems that you are not able to remove every particle of mold with the sanding sponge, you can use a mild dilution of Clorox on the area to be finished. However, when using this method you should take care to be cautious as not to further damage the flooring.

Once you've finished sanding and bleaching, sand again--this time with 200 grit sand paper. Then you should touch up the finish with the same finish, if possible, that was used on the remainder of the floor, if you can't find an exact match you should go with the closest possible match.

To prevent this type of problem, be sure that all your potted plants have proper drainage and that there are no pots leaking onto your flooring. In fact, all liquid spills should be quickly and properly cleaned up as they occur. These small steps will safeguard and prolong the magnificence and lifetime of your beautiful hardwood flooring.

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