How do you remove dark stains from hard wood floors?

Answer 1

As opposed to you or others commiting murder, most dark stains are water related and the damage can be beyond repair...like thru and thru....rent a good floor sander and SEE how bad it is. If its old live with it, if its new try to replace the damaged area, if it bothers you put an oriental carpet over it....

I live in a 125, yer old home with LOTS of neglect and damages....the above is what I have done to cope!

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Sadly a refinish will not cure the problem. Such stains are usually caused by pets and the urine stains trough the grain completely. One option would be to swap the affected strips with some from a less visible area such as a walk in closet as I assume they're located near a corner. This will eliminate the stains but will require a complete sand and refinish and that, along with the labor of swapping boards would be quite expensive. Using new wood is not an option as the difference in color is almost impossible to compensate for and isn't worth exploring.
Another option is to diminish the visual impact by having a darker stain applied rather than go with a typical natural finish. Of course this would entail a complete refinish as well but would be far less expensive than the first option.
So in the end it will cost money to do anything. You don't say whether they are poly coated or waxed floors but either way I'd consult some hardwood floor specialists in your area. They will be more than happy to come give you a quote (for free!) but make sure you go get more than one and always from someone with a good reputation and references as substandard work can sometimes entail complete replacement, usually right after your contractor files for bankruptcy! Good Luck.

Answer 3

If you have one of those beautiful old oak floors that has a dark stain where Grandma kept the potted plant for years, stripping and refinishing alone won't do it if you want perfect results. Those stained areas have to be cut out and replaced with a matching grade of oak. There are 4 grades, clear, #1,#2 and #3 and two commom types, red oak and white oak. Most wood flooring companies have DIY departments, but unless you have a lot of time and excellent woodworking skills, you'd better get a wood flooring contractor.

Answer 4

Refinish the floor

Answer 5

I'm afraid to answer, for fear that I would be aiding and abetting, but if its non-blood stains, about all you can do is strip and refinish