Bleach is one of the most beloved cleaning materials in the world. It cleans out any impurities from most objects we regularly use, which is awesome.
However, we all know that bleach can cause damage and discoloration to certain materials. Hardwood floors are one of them.
So, how do you successfully clean up the bleach spills on the hardwood floor?
While bleach is one of the best cleaning agents, it is known to discolor hardwood floors.
This is why acting fast if bleach spills on your hardwood floor are important. The damage might become permanent if cleaning isn’t done as soon as possible.
Continue reading to learn what to do if you find yourself in this situation.
Alternative methods of cleaning bleach spills from your hardwood floors are also included in case other methods fail.
Cleaning Bleach Spill on a Hardwood Floor
We have put together a few cleaning steps to help prevent your hardwood floors from discoloring by a bleach spill. Guess what? It is easier than you might have thought.
1. Clean Up the Bleach
This is easily the first thing to do when you get a bleach spill on your hardwood floor. Use kitchen towels to mop up as much bleach as you can.
When you do this, please do not rub it in; blot the bleach instead. Rubbing the bleach will make it sink into the fibers of your hardwood floor.
2. Neutralize the Effects of the Bleach
You have to neutralize the effect of the bleach to prevent it from sinking further into your hardwood floor.
Before you proceed with this step, you must put on some rubber gloves to protect your hands from the effects of the cleaning agent mixture.
Once gloved, follow these steps:
- Add one part of hydrogen peroxide to a bucket containing ten parts of water.
- Dip a clean towel in the solution and squeeze out the excess.
- Place the damp towel over the affected area for 10 minutes.
- Wipe the area with a towel after 10 minutes have elapsed.
Do not add vinegar to the cleaning solution you intend to use on the bleach spill.
The combination of vinegar and bleach creates chlorine gas, a toxic gas that adversely affects health.
Alternative Methods
If the methods above are ineffective, you can try the following:
1. Touch-Up Markers
If the bleach stain on your hardwood floor refuses to come off, you can cover it up with a touch-up marker.
All you need to get is a touch-up marker color that matches that of your hardwood floor and paints the affected area.
2. Re-Staining the Hardwood Floor
Re-staining your hardwood floor involves sanding and repainting the affected area.
We have put together steps to follow if you want to attempt this.
- Use 100-grit sandpaper to sand the bleach stain on your hardwood floor. Sanding the hardwood floorboard allows you to reach the wood color beneath the bleach stain.
- Use a damp rag to wipe off the dust from the wood.
- Now, sand the affected area with 280-grit sandpaper until it is completely smooth and stain-free.
- Wipe off the dust with a damp rag.
- Finally, apply wax, Tung oil, or any preferred furniture polish brand. This will help restore the affected area to match the rest of the hardwood floor.
Conclusion
A bleach spill on a hardwood floor feels like heartbreak because it is almost impossible to get the stain out. This is why speed is essential when cleaning a bleach spill.
Also, if the cleaning methods do not work, try the alternatives. If you don’t comfortable tackling this on your own, enlisting the services of a professional is also a viable option. Good luck!
