Hardwood floors give a luxurious, elegant vibe to any home, so most homeowners take good care of them. However, random white spots can appear on hardwood floors in various places, such as corners and underneath the furniture. We did our research to help you remove these white spots.
You can try multiple methods to remove white spots from your hardwood floor:
- Apply heat to the affected area
- Use commercial products
- Apply mineral spirits
- Try mayonnaise
- Use toothpaste
- Clean with baking soda or vinegar
Continue reading this article to learn about each method in detail. Additionally, you will learn what causes white spots to appear on your hardwood floor in the first place and how to prevent them from appearing.
How To Remove White Spots On Hardwood Floors
Below are some of the most common solutions for removing white spots on hardwood floors:
Apply Heat To The Affected Area
Applying heat to the affected area can help remove white spots entirely. That’s because white spots are usually just surface stains that have yet to penetrate the hardwood.
One common household item to use in this situation is the blow dryer. Set it to the lowest heat and direct the heat at the white spots. Move the blow dryer back and forth over the area until the white spots disappear.
Another common household appliance that you could use is a flat iron. To do this, place a cloth or towel over the affected area. Then set the flat iron to its lowest output.
From there, gently run the iron over the material and check the result. Repeat this process until there are no more white spots. Also, be careful not to press the iron too hard into the cloth or towel to avoid burning the hardwood.
Use Commercial Products
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Some white spots may be more difficult to remove than others. There are many commercial products out there that can be quite effective.
One example of such a product is the magic eraser. With a little water, dampen the product and scrub it gently against the white spots. For tougher stains, simply repeat the process.
Besides the magic eraser, other options include watermark removers and a hardwood floor cleaning solution. Before using them, make sure to read the instructions that come with them. Wear safety gear, like a face mask and gloves, if necessary.
Check out this magic eraser on Amazon.
Mineral Spirits Work But Handle With Care
Another product to use when removing white spots is mineral spirits. They are an effective cleaning agent. However, avoid applying too much to your floor as it may remove your floor’s wax.
To use this product, only pour the necessary amount needed into a spray bottle. Then directly spray the affected area. Afterward, wipe the floor using an old rag or a cotton pad until the white spots disappear.
Once you’re positive that there are no more white spots, grab a clean cloth and use it to soak any excess chemical solution left on the floor. Then, leave it to dry. You can speed this process up by directing a fan toward the area.
Check out these mineral spirits on Amazon.
Mayonnaise Is Surprisingly Effective
There are plenty of home remedy solutions that you can whip out to remove those pesky white spots from your hardwood floor. But one product that probably didn’t cross your mind is mayonnaise. Surprisingly, mayonnaise is identical to furniture polish. Although unconventional, it works well as a home remedy.
Apply a small amount of mayonnaise to a rag and dab it on the white spots until fully covered. Then let it sit for at least an hour. Keep a close eye on it and add more if necessary when it starts drying up.
After the hour is up, wipe it off. Spray a little bit of dishwashing soap over the area, then soak it up with a rag. This is to help remove the scent of mayonnaise from your floor.
Toothpaste Works As An Alternative
Another household remedy that a lot of homeowners are familiar with is toothpaste. Besides its primary purpose, toothpaste has become a common alternative as a cleaning solution.
When applying toothpaste, the process is the same as when applying mayonnaise to your hardwood floor. You can skip using dishwashing soap to mask the scent of toothpaste since it does not have as strong an odor as mayonnaise.
Baking Soda As A Solution
Baking soda is one of those home remedies that many people recommend. Just add water, and you have a potent stain remover in your hands.
To create your baking soda solution for removing the white spots, mix equal parts baking soda and water into a container until it forms a paste. Then dip a piece of cloth or rag into the paste and gently rub it into the wood grain. Baking soda is slightly abrasive, so you don’t need to scrub it hard into the affected area.
Leave it to soak overnight. Wipe it off the following day, and you’ll have a sparkling floor. Additionally, you can mix baking soda with toothpaste to increase the latter’s effectiveness.
Vinegar Can Work As Well
Last but not least, vinegar is another method that a lot of homeowners swear by. Just mix one part vinegar and one part olive oil in a bowl, then dip a cloth into it.
Apply the mix to the white spots on your hardwood floor and gently rub it in. Once the stains disappear, clean up as usual.
What Causes White Spots On Hardwood Floors?
If you’re wondering why there are white spots on your hardwood floor, think back to what happened before their appearance. Maybe you spilled some milk and were unable to clean it up properly. Or maybe you set a freshly delivered pizza box down on the floor.
Heat
Earlier, you learned that heat is a remedy for removing white spots on hardwood floors. However, careless application of heat can also be the cause of spots.
For example, setting down a cup of hot coffee or a bowl of warm soup on the floor. Leave it there for too long, and the heat from these items can cause discoloration in the form of white spots on your hardwood.
If you end up ruining your hardwood floor due to heat exposure, you will need to replace parts of it. You can read about this process in this article: How To Replace Hardwood Floor Planks: All You Need To Know!
Moisture
Moisture is the primary cause of white spots on a hardwood floor. One of the most common examples of this involves spilled liquids.
Things like coffee, milk, and the like can leave white spots on your hardwood floor if not cleaned up properly. Condensation from cold drinks can also leave white marks on your hardwood floor and can be harder to keep track of.
The chances of rain or snow getting into your home are also high. As such, expect to see white spots near entryways and windows to your home during rainy or snowy periods.
Spider Poop
When you first read the words spider poop, you probably had a moment of confusion. But this is no joke.
If there are areas in your home where house spiders typically gather, then it’s highly likely that there are white spots on your hardwood floor. This is especially true in dark corners.
Don’t worry! Spider poop is not toxic or radioactive. You just need to clean it up with one of the simple home remedies covered in this post.
To Wrap Up
When it comes to removing white spots from your hardwood floor, home remedy solutions like using mayonnaise, baking soda, toothpaste, and vinegar are enough to do the job.
However, if the white spots persist, there are plenty of commercial products that will help you remove them. Heating the affected area and using mineral spirits will also work but exercise caution when using these methods.
Are there other questions involving hardwood that you need answered? Check out these articles for more information:
How To Install Hardwood Flooring On Stairs With Nosing
How To Remove Hardwood Flooring For Reuse