Remove Ink from a Wood Floor

When ink spills on your beautiful wood floor, getting rid of the ink stain is something you need to do instantly. Wood floors are not all the same since they can come in different finishes; this should be considered when thinking of ways to remove the ink stain. Another thing to consider is the depth of the stain. Did it penetrate through the wood itself or just on the surface of the finish? Whatever the state of your wood floor and stain is, you can find the steps here to effectively remove that ink stain.

Steps

Surface stain: dishwashing soap method

  1. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of liquid dish washing soap with a small amount of hot water to make a solution.
  2. Stir the solution to make lots of soap suds.
  3. Dip a soft cloth into the soap suds, not in the solution.
  4. Gently wipe the ink stain with the soapy cloth.
  5. Use a clean, damp cloth to rinse off the solution for the floor.
  6. Dry the area using a dry towel.
  7. Check if the stain is still there. If the stain is still noticeable, proceed to the next step.
  8. Dip a superfine steel wool (number 0000) in liquid wax.
  9. Rub the area with the steel wool lightly onto the stained area. The steel wool should remove only a fine layer of the surface.
  10. Wax or polish the surface if needed.

Surface stain: baking soda method

  1. Mix baking soda and water to form a paste.
  2. Spread the paste over the ink stain and rub it in with your fingers. Don't rub it too hard. You could damage the finish.
  3. Dampen a soft cloth with clean water and scrub the area to remove the paste.
  4. Repeat the process until the ink is completely removed. For bigger stains, you might need to repeat this more times.
  5. Dry the floor completely.
  6. Re-coat if necessary with appropriate wax.

Stain on the finish

You should realize that when you remove the ink stain that penetrated the finish of the wood, the finish will come off with it too and you will have to refinish the affected area.

  1. Buff the affected area with a cloth moistened with mineral spirits. Do this lightly.
  2. Use a clean wet cloth to wipe the area. If the ink is still visible, repeat the process using a steel wool ( number 0000).
  3. Rub the stained area using a steel wool moistened with mineral spirits. Do this lightly and make sure you rub along the grain of the wood. Try to remove only as much finish as you have to.
  4. Wipe the surface clean with a soft cloth.
  5. Refinish the affected area.

Stain in the wood: preparation

  1. Apply denatured alcohol on a clean, soft cloth.
  2. Wipe the surface with the cloth to get rid of dirt or other impurities.
  3. Sand the surface to remove the finish on the wood.
  4. Brush the debris off of the surface.
  5. Apply mineral spirits on a clean, soft cloth.
  6. Wash the surface with the cloth to remove any oil or grease on the surface.

Stain in the wood: household chlorine bleach

  1. Apply undiluted bleach to the stained surface using a clean, soft cloth.
  2. Let it sit on the surface for 10 minutes.
  3. Check if the stain is still visible and repeat the process if the stain is still prominent.
  4. Rinse the surface thoroughly with clean water.
  5. Dry the surface with a clean dry towel.
  6. Refinish the floor after 24 hours.

Stain in the wood: oxalic acid

  1. Oxalic acid is recommended for blue ink stains. It is best to use it warm.
  2. Dissolve 2 to 4 ounces of oxalic acid crystals into a quart of hot water.
  3. Apply the solution generously to the stained surface using a clean, soft cloth.
  4. Let the solution sit on the surface for anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, depending on the gravity of the ink stain.
  5. Rub the stain with a stiff bristle brush to remove remaining discoloration.
  6. Rinse the surface thoroughly with clean water.
  7. Dry the surface with a clean dry towel.
  8. Refinish the floor after 24 hours.

Stain in the wood: concentrated hydrogen peroxide (30%)

  1. Hydrogen peroxide is a very strong bleach and should be used only as a last resort for removing stubborn ink stains. It is sold as a two-part kit containing sodium hydroxide.
  2. Soak a sponge in clean water.
  3. Blot the soaked sponge onto the wood to moisten the surface.
  4. Apply a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide (follow the instruction of the manufacturer for mixing) over the surface. Make sure you apply it evenly on the affected surface.
  5. Let the mixture sit on the wood for the time specified by the manufacturer.
  6. Refinish the affected area.

Tips

  • You can also use alcohol and hairspray to remove minor ink stains.
  • If you are determined that your floor finish easily gets stained, it is a good idea to refinish the entire floor. This way, you get to deal with the stain too.
  • Test the solution first on a small hidden area of the floor. This is to make sure that there is no damage to the finish before using the solution on the actual stain.

Warning

  • Do not apply ammonia to a hardwood floor. The floor can discolor when it gets in contact with ammonia.
  • Do not use a mop to remove the ink spill on the floor. This will just spread the stain as the ink gets into the fibers of the mop.

Things You'll Need

  • Soft cloths
  • Cloth or paper towels
  • Liquid dish-washing soap
  • Steel wool (number 0000)
  • Liquid wax
  • Wax or floor polisher
  • Wood cleaner
  • Denatured alcohol
  • Mineral spirits
  • Household chlorine bleach or oxalic acid or mixture of hydrogen peroxide(30%) and sodium hydroxide
  • Sponge
  • Stiff bristle brush

Related Articles

  • Remove Ink from a Ceramic Floor
  • Remove Wood Stain from Glass
  • Get White Out Stains Out of Hardwood

Sources and Citations

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