Salt and Sand Damage on Hardwood Floors | Philly Floor (2024)

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Salt and Sand Damage on Hardwood Floors | Philly Floor? ›

Sand and salt water can easily cause damage to hardwood floors. Both sand and salt are jagged in shape. When they are dragged or crushed along the floor it can damage the finish of the floor. These rough particles can cause scratches in the floor and decrease the lifespan of the finish.

Calcium chloride crystals can really damage a hardwood floor finish. When you look at sand and salt at a microscopic level, you will see small, rough-edged particles. Finished and unfinished hardwood floors alike can be ruined by the abrasion of these particles being stepped on or dragged across the floor.

Rough-Sand the Floor

Start by rough-sanding the floor to eliminate the scratches and stains from a hardwood floor. Keep in mind this step will probably not remove deep gouges or discoloration. Begin by using a drum sanderor belt sander with the grain along the length of the boards.

Tips And Tricks (How To Avoid Marks On Hardwood)

Up The Grit: Using the next grade of sandpaper is a great way to remove the stains left by the pass with a lower grit. For example, 100 grit is a good bet to remove any marks left by sanding with 80 grit.

Vinegar Solution

One solution cleaners use is a mixture of white vinegar and water, which can effectively and naturally remove salt stains from hard floors. Vinegar's acidity helps break down salt deposits. Be sure to rinse thoroughly with warm water after cleaning.

Hardwood Floors: Use a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar. The vinegar helps break down salt residues without harming the wood finish. Dampen a soft cloth or mop in the solution, wring out excess moisture, and gently wipe the affected areas.

If you want to keep things chemical-free, try this technique for removing salt stains with nothing more than vinegar and warm water: In a spray bottle, bowl, or bucket, mix a solution of equal parts white vinegar and warm water. The smell of vinegar isn't very appealing, but it's a powerful natural cleaning agent.

Does hydrogen peroxide remove stains on hardwood floors? ›

Used properly, hydrogen peroxide is not one of the damaging solvents. It is, in fact, a very effective stain remover and a reliable cleaner for hardwood flooring.

Use Baking Soda

Simply make a mixture of baking soda and vinegar and spread it over the stain. Then, use a rag or a sponge to rub at the stain until it starts to fade. Once the stain is completely gone, you can wipe the residue off with a wet cloth.

Dark Spots, Dog Spots, Ink Stains

Wax the affected area. If this fails, lightly sand the area with fine sandpaper, and clean it using #00 steel wool and mineral spirits or a wood floor cleaner . Allow the floor to dry. Stain, wax and hand buff.

Water, pet urine, or mold are common causes of dark stains on hardwood floors. Sand the Area: Since you've already sanded the floor, ensure it was done thoroughly. Sometimes, deeper sanding is needed to reach the full extent of the stain.

You can spot-sand down to bare wood with 100-grit sandpaper, and spot-recoat with polyurethane matched to the gloss of the existing finish (use an oil-based polyurethane to patch an existing oil-based finish, and a water-based poly to patch an existing water-based finish).

Chatter marks, which are repetitive, parallel indentations or scratches on the sanded floor surface, exhibit certain characteristics. They maintain a consistent width and depth across the affected area, ranging from shallow scratches to deeper indentations.

It is not safe for wooden decks. The chloride component of the salt absorbs moisture from the wood. When the wood is left dry, it fails to perform its natural contraction and expansion process, thus corrodes soon. Rock salt is not only unsafe to use on wood but also concrete, asphalt, as well as bricks.

The salt draws out moisture from the wood, creating a less hospitable environment for fungi and insects that can cause decay. However, it can also cause the wood to dry out and become brittle over time.

(a) Treated deck boards exposed to frequent wetting of saltwater develop a fuzzy appearance. (b) Excessive use of de-icing salts can also cause salt damage as evidenced on these stair treads. Salt damage is a frequent problem in wood exposed to seawater and other saline environments.

Winter can also bring freezing rain and ice but unlike the driveway and sidewalks, sprinkling salt on the deck can cause damage a wood deck not to mention that salt is corrosive to the metal hardware keeping it all together. Do Not put salt or any calcium chloride product on your wood or even a composite deck.