Wood floors have become very popular day by day. It is eco-friendly and increases the charm of any home. Being green is another point of wood flooring. It gives warmth to the room where it is installed. But, if you have tiny kids in your house, you have probably noticed that they are leaving some marks on the floor. These are long-lasting and difficult to remove stains, especially if they are sticky or greasy. In this article, we will discuss how to clean sticky wood floors.
What is sticky?
One of the most common questions about wood flooring is what do people mean when they say something is sticky. Sticky is a common issue of adhering to glue; adhesive contains dust and other dirt particles. They stick to the floor when they are in liquid form. It is not just sticky but also leaves a dark spot on your beautiful wood flooring.
Causes of sticky on wood floor:
Wood floor may be sticky for different reasons. Some of the common causes are:
Oil spot: Oil spills from food or drinks can leave a sticky spot on your floor that is a severe problem to deal with. If you don’t treat it immediately, oil will soak into the wood, leaving it discolored and damaged, requiring refinishing by professionals. On the other hand, cooking oil can spill your wood floor if you are not careful while carrying the oil.
Watermark: If excessive water can drop your wood floor during moping or in rainy season, uncertain rain gusts come from window, and if this water stays on the floor much time, it will create watermark on wood floor. On the other hand, drinks and wet shoes can make watermarks on wood floors.
Grease spot: Another common problem is grease spots from cooking or other things in the home which you might spill accidentally. As soon as you realize what has happened, take care to treat this problem properly and not make it worse by allowing too much time to pass before you clean it.
Staining: Staining could leave your wood floor sticky. Wood floors are natural products that contain penetration of oil in the wood fibers that causes them to swell when stained or have excessive moisture. So, make sure don’t get stuck after it staining.
Dust and dirt: Bacteria, germs, and other particles like dust and dirt can be sticky. They can cause damage to your floor over time if not cleaned properly.
Footprint: Every day till morning to night, you need to walk on your floor or go outside of the home. When you come from outside to home, you may have mud, oil, and dust on your shoes, leaving a footprint on your floor.
Ink: Ink from ballpoint pens, ink stain from permanent markers, dyes from clothes, and other substances can also be very sticky.
Methods of cleaning sticky wood floors:
Cleaning is crucial to have a safe environment at home. For this purpose, you should need some proper cleaning guidelines. Here are some tips which will help you to clean your sticky floor.
Vacuum: First of all, dust and vacuum the area with a powerful vacuum cleaner. This will suck most of the dirt particles that have been stuck to your wood flooring, leaving it shiny and new-looking.
Wipe: If there is a small amount of liquid, wipe the area with paper towels as soon as possible after the spill or mark has been made. Make sure to turn the towel frequently and pat dry any wet areas so that they do not leave watermarks on your wood flooring.
For sticky materials like fats, oils, and food spills, use a piece of cloth or paper towel with olive oil on it. You can also try this technique for other types of stickiness. For example, if shoe polish has been spilled on your flooring, step carefully to avoid marking the wood. Then clean the stain by rubbing it with an oiled cloth.
White vinegar: White vinegar is also very effective for removing sticky materials. For example, if you have spilled wine or grape juice on your flooring, use white vinegar to quickly remove the stain before it seeps into your wood too much.
Take one cup of white vinegar and one-gallon water, mix it well and mop the floor with this mixture. This will help you to remove all types of stickiness from your wooden floor without making it dry.
Mild soap: Mild soap is very effective in cleaning sticky surfaces. For example, if you have spilled jelly or jam on your flooring and it has started to dry, use a mild soap such as baby shampoo to remove it. Spread the soap over the stain and rub with an oiled cloth until it comes off. Then wipe the area clean with a damp cloth and allow it to dry.
Take a small quantity of soap, mix it with two-liter water, and apply it to the sticky surface.
Use steam mop: Steam mop is an excellent tool for cleaning to remove sticky dirt from wood surfaces. It does not need any harmful chemicals, but it uses steam to clean the surface. It plays a very crucial role in removing sticky materials like dirt, oil and other particles. This steam mop cleans 99% of germs and bacteria.
Precaution:
Bleaching agent: Bleaching is a harmful substance. So, try to avoid bleaching agents during cleaning.
Excessive hot water: Using excessive hot water to clean can damage your wood flooring. Light warm or cold water is best for cleaning sticky surfaces.
Acidic substance: Don’t use any acidic cleaning materials. Acidic things are very harmful to wooden surfaces.
Conclusion:
Cleaning sticky surfaces is not so much difficult. If you follow these steps carefully, your cleaning will become very easy. Sticky wooden flooring should be cleaned properly to avoid any harmful effects on health, or it may cause damage to the floor if left unattended. It is better to clean the floor as soon as possible after the stain has been made.
