Hardwood floors give your home a beautiful ambiance and vibe but trust us, this ambiance will be lost once the hardwood gets greased and stained, and it becomes a problem.
When hardwoods are installed on your kitchen floor, you might find yourself at one point or the other dealing with oil stains on your beautiful hardwood floors.
If that is the case, we are quite certain that you are interested in how to clean grease off hardwood floors. Luckily, grease stains on hardwood floors can easily be removed with few squirts of vinegar, a dash of baking soda, and a liquid dishwasher.
Read: How to get rid of grease on kitchen floor
How to Clean Grease off Hardwood Floors
Table of Contents
Grease can be removed from hardwood floors using vinegar, baking soda, and a liquid dishwasher. In what order and quantity are this applied? Follow the steps below:
1. Make a Vinegar-Water Mixture
You can mix equal parts of hot water with vinegar in a small bowl or mix the vinegar with room temperature water and microwave.
It is common knowledge that vinegar is an excellent cleaner due to its acidity and can cut through stubborn stains without leaving any residue. You need to, however, dilute the vinegar because concentrated vinegar can damage the finish.
Read: How to clean bamboo floors with vinegar
2. Use a Clean Cloth to Wipe the Grease Using the Mixture
You can either use a clean cloth or a sponge mop to clean the affected area. Dip the cloth into the mixture and scrub gently.
Ensure not to leave the mixture lying for too long on the hardwood floor because too much moisture causes hardwood to split and gap.
3. Make a Bowl of Warm and Soapy Water
Next, fill a bowl with a mixture of dishwashing soap and warm water. Then dip a cloth or sponge into the mixture slowly wipe the affected area. Give the mixture of warm water and dishwater 5 mins to sit on the hardwood before wiping it off.
Don’t leave the mixture on the hardwood for more than 5 minutes. This is because hardwood doesn’t go well with excessive moisture.
4. Sprinkle Baking Soda on the floor
Baking soda is a popularly used cleaning agent. The alkali in it is quite effective in dissolving oil, grease, and dirt in the water.
Sprinkle the baking soda on the affected area, allow it to sit on the hardwood for at least an hour, then gently wipe the area using a cloth dipped in warm, soapy water.
Alternatively, you can sprinkle baking soda on a wet sponge or cloth and rub on the affected area until the stain disappears.
5. Use a Degreaser
If you are dealing with a stubborn stain, it makes sense to use a degreaser. Pour some drops of degreaser on the stained area. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes before wiping with a clean cloth.
Read: Easy homemade floor cleaner
Maintaining Hardwood Floors
Dealing with grease stains on your hardwood kitchen floor is almost inevitable. But with some cautionary steps, you can limit such occurrences and maintain your hardwood floor.
1. Clean Oil Spills Immediately
Grease shouldn’t be allowed to sit on your hardwood for long. Bear in mind that the longer the oil sits on the wood, the harder it is to clean it.
Therefore, if you accidentally knock off the cooking oil bottle, clean the spill as soon as possible.
2. Clean the Floor Regularly
One of the easiest ways to maintain your hardwood is by cleaning it regularly. This is irrespective of whether you are dealing with a grease stain or not. When cleaning, avoid using excessive moisture not to damage your hardwood floor.
3. Polish your Wood Often
Polishing your hardwood floor will give it that glossy look. There are various hardwood polishes in stores; you can opt for the Bona Hardwood Floor Polish. Ensure to clean the floor thoroughly before you start polishing.
5. Use Furniture Pads
You don’t want scratches and dents ruining your hardwood floor. The best way to avoid this is to add soft pads to your furniture’s legs like chairs, sofas, and tables.
6. Clean Your Floors with Wood Cleaner at Least Every Month
You need to use wood cleaners on your hardwood to keep it glistening and free of damage. Whenever your floors show signs of wear, wipe or spray the hardwood using wood cleaners. Some of the best wood cleaner products include Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner, Pledge Wood Floor Cleaner, Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood Cleaner, Libman Hardwood Floor Cleaner.
How To Get Grease Off Laminate Floor
1. Sweep the floor thoroughly free of all dirt
2. Dilute white vinegar and warm water in an equal mixture in a big bowl or bucket. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray it onto the grease spots.
3. Allow the solution to sit on the floor for like 5 minutes, then use a mop or lint-free cloth to wipe it off
4. If the grease is still on the laminate floor, reapply the vinegar and repeat the process, or better still, scrub the floor with the solution until the grease disappears.
5. Dry the floor with a dry cloth or mop, ensuring that there is no remnant of the solution or moisture on the floor.
Read: How to remove grease stain from carpet
Conclusion
When it comes to how to clean grease off hardwood floors, in summary, you’ll need a bowl of vinegar, dishwashing soap, water, degreaser, baking soda, and a cloth or sponge to clean greasy hardwood floors.
Hopefully, you found this article useful to help get off stubborn stains from your hardwood floors. Always avoid excessive moisture when cleaning.