How do I remove cooking oil stains from a wooden floor?

By

Red Neck

Of course vinegar won't touch oil. Why do you think that oil and vinegar salad dressings have to be shaken just before serving?

I suggest mineral spirits or kerosene, and paper towels. (NOT naphtha or gasoline -- its fumes are flammable. If there is any doubt, the solvent used should not be capable of being lighted with a match after a little has been poured into a dish -- try this test OUTDOORS for obvious reasons.) After removing the surface oil, place paper towels dampened with the mineral spirits on the floor, cover with aluminum foil, and weight down with books for an hour or so. The oil will dissolve and migrate from the wood into the paper towels. Repeat a few times if needed.

By brandy. (Guest Post)

To Lucy and everyone; I tried vinegar to remove cooking oil from my hardwood floor. After soaking the stain twice I saw no change.

By

dvg

I have used white vinegar and water to mop my hardwood floor. I would try that and perhaps mix a bit of baking soda with the vinegar. Its all natural and both are excellent cleansers - which shouldn't hurt your floor.

I've used that on my car interior, carpets, etc. It won't change the color of your hardwood or hurt the wood.

If that doesn't work after letting it dry completely throughout the wood...I would lightly sand the wood with a fine sandpaper and revarnish just that area (even with a spray).

By

SnowyFilly

Just heard on HGTV... A homeowner used cornstarch on a huge oil spot in the wood floor from vegetable oil...

By

SnowyFilly

Oh Lucy,

What a pickle you're in...

I suggest trying the stuff a garage uses to eat oil up... Try it with a thickish layer and a board layed over it for abit of pressure...

Next i would ask a few floor refinishers... They may say to sand it 1st then do something...

Home Depot or Lowes may have ideas for you...

Flour is used to absorb oil in the kitchen, maybe that will work...

Shampoo takes hair and skin oil out of collars, i wonder if it may help your floor...

I'm so sorry this happened to your floor... I wish you luck in getting it out...

Christie