How to Bleach Hardwood Floors

Bleaching hardwood floors is the process of using chemical bleach to lighten the color and tone of the wood. Whether you need to bleach your floors because you’ve accidentally stained them, or because they have become discolored over time,  there is an effective way to do it.

 

Follow these steps to easily and bleach your wooden floors, and have them looking fresh in no time!

 

 

Choose the Correct Bleach

There are a few different bleaches that you can use to bleach your wooden floor; however, the bleach you need will depend on a couple of different factors. For example,  chlorine bleach can be used to remove organic stains like blood and food-based stains like berry juice. If you choose to use household bleach, you should be prepared to make several attempts, as household bleach is very mild. A stronger chlorine-based alternative to household bleach is swimming pool chlorine, which will get the job done quicker.

Alternatively, two-part bleach, a mixture of sodium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide, is the most effective bleach for taking the color out of wood. This bleach can remove wood stain, and you can find it at your local hardware or home improvement store.

 

 

Patch Test

Bleach your wooden floor can alter the integrity of the wood and make it more susceptible to wear and tear. If you’re thinking about bleaching your hardwood floor, consider trying a patch test first on an area that is hidden away, for example under furniture — this way you will know how effective the bleach is and whether you like the effect.

 

 

Remove Finish

Before you can bleach your hardwood floors, you must remove the finish on them. If your floors are varnished, a simple paint and varnish remover will work. Alternatively, if your floors have a lacquer finish, lacquer thinner will work to dissolve it.

 

 

Lightly Sand

After you’ve removed the finish, you should lightly sand the area you plan to bleach. Not only will this remove any remaining finish, but it will also prepare the wood for its bleach treatment.

 

 

Clean residue from wood

The next step is to clean the area of residue and dust. You can do this by mixing washing soda and hot water in a bucket and wiping down the area you plan to bleach with it. Be sure to let the area air dry thoroughly before you begin the bleaching process.

 

 

Apply Bleach Treatment

Once you’ve mixed up your bleach treatment (follow the instructions on the packet), you can begin to apply it to your hardwood floor. It is important to use a synthetic bristle brush to apply the bleach, as natural bristles may disintegrate and metal bristle can cause a chemical reaction. Leave the bleach to work for 20 minutes, but be sure to keep checking the area for progress to ensure that you don’t overbleach it.

 

 

Neutralize the area

Once you’re happy with the color and result, it’s time to wash the bleach away by flushing it with distilled water and neutralizing the bleached area. You can do this by rinsing the area with a combination of one part hot water and one part half white vinegar.

 

 

Let it set

Leave the wood to air-dry for at least 24 hours, after which point you can sand it again to ensure it is smooth and remove any roughness caused by the bleaching. You can also paint the wood with lacquer to seal it, sand that also.

Repeat until the desired result

You may need to repeat this process several times until you reach your desired wood color, and in some cases, the color may not lift at all.

It’s important to not over-bleach your hardwood floors, as they may become weak and brittle from the treatment.

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