Significance

• If your floors do experience water damage, you should first assess the situation carefully to determine what actions need to be taken. If your floors are completely flooded, they will probably buckle. Once the wood has buckled, the best course of action is to consult a professional. It is unlikely that your floors can be easily repaired, and it may be best to simply replace them. If, however, your floors have only experienced minor water damage, there are several actions that you can take to handle this problem.
  
  

Identification

• If your floor is not cupping or buckling, you only have a minor water stain. This may appear as a white haze, or a distinct black or white stain. To remove a hazy water stain, buff the area with a mild abrasive such as whitening toothpaste and a soft cloth. This should remove the stain. For a more noticeable stain, you will need to remove the finish. Steel wool will remove wax, while sandpaper will remove a surface finish. Dissolve oxalic acid crystals in hot water and apply the mixture to the stain sparingly. When it has dried, the stain should have faded or disappeared completely. Repeat until the stain is gone, then refinish this area of the floor.
  
  

Features

• If the damaged floor is cupping but not buckling, then your flooring, though severely damaged, is still salvageable. You will need to remove the finish and thoroughly clean the flooring. In most cases this will involve removing the flooring completely to refinish and re-stain it. You should then be able to reinstall your flooring. Be sure to give all flooring plenty of time to dry in these situations. To achieve the best results from this kind of repair, it is best to consult a professional who can ensure that you are able to recover your flooring with a minimal amount of damage.
  
  

Warning

• One of the more dangerous results of water damage is mold or mildew. Excessive mold can effect the health of anyone regularly exposed to it, causing headaches or respiratory problems. If you notice mold or mildew on your floors, take action to deal with it immediately. To clean mildew, scrub the floor with a mixture of about 5 tbsp. washing soda in a gallon of water. Rinse the area thoroughly and allow to dry completely. Finally, coat the floor with a mildew-resistant finish. If you have problems with mold, you will need to remove the finish. You should then scrub the wood with a mixture of about 1 cup of bleach, 5 tbsp. of trisodium phosphate and a gallon of water. Additional bleach may be needed to remove the mold completely.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• Water damage can be a very complicated problem to deal with on hardwood floors. The best course of action is to take steps to prevent the damage in the first place. Place rugs in front of any doors and in high traffic areas of the home. You should also cover the floor in front of appliances such as the sink, dishwasher and refrigerator. When a spill does occur, clean it up immediately and allow the floor to dry completely before using any of the above methods to clean or remove stains.