Expert: Jamie Yocono - 7/16/2007

Question
QUESTION: I used a Bruce floor cleaner to try and remove black lines in on the oak staircase and around a cabinet.  It got much worse and now shows very black when it should be golden oak.  0000 steel wool didn't help.  Have I ruined the wood?

ANSWER: Hi Linda,

Don't know if you've ruined the floor, but before you do an extensive stripping, I would try wood bleach. Sherwin Williams Paint stores sell it, as do woodworking supply houses. I recently used it on an Oak floor that had black water marks, it worked perfectly. That wood floor was oiled, though, so the bleach could penetrate the surface. It might not work with yours, if your finish is a surface finish, like varnish.

Are the black lines scuffs? Or stains? If they're stains, somehow, water probably penetrated your floor. This could be tricky, but what do you have to lose? I would take a utility knife and try to cut down the center of the black lines. You're doing this to allow the bleach to enter the wood. Cut with the grain, so you won't notice it too much. Then try to work that wood bleach into the surface. Let it sit for a while, it takes a little time to work. If you're lucky, it will seep into the wood where you cut it, and bleach out that stain.

Last resort- and I REALLY mean this is a LAST resort- I would consider cutting a shallow V-notch out of the wood, where the stains are, and then filling them with one of those crayon wax sticks. Match the color carefully. Obviously, you can't do this if the stains are huge, but if they're not all over the place, but instead, limited to some black streaks, you might be OK.

Let me know how this turns out, you've piqued my curiosity! Good luck.  :)

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We will try this next weekend.  They aren't scuff marks..it's just the natural black lines in the oak that you see are now exaggerated and the edges are so black..the spots on the staircase are in the grain as well.  Thank you.  I'll let you know when we try the wood bleach.

Answer
Linda-

Something dawned on me this morning, I had to write back. There is a condition in wood called spalting, and it's possible that your wood is spalted. When moisture enters wood under certain conditions, it creates spalting, which is an exaggerated black line caused by decay. It's highly prized by woodworkers, especially people who work on the lathe.

Try this link to see what I mean: http://www.thewoodbox.com/figuredwood/spalted-wood.htm

If you Google "spalted wood," you'll see many examples of this common wood staining.

It's possible that you have spalting, instead of a simple water stain. If that's the case, no amount of wood bleach is ever going to eliminate it. And I think it's possible that it might even increase, but I'm not completely sure about that. It would depend on the moisture level of the wood, and if it's near a source of dampness.

My personal e-mail address is jamie@wooditis.com.  If you can take a decent picture of it, send me the image and I will try to tell you what it is. This will only work if the picture is a close-up, and is in focus, you'd be surprised at some of the pictures that are sent to me!

Once again- if it's spalting, you're pretty much stuck with the black lines. Look on the good side- it's a prized wood defect.  :)

Jamie in Las Vegas
www.wooditis.com