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The wooden floor's colour changed after the grease was cleaned from the front of the kitchen. Do you have any suggestions on how to fix this?
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Peter321. It's amazing to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about removing a stain.
That's a very significant stain and the two images you’ve provided show very different appearances. Could you clarify if one was taken before a cleaning attempt and the other after? It would also help to see an updated photo of the floor in a completely dry state so we can better assess its condition. Also, is this grease that was dropped on the floor or a cleaning product that has caused this discolouration? If it was a cleaning product, could you tell us a little more about it?
Given the severity of the discolouration on the lighter-coloured flooring, it may be worth consulting a professional to determine if sanding could remove the stain—assuming it hasn’t soaked too deeply into the material. Do you happen to know if your flooring is solid timber or perhaps a hybrid vinyl? The type of flooring will play a big role in deciding the best course of action.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
Hi Mitchell,
Both pictures were taken after the cleaning: the first when it was almost dry and the second after I mopped again.
I took a picture again. The last mop was this morning 6, 5 hours ago. It seems not drying and feels like sticky. You can see a the picture below.
Hello @Peter321
Thank you for the extra information you've provided. It appears that whatever cleaning agent you are using is reacting to the stain and is spreading it out further. I suggest holding back on the cleaning to prevent spreading the stain further. What did you use to clean the floor? Is it a detergent or a chemical spray? When the floor is totally dry, does the stain disappear or does it remain on the floor? When it is dry does the floor area remain sticky?
Any extra information you can tell us about the type of grease that went on the floor or any other cleaning agent you used would be much appreciated.
Eric
Hi Eric,
Thank you for the advice. I stopped cleaning, and it seems the spread stopped. Initially, it was an oven cleaner—grease removal—that spilled out from the oven to the floor. I tried to clean it with regular detergent, but it seemed the wood reacted to this agent. The stain faded, and this morning, it was dry without, not sticky. I asked a wood specialist and they suggested I need to polish the whole room 
Hi @Peter321,
It certainly seems like the darkening of the flooring is due to a chemical reaction, likely between the oven cleaner and the finish or wood itself. I’m sorry to hear this has happened—it’s understandably frustrating when an attempt to clean leads to further issues. Unfortunately, it does look like sanding the affected area may be necessary to remove the stain, and possibly, the entire room will need to be refinished to achieve a uniform look.
I recommend contacting a flooring restoration specialist for an assessment. They’ll be able to determine the depth of the damage and whether sanding will resolve it. In the meantime, avoid using any further cleaning products in the area to prevent the issue from worsening.
Mitchell
