Ask Mrs. Clean: House Cleaning, Stain Removal and Organizing Tips

[twip]

can anyone help with a way to remove a green crepe paper streamer stain from laminated floorboards w2ithout removing the lacquer. i have tried vinegar and a magic eraser. Thanks twip

[mrscleannw]

Hello twip and Welcome to Mrs. Clean’s Forum:
You do have a dilemma on your hands! It will be a difficult task to remove the dye from the crepe paper without removing the finish. I would recommend trying rubbing alcohol. (Before you try on this stain, first test this in an inconspicuous place).
Using a terrycloth towel, wet a small corner of the towel with the rubbing alcohol. Dab this over the stain, pressing and lifting. See if this “lifts” some of the dye. If there is no dye on the cloth towel, just dab and then let sit for a few hours. You may have to repeat this a few times to totally remove the stain.
There are very few other substances that will remove a stain without removing the finish. So, If the rubbing alcohol does not work, you may need to use a commercial laminate floor cleaner formulated for your particular flooring and this particular stain or may have to refinish the floor. Of course, you can always call a professional; it is costly but you avoid having to do the work yourself.
Hopefully the rubbing alcohol will to the trick! Let us know and good luck.