OK...I know this isn't the usual type of question for this site but I'm desperate. My family moved into my MIL house a few years ago. She had a kitchen table and chair set that left black marks all over the kitchen floor. These aren't the usual rubber scuff marks, they are from a hard plastic "stopper" that she put on the bottom of each chair. I have tried ammonia, baking soda, hairspray,brillo pads, bleach, pencil eraser, WD-40, toothpaste, and nail polish remover. I have looked at every web site I can find and talked to everyone I know. Does anyone have any ideas? I am embarrassed to have people over because my floor always looks dirty. Does anyone have any ideas?

By Annie2 on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 10:36 pm:

What type of flooring is it? If it is linoleum the flooring itself might be scratched. It could also be showing mildew from underneath.

By Bobbie on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 10:44 pm:

Yeah it might be actual cuts in the flooring. Once the shinny stuff is tore off the stuff under the shinny stuff will get and hold stains. Get some soft scrub with bleach and put it on the marks. Let it sit for while and see if you can bleach out the stains. And then I would use something to apply a clear finish over the spots if I could get the stains to bleach out.

By Vicki on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 11:44 pm:

Try a product called goof off. I get it at Lowes and so far, it has taken everything off that I have tried it on. It is very strong, so hold your breath!! LOL

By Caryn on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 12:11 am:

have you tried Magic eraser by Mr.Clean? It works wonders! Good luck!

By Mommyathome on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 12:33 am:

In our old house we had linoleum in the kitchen. There were very fine scratches in a couple of places. They would fill up with dirt and *stuff* and would always look black. I hated it. I tried everything as well and didn't ever find anything that worked.

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 12:55 am:

My linoleum is full of cracks and they all get dirty, so even though my floor is clean, those parts make it looke dirtier than it is. It is our plan someday to put in a laminate floor, but who knows when that will happen.

I just washed my floor a little while ago and saw there are more torn up places. I don't know how they get there. It is not like we sit and nick our floor with a razor blade or anything.

By Tink on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 03:03 am:

Thanks for all the suggestions. It is linoleum. These are really wide black marks like from a shoe scuff but there isn't any indentations like the surface is scratched. (We also have the little scratches that make the floor look really dingy.) I'll try the soft scrub with bleach, maybe overnight and then on to the goof off and Magic Eraser. Thanks.

By Eve on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 08:23 am:

There is a product that you can get at a Hardware store. It's Armstrong New Beginning Floor Stripper and Cleaner. It is in a white bottle with a green label with yellow writing. It strips down all of the wax off of linoleum. So, you strip it all down. It's tough work! Anyway, you strip it down and can get to all those built in, deep down stains. Then, after you strip and clean really well. You have to mop on floor wax and let it dry. It's a wonder product!! It will make your floor look far better!

Here's a link:
http://www.armstrong.com/restilena/article4340.asp

My only tip: When you pour a good amount on the floor in one spot, really let is sit for a minute and soak in and then scrub away. I'm not sure if the bottle says that or not.

By Amecmom on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 08:34 am:

Tink,
I've had success with the clorox bleach pen for stubborn stains and hard to get out scuff marks. The Armstrong product is great for deep cleaning and striping. Follow up with Shinekeeper (Armstrong) and your floor will look like new!
Ame