How to Stain Wood Floors: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beautiful and Durable Results

Staining wood floors is an excellent way to enhance their natural beauty, protect the surface, and give your home a fresh new look. Whether you’re working with hardwood floors or another type of wooden floor, the staining process can breathe new life into your flooring. This guide will take you through each step of the process for how to stain floors, ensuring your project delivers professional results.

Why Stain Wood Floors?

Wood floors offer natural beauty, but they can become dull or worn over time. Adding a wood stain revitalizes the wood floor and adds richness and depth to the wood grain. Whether dealing with light or dark stains, learning how to stain wood floors properly ensures that your wooden floor stands out with a smooth and even finish.

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

Before beginning the staining process to stain hardwood floors, gather all necessary tools and materials:

• Wood stain (choose from oil-based or water-based stains)
• Fine grit sandpaper (220 grit is ideal for smoothing the surface)
• Natural bristle brush, cloth, or roller for applying the stain
• Sandpaper or edge sander for hard-to-reach spots
• Plastic sheeting to protect nearby surfaces
• Safety gear: gloves, goggles, and a dust mask for protection
• A finish to seal and protect the stained floor

Step 2: Prepare the Wood Floor

Preparation is vital to a flawless staining process. First, clean the entire floor by sweeping away any debris or dirt. After cleaning, it’s time to sand the floor thoroughly. Begin with a coarser grit sandpaper, working to a fine-grit sandpaper for the smoothest possible finish. Don’t forget to lightly sand the bare wood to open the wood grain for better stain absorption. Use an edge sander for corners and tight spots.

After sanding, clean the floor again to remove dust. You can also water pop the surface by wiping it down with a damp cloth, raising the grain to allow the wood stain to penetrate more deeply.

Step 3: Test the Stain

Before staining the entire floor, always test your wood stain on a small, inconspicuous area. Different types of wood and flooring may absorb the stain differently, so this step ensures you achieve your desired color and finish. Be patient—let the stain dry completely before evaluating the color. When using an oil-based stain, mix Pure Tung Oil into your stain with a 1 to 4 ratio of oil to stain. This ensures that the Tung Oil properly absorbs into your wood floors. When using a water-based wood stain, you can apply the Tung Oil after you’ve completed your stain application as a finish. Our favorite water-based stain that works best with our Tung Oil comes from PureColor.

Step 4: Apply the Stain

With your test complete, it’s time to apply the stain to the entire floor. Proper application is essential to achieving an even, professional-looking finish. Use a natural bristle brush, cloth, or roller to apply the stain in thin, even layers, working along the wood grain for the most natural result. When applying the stain, here are a few key points to keep in mind:

• Maintain a Wet Edge: To avoid visible streaks or lap marks, it’s crucial to maintain a wet edge as you move across the floor. This means working in small sections and blending the stain where different areas meet, ensuring one section doesn’t dry before you start the next.
• Work in Sections: Focus on applying the stain in manageable sections. Using a brush, cloth, or roller, start at one end of the floor and work toward the other, ensuring each section is blended correctly with the previous one. This method helps prevent overlap marks and ensures an even stain distribution across the floor.
• Avoid Overlapping Too Much: Overlapping stain sections too heavily can result in darker spots or uneven coverage. Be careful not to go over the same area multiple times unless necessary for blending. Instead, aim for smooth, consistent strokes along the wood grain, allowing the stain to settle naturally.
• Avoid Streaks: Apply the stain in long, even strokes, following the direction of the wood grain. Avoid using too much pressure, as this can lead to streaks or uneven patches. A natural bristle brush is great for this because it distributes the stain smoothly, reducing the chance of visible brush marks.
• Control Excess Stain: After applying the stain, let it sit for a few minutes to allow the wood to absorb the color. Then, wipe off any excess stain with a clean, lint-free cloth. This step is important because leaving excess stain on the surface can cause uneven coloring or blotchy spots once the stain dries.
• Let the Stain Settle Without Pooling: Be mindful of how much stain is applied in any one spot. Allowing the stain to pool can lead to a patchy or blotchy finish. Use the cloth to wipe away any areas where the stain has pooled, particularly in corners or along the edges where it can easily collect.
• Ensure Proper Ventilation: Lastly, throughout the staining process, ensure the room is well-ventilated to allow fumes to dissipate and help the stain dry faster. Open windows and use fans if necessary, particularly with oil-based stains that emit stronger fumes. Proper ventilation protects you from inhaling harmful vapors and aids in achieving an even drying process across the floor.

By keeping these details in mind as you apply the stain, you’ll avoid common pitfalls like streaks, blotches, and uneven color, resulting in a smooth, professional-looking finish on your wood floors.

Step 5: Let the Stain Dry Completely

Patience is key at this stage. Depending on the type of wood stain you’ve chosen, you’ll need to let the stain dry completely, which can take anywhere from a few hours to overnight. To prevent fumes from accumulating, ensure proper ventilation in the room.

Step 6: Apply Multiple Coats

For a deeper, richer color, consider applying multiple coats of stain. Before each additional coat, lightly sand the floor with fine-grit sandpaper to smooth any raised grain. After sanding, clean the surface to remove dust and apply the stain again. Repeat the process until you achieve the desired depth of color.

Step 7: Apply the Finish

Once your stain is dry and you’re satisfied with the color, it’s time to seal the floor with a protective finish. If you’ve used a water-based wood stain, an eco-friendly option like Pure Tung Oil is perfect for a natural, non-toxic finish. When using Tung Oil as your finish with your water-based stain, we do not recommend adding a wood conditioner to your floor before applying the oil, as wood conditioners will prevent the oil from absorbing into your newly stained floor. The finish adds shine and protects the floor from wear and tear, ensuring your hardwood floor lasts for years.

Final Touches: Buffing and Inspecting the Floor

Once the finish has dried, you can buff the floor to a soft sheen for added smoothness. Inspect the wood floor for uneven spots or places where the stain hasn’t absorbed evenly. If needed, touch up those areas with a second coat of stain or finish.

Maintenance Tips for Your Stained Wood Floor

Now that you’ve stained your wooden floor, proper maintenance is crucial for keeping it looking beautiful. Clean the floor regularly with a soft broom or vacuum to prevent dust and dirt from scratching the surface. You can also periodically refresh the finish with a light application of Wood Wax or oil to protect the hardwood floor.

Avoid using harsh chemicals that could strip the finish when caring for your wood floors. Instead, opt for gentle, natural cleaners that complement the eco-friendly products you’ve used to complete the project.

Elevate Your Home with Beautifully Stained Wood Floors

Staining your wood floors can transform the look of your home, highlighting the natural beauty of the wood grain while providing lasting protection. With the right tools, materials, and patience, you can achieve a stunning result that adds warmth and elegance to your space. Whether you’re working with hardwood floors or another type of wood, the steps outlined above will guide you through how to stain wood floors and breathe new life into your home. Ready to start your project? Explore Real Milk Paint’s range of natural finishes and paints for beautiful, eco-friendly results.