We had a rug in our entryway that deteriorated from getting wet from winter boots, etc. and actually adhered itself to the floor. I sort of scraped it off - took hours - and it left these dark stains. It was a Chilewich rug with rubberized bottom if that is useful. Anyway, we covered it up with another rug for a while, but now we're doing some work in the area and I'm wondering if there's something else I could do that won't be too much of an ordeal.

The entryway itself is small (4x10' or so), but it connects directly, without a threshold, to a larger area that's about 160 sq. ft. It's solid white oak and has a non-oil finish on it. Anyone have recommendations for getting the stains out? Chemical this or that? I considered sanding just this 4x10 area, maybe with a large sanding pad on a pole + my palm sander, but I would assume the transition to the rest of the adjoining room would be tricky or impossible to make look nice (?). And I actually don't know how deep the stains go, so might be unrealistic in thinking a little sanding will lift them out.

What would you do? Anything I should try first that just might make a big difference before committing to a bigger job? Maybe just cover it back up again?


^ When we first pulled up the rug, but before scraping all the rubber crud (a few yrs ago)

^ What it looks like now

^ zoomed

 

The carpet backing has stuck to the floors if it's not rubbing off then you really have only one option, to lightly sand and top coat.

 

Thanks for the reply, Marq1. What would you use to try to get the stain up before going to the sand/refinish option? Also, do you reckon I have to do the whole area shown + the adjoining area, or is there some way to just do the affected area with not-too-noticeable transition?

 

What's the finish? You may have to sand that off and start over, depending on how deep the stains go.

 

Can you still feel the backing in the bottom pics? If so I'd try a wet thinner rag along with a lot of elbow grease. IMO refinishing the floor should be a last resort. If you do just the foyer the finish difference will show although it will still look better than it currently does.

 

If it is rubber, maybe apply light heat with a heating gun and wipe off? Just a thought.

 

Thanks for the replies. It's a water-based poly (satin finish I think). Oil-based is not allowed in our building.

I can't feel the backing on it anymore, but I'm thinking I'll take another go at it anyway, as marksr suggests.

WRDIY, that's an interesting idea re. heat--maybe I'll try that after working on it some more with soap/water and a brush if it's still attached.

Thanks again....I'll report back.