hardwood floors

HELP!!!!!!!! I PULLED UP SOME CARPETING IN MY LIVING ROOM AND FOUND A TERRIBLE SUPRISE. THERE WERE PETS IN THE HOUSE AND THERE ARE STAINS ON THE FLOOR FROM ACCIDENTS!! IS THERE SOMETHING THAT I CAN USE TO TAKE THE STAINS UP???? IF NOT WILL SANDING TAKE THEM UP. THE BOARDS ARE NOT WARPED ONLY STAINED. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SAVE THE FLOOR. I LOVE THE FLOORING. CARPETING IS NOT THE ANSWER FOR THIS ROOM AND REPLACING THE FLOOR IS NOT AN OPTION AT THIS POINT. IF ANYONE HAS ANY ANSWERS I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THE GUIDANCE. I AM JUST AN AMATEUR. THANK YOU.
MARYDW

 

Wood and liquids are not compatible. That's why standing liquids need to be wiped up immediately with a spill or pet mess. Your best bet for an assessment of the extent of the damage is to get a professional. If sanding will not remove the stains, then a repair may be possible. Some times it is possible to remove boards from an inconspicuous area to replace damaged ones in conspicuous areas. Some floor refinishers will not refinish pet stained floors because of the ammonia odor, which can be breathtaking when heated up by the sanders. I once moved into a house where I had the wood floors redone. One room, the one I wanted for an office, was where previous owners had locked in their pets. Sanding would not remove the stains. The refinisher reported them to be deep stains that would continue to rise to the surface. It made me sad to have to carpet over hardwood.