Removing Red Food Dye Stains from Wooden Floorboards
When red food coloring ends up on a hardwood floor—whether from baking projects or Easter egg decorating—it can act as a dye and leave a stain if not addressed right away. Prompt attention with everyday household items can help lift the color without scratching the wood.
By Taylor Evans5 steps
Red food coloring can be used to dye Easter eggs.
Red food coloring serves purposes beyond baking—it is also used when dyeing Easter eggs. In the excitement, children might knock it over onto the hardwood flooring of a kitchen or dining room. Because red food coloring functions as a dye, it can leave a stain on the hardwood if it is not wiped up promptly. It also matters to avoid abrasive cleaners, which may scratch the flooring surface.
Step 1
Lay a paper towel on top of the red food coloring without pressing down. Let the towel absorb as much of the coloring as it can. Then throw the paper towel away.
Step 2
Mist club soda onto whatever red food coloring remains, and leave it in place for 5 minutes. Use a clean white rag to blot the area. Should every trace of the coloring come up, no further floor cleaning is necessary—club soda leaves no residue.
Step 3
If the club soda did not lift the red food coloring, try hydrogen peroxide on a hidden section of the wood floor first. Provided the hardwood shows no change in color, spray the peroxide onto the food coloring stain, let it sit for 5 minutes, work the area with a soft bristle brush, and wipe it clean using a white rag.
Step 4
Combine 1 cup of vinegar with 1 gallon of hot water. After the red food coloring stain has been eliminated, use this mixture as a homemade cleaner to wash the wood flooring.
Step 5
Use a white towel to dry the hardwood flooring. If water is allowed to remain on hardwood for any length of time, it can warp the wood.
