How to Beat Stains on Every Surface in Your House

Wood Floors

These tips are intended for wood floors treated with a polyurethane finish.

• Most stains: Tackle with a scrub pad and a cleaner made for a polyurethane finish, such as Bruce Dura-Luster No-Wax Floor Cleaner.
• Scuff marks: Use a dab of mineral spirits (a type of paint thinner) on a soft cloth.
• Crayon: Place a plastic bag filled with ice on scribbles until they harden, and then peel them off with a plastic spatula.