# Removing semen stains from wooden floor (Need help) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 13, 2010, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536 "2010-11-13T05:04:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![katie9264](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/df788c/32.png) [@katie9264](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie9264)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/1 "2010-11-13T05:04:00Z")
In two rooms of my home, there are about six tiny white ‘circles’ where semen droplets landed. The semen was cleaned, but not fast enough: they stained the floor. You can’t seem them in the daytime, but at night when the lights are on they’re very visible. I’d really, really like to get rid of these. Scrubbing and Pledge did nothing . What product can I use to get these out or make them less obvious? The wood is very orangey, ‘medium’ colored. The feel is very smooth. Can’t get much more technical than that. Please help! ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/2 "2010-11-13T05:06:37Z")
I’d go with sandpaper. ---
**Author:** ![Lubricious\_Integument](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/82dd89/32.png) [@Lubricious\_Integument](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lubricious_Integument)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/3 "2010-11-13T05:08:29Z")
I would call a hardwood floor contractor in the area. We had some significant damage to the floor in one room, but found someone to fix it for $100 with a free estimate. Minor discoloration should be a simpler cheaper fix. Solution 2: hold a massive orgy to discolor the entire floor. ---
**Author:** ![katie9264](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/df788c/32.png) [@katie9264](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie9264)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/4 "2010-11-13T05:18:13Z")
Any other home remedies? Is it worth looking into other cleaning solutions (vinegar? I’m pretty clueless) or are more drastic measures the only likely option? ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/5 "2010-11-13T05:19:21Z")
I wont help if you dont offer the story behind that. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/6 "2010-11-13T05:29:21Z")
Murphy’s Oil Soap should take it out. For carpets, use white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/7 "2010-11-13T06:48:24Z")
Sandpaper and some touchup stain would be my DIY remedy. And maybe next time you’ll swallow, mmkay? ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/8 "2010-11-13T08:41:37Z")
Hydrogen peroxide worked for … when… uh… a friend had to do the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/9 "2010-11-13T08:49:59Z")
Sorry about the mess, OP. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/10 "2010-11-13T14:17:50Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Murphy’s Oil Soap should take it out. > For carpets, use white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. Actually, most wood floor professionals [\* strongly \* discourage](http://www.cinhome.com/murphys.html) the use of Murphy’s Oil Soap, particularly in cases like this where a refinish might be in the future. The basic idea is that when you clean a wood floor, you’re really cleaning the polyurethane on top of it. And oil soap leaves a residue that will clog a sander and cause future finishes not to adhere well. So vinegar and water is a better choice for cleaning. ---
**Author:** ![katie9264](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/df788c/32.png) [@katie9264](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie9264)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/11 "2010-11-13T14:27:56Z")
Wouldn’t hydrogen peroxide make it much worse? After all, the floor has become lighter, not darker (well, at least viewed under artificial light). ---
**Author:** ![katie9264](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/df788c/32.png) [@katie9264](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie9264)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/12 "2010-11-13T14:31:00Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Actually, most wood floor professionals [\* strongly \* discourage](http://www.cinhome.com/murphys.html) the use of Murphy’s Oil Soap, particularly in cases like this where a refinish might be in the future. > > The basic idea is that when you clean a wood floor, you’re really cleaning the polyurethane on top of it. And oil soap leaves a residue that will clog a sander and cause future finishes not to adhere well. So vinegar and water is a better choice for cleaning. It would be an extremely small part of the floor, so making refinishing slightly more challenging is not a concern of mine. My main concern is efficacy: if Pledge doesn’t work, why would Murphy Oil Soap? ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/13 "2010-11-13T14:35:28Z")
Are you renting the place or do you own it. Because when you try to explain what happened to your landlord… ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/14 "2010-11-13T14:37:51Z")
Nominated for Threadspotting (huh huh - _spotting_). ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/15 "2010-11-13T14:39:21Z")
help coming fast -} > [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > Sandpaper and some touchup stain would be my DIY remedy. And maybe next time you’ll swallow, mmkay? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/16 "2010-11-13T14:51:36Z")
> [@Lubricious\_Integument](#): > > Solution 2: hold a massive orgy to discolor the entire floor. The Jackson Pollock solution. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/17 "2010-11-13T14:51:37Z")
> [@chela](#): > > help coming fast -} Thanks, don’t need any help in THAT area. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![katie9264](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/df788c/32.png) [@katie9264](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie9264)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/18 "2010-11-13T15:10:18Z")
The serious answers help a lot more. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/19 "2010-11-13T15:13:13Z")
[Nature’s Miracle](http://www.naturemakesitwork.com/home/index.php)? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536/20 "2010-11-13T15:17:51Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > [Nature’s Miracle](http://www.naturemakesitwork.com/home/index.php)? Seconded, as I believe it works on proteins. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-semen-stains-from-wooden-floor-need-help/560536.md?page=2)