Removing a grease stain from parquet: how to do it safely and effectively

Achaté team

December 15, 2025 3

Removing a grease stain from parquet: how to do it safely and effectively

A grease stain on your parquet happens in no time: a splash of oil from the pan, a drop of candle wax or someone walking through the house with hand cream on their hands. Grease soaks into wood quickly, which makes it harder to remove than an ordinary stain.

With the right approach, you'll get most stains out nicely. Older grease stains that have soaked in deeply can sometimes leave a faint shadow. That's just part of wood and doesn't mean your floor is damaged.

Why grease stains are tricky on parquet

Parquet is a natural material and therefore porous. Grease soaks into the wood fibres quickly, bonds more strongly than water and reacts differently on lacquered and oiled floors. That's why the combination of grease and parquet can be tricky to treat.

Oiled floors are more sensitive because the finish seals less. Lacquered floors are better protected, but even there grease can still cause dullness or discolouration.

First aid for a fresh grease stain

The faster you act, the better the result. If you discover a grease stain on your parquet, it's important to act quickly. Follow these steps:

Blot the grease immediately, but gently. Use kitchen paper and press lightly on the surface. Don't rub.
Sprinkle an absorbent powder on the stain: Cornflour, baking powder or talcum powder are suitable.
Leave it for 20 to 30 minutes: This gives the powder the chance to draw out and absorb the grease.
Gently wipe the powder away: Use a soft cloth and, once again, make sure you don't rub the floor.
Repeat if necessary: This often makes a fresh grease stain disappear almost completely.

Degreasing parquet with a mild cleaning product

Is the stain still visible? Then you can carefully clean it with a little moisture. For this you can use mild washing-up liquid, lukewarm water and a slightly damp microfibre cloth. Here's how to go about it:

Dampen the cloth (don't soak it).
Clean along the grain.
Use little pressure.
Dry immediately with a clean cloth.

Always make sure you avoid the following:

hot water
aggressive degreasers
solvents or chlorine products

Keep in mind that every floor is different. Especially with wooden floors, it's important to be extra careful. Not sure what is and isn't good for your floor? Check with the floor's supplier. Already used corrosive chlorine products? Then read here how to remove chlorine stains.

Removing a grease stain from oiled parquet

Oiled parquet is more vulnerable because the oil doesn't fully seal the wood.

Steps you can follow:

start with absorbent powder
clean gently as described above
is a dark ring still visible? Then use natural soap or a special floor soap for oiled floors
let it dry thoroughly
touch up the surface locally with maintenance oil

The oil evens out the colour, so the spot often becomes less noticeable.

Removing a grease stain from lacquered parquet

On lacquered floors, the grease more often stays on top of the lacquer instead of soaking into the wood.

Here's how to clean it:

Use mild soap and a slightly damp cloth.
No scouring pads, no hard brushes.
Dry immediately afterwards.

Has the lacquer turned dull? Then you can buff the surface or use a light polish.

What to do about stubborn grease stains on parquet?

With old grease stains, the grease has soaked deep into the wood. Then only a more intensive approach will help.

Possible steps you can take:

sand locally with very fine sandpaper
refinish the surface: oil for oiled parquet, lacquer repair for lacquered parquet
call in a specialist: unfortunately, stubborn (grease) stains on a wooden floor can't always be solved. A specialist often knows best how to make your floor look like new again.

Also got stains on a rug or sofa next to the floor? Clean those materials too, so no grease soaks back into the wood. An electric spot cleaner can come in handy for that.