Having problems with iodine stains on the floor? Vinyl flooring is one of the toughest options on the market today when it comes to resisting wear and tear, scratches and stains. However, even the best vinyl flooring has a hard time resisting iodine. Iodine is one of those chemicals that seems to stain just about everything it comes in contact with. The good news is that there are options for cleanup if someone accidentally drips or spills iodine onto a vinyl floor.
Time is of the essence when attending to an iodine spill on a vinyl floor. The longer it sits there, the harder it will be to remove. Assemble everything you need to clean up the spill as soon as possible to have the best chance of getting it up. From flooring to upholstery, counter tops and other surfaces, iodine can leave unsightly yellowish marks if not cleaned up as soon as possible.
To treat an iodine stain, you will need sodium thiosulfate granules, cleaning gloves, cool water and a sponge. Mix the water and sodium thiosulfate together to create a cleaning solution. Dip the sponge into the mixture and rub it into the iodine spot. Rinse the area with clean water, making sure all the solution is cleaned up. Repeat as necessary.
It’s important to note that you should never use bleach to treat an iodine stain. While bleach is an excellent cleaning product for many things, it doesn’t combine well with iodine. The chemical reaction between bleach and iodine will result in a permanent stain that cannot be treated.
Hi Davy,
what do you do with iodine stains on a vinyl pool liner (Intex Prism frame pool)? We have a walnut tree and the squirrels have been munching green walnuts and tossed half-eaten green walnut skins in the pool. Now there are yellow stains (not algae!) wherever the walnut peels have lingered.
For vinyl floor, i understand that sodium thiosulfate solution / scrub works. Would that work on the liner? We’re taking the pool down for the winter and I can scrub the bottom of the pool. Thanks!