How to Fix a Yellowed Poplar Floor

Sweep the floor with a broom or dust mop to remove any loose dirt, dust or debris. Create a mixture of one tablespoon hardwood floor cleaner and half a gallon of lukewarm water.

Dampen a kitchen sponge or mop with the mixture and use it to remove difficult stains and the yellowing. Rinse the hardwood floor cleaning mixture away with a separate kitchen sponge or rinsed mop. If the yellowing persists, move to the next step.

Dampen a piece of #0000 steel wool with the hardwood flooring cleaning mixture. Work the floor cleaning mixture into the poplar flooring using even, back and forth strokes to eliminate the discoloration.

Continue to work the cleaner, rewetting the steel wool when necessary, until the yellow discoloration is completely eliminated.

Dampen a kitchen sponge with plain water and wipe away the stray chunks of steel wool and soapy residue. Dry the flooring with a microfiber cloth to prevent streaks and watermarks.