can I? or can i just stain a floor darker? how do i stain a floor is it toxic?
You can't stain a floor a lighter colour than it already is unless you sand off the existing stain and get back to bare wood. Even then you'd be restricted by the original colour of the wood. You can stain any floor darker. Go to your home improvement store and look for a floor stain that's suitable for your type of floor. It will have instructions on how to use it, or you could ask the staff for advice. Floor stains are designed to be used in the home so they're not toxic.
I'm thinking you're talking real wood flooring? Yes you can. Rent a professional type sander and sand all flooring until all present stain has been removed. Be sure to wear a mask and cover anything that's possible to cover as it can be a pretty messy job. However, I don't think it's anything you can't handle. After all old stain has been removed, be sure to wipe down with a damp cloth even if you have to do this a few times. You don't want any old sand left behind. You can either put a clear coat over flooring so it shows the natural color of the wood flooring or use a light stain. You may need a protective coat over stain, but you can ask about this at any hardware store that you'll be dealing with. There may be toxin's in stains, but I'm not sure about this. Another question to ask before starting your project. One way or the other wear a mask and you should be just fine.
