I just found this thread, and went to look, and found some spots on my wood floor exactly like in this post:
My vacuum has been in operation charging in it’s location for about 2 years. Here’s what I did:
First I scrubbed the spot with a paper towel soaked in Bona. That removed about half of the discoloration.
Next I very carefully and lightly cleaned the areas with a Q-tip with some Cerama Bryte flat stovetop cleaner (I use this stuff for a lot of things). It is abrasive, so go very lightly and continue to check the progress for any undesirable effects before continuing.
Jeff, what kind of floors do you have? I have had no luck with Bona, but did not try Cerama. I have water based poly finished maple floors, so bery light. I worry that the Cerama might scratch/dull the surface where it’s used. How did yours look?
The information from the previous owner is that it’s an engineered hardwood floor with a scratch resistant finish/layer on top.
If you want to try Cerama Bryte, proceed with a tiny area at a time and monitor for any undesired effects.
I did a tiny spot in the back of a closet before trying it. After successfully removing the discoloration, I can tell no difference between the cleaned area and the surrounding area.
But there are so many types and formulations of flooring, so it’s hard to predict certainty.
I’ll be interested if you’re able to remove the stains. My experience with our oak floors, no stain, 3 coats of water-based poly was that the wood itself reacted with whatever is in those wheels. No amount of scrubbing or solvents will do anything since it is now below the poly.
In my experience, if the stains are caused by the wheels, it is likely that the stain is below the polyurethane and may not be removable. However, depending on the type of flooring and the polyurethane you used, there are a few things we can try. First, we can try to protect the floor from further damage with a comprehensive cleaning and a treatment of a wood-safe sealant or wax. If that does not work, we may need to sand down the surface and apply fresh coats of polyurethane. I would also suggest testing a safe solution on a hidden area of the floor to ensure that it does not damage the finish.
I have found wheel tread marks at random places on my polyurethane finished red oak and on my LVP.
Because my vac parks under a cabinet I can really see the floor where it parks (and don’t care since I can’t see it anyway).
But to be clear, I’m seeing wheel tread marks at various places which are NOT where it parks.
I’ve tried several types of alcohol and none clean off the marks and seeing so many others saying that alcohol doesn’t work it’s “low class” for WYSE to keep telling people to try alcohol.
I have 12 WYSE cameras and I’ve had good service from the cameras. Needing that many cameras left me little choice than to buy low cost cameras. At <$50 each I consider them disposable. But the Vacuum cost a lot more and isn’t a disposable item.
One product feature that keeps WYSE products is Open Source support. In other words, the consumers try to help each other with little to no help from the manufacturer.
I think I’ll put my WYSE vac in the garage where floor marks wont matter and get a different brand for in the house.
This issue has nothing to do with Wyze specifically.
Floors with polyurethane finishes, especially Bona it seems, do react chemically with some rubbers. My SO has Bona matte finished floors and lamps rubber feet do stain them. We replaced the black feet with white ones and guess what, they do stain the floor the same - just slightly paler.
We tried many things to remove the stains. The only working solution has been sanding, until the mark vanishes and then recoat the whole plank (to fully achieve an invisible repair).
This issue has nothing to do with Wyze exclusively. There are other products that have the issue although I haven’t seen the same issue posted about manufacturers of other robot vacuums.
The issue discussed in this thread is specifically a Wyze problem. They chose the wrong material for wheels.
Argh…count me in this group now. Had no issues in old house. renovated new house and now this on my BRAND NEW FLOORS. I’m pretty darn upset. Opened a support ticket with Wyze just so there’s another data point. I haven’t tried any of the cleaning methods other than soap and water until I do a bit more research on my floors. This is horrible…
So in my experience none of the cleaning methods work. This is penetrating your floor and only gets darker as time goes on. My floor guy sanded down quite a bit until it was gone. He was surprised. So plan on those light spots darkening, best to call in a floor guy now.
Argh. That’s my fear. I think the darker spots are the “older” ones. I just noticed the spots now so not a lot of conclusive info for me. I’m just livid about this vac and all the reports.
FYI, I had no issues with wyze at my old house with 100 year old hardwood floors. These are engineered white oak so it’s a different material.
I’m trying to think if it’s something that’s been dragged around my floor, but I don’t see the marks anywhere except where the vacuums are docked. If these get darker over time, I’m concerned overall about my floors in the long run using this vac.
I’ve had mine on a very old hardwood and have the marks at the charging area. Moved to a new home with fresh floors, and noticed the marks after about 3 days of sitting on the charging port. I cannot get the marks to clean up.
Not that it resolves the core problem of floors being stained (I was in the same boat, but luckily was able to scour the marks out), but it looks like Wyze has a Robot Vacuum Pad that they are launching, I’m guessing to avoid this issue? I just bought a simple silicone mat to put under the docking station a while back to resolve the problem.
I think it’s awful how wyze does not take responsibility for its defective product. A product recall should’ve been done on the wheels or whatever the issue is that causes this or a platform for the docking station to protect the floors . It only seems to happen where it is docked for me . Wyze offered me a refund- that’s not going help my brand new floors . And if I accepted it I have no resource . I asked for upper management and they never got back to me. I want to be reimbursed for the refinishing of my new floor, it the right thing to do . And I have a Samsung robot and I do not have that issue ! Thank you all who responded with your solutions , I will give it a try have nothing to lose. Thanks again!
