Dear Home Ec 101:
Recently my son spilled a bottle of Downy on the wood floor in our
den. Now, no one in our family can go in that room because of the
smell. What can we do?
~Fumin’ in Fullingham
Heather says:
What a headache! The perfumes responsible for your odor problem are suspended in oils designed to coat fabrics. After thoroughly mopping up the mess with rags, use a clean rag dampened with warm, soapy water over the area. Use another rag dampened with clear water to rinse the area. You may have to repeat the process several times. To encourage rapid drying and increase air circulation I would set up a portable fan until the area is thoroughly dry. Hardwood should never be soaked as it may damage the flooring. There may be some residual scent from what seeped between the boards, but it should no longer be overwhelming.
Good luck!
I would try baking soda to help neutralize the perfumes.