Help! Need to shift this stain!

[Sweatymess2022]

Hiya

I'm hoping someone can help me.
Currently living in a privately tenanted property and due to move out end of October.
We moved in last year, and through winter had a doormat situated as you come in from the back garden.

Now I must admit, I didnt mop this part of the floor for about 2 months 🙈 I just swept/hoovered/mopped around it.
I blame the madness of moving into first home, Christmas and working full time, really I was just busy but lazy.

When I did come to lift the mat after a couple of months to mop underneath, I noticed this awful stain left behind by the doormat.
I got rid on the mat straight away, and over the months have tried a few things to try and remove the stain.

As you can see, nothing so far has worked, but I really need to fix this before we move as I'm worried they will say they need to replace the floor and refuse to give us our £900 deposit back.
The floor in the same here in the little hallway as it is in the toilet on one end and the kitchen on the other, so also worried they may say they need to replace all of it to match?
To be honest the floor desperately needs replacing anyway it's it's very old and cheap and parts have lifted, but that was the case when we moved in and I'll be buggered if we have to pay for it.

So mumsnetters, please please offer some advice on products, techniques etc I can use to lift this.
So far I have tried warm soapy water, elbow grease, the pink stuff paste, regular floor cleaner.

My partner has a theory it might not even be a stain, it could perhaps have gone through a layer of the floor, but I can't see how I can make it much worse right now by assuming (and hoping) it's a stain!

Also, I have attached a photo of the doormat, steer clear from buying it!!

Have you tried CIF cream, I find that removes most stubborn stains, without causing damage, good luck.

Another idea is baking soda or bar keepers friend.

I'd buy a new mat and put it over the top!

Is it possible the stain was there before you moved in? Did you put the mat down or was it already there?

Barkeepers friend is brilliant for stubborn stains

No it definitely wasn't there before we moved in, I bought the mat. I wouldn't want to risk hiding it and they find it.
I'll try CIF and bar keepers friend though, thank you!!

Pink stuff? But do a small test first in case it affects the surface.

Firstly, you cannot be made to pay for replacement flooring for that. A new carpet paid for my you would be betterment for the landlord and they can't do that. The value of floor coverings reduces over time. Have it spot cleaned and put a mat back over it.

Read your How to rent guide and get clued up on getting your deposit back.

I'd be a bit careful OP ,that looks like laminate flooring and you might strip the surface .Have you googled removing stains from laminate ?

are you sure it's a stain? To me it looks like the area where the mat has been hasn't been exposed to the sun but the surrounding areas have so have lightened over time.

I could be wrong as I can't see the picture very well on my phone as can't zoom in.

Is it laminate, or vinyl sheet?

That’s what I was thinking too.

Bleach - but test a small area first!!

its definitely this. The exposure to daylight on the other parts of the floor has faded it, and the part under the mat has been protected. its not a stain and def not your fault, i doubt he could penalise you for that!

Obviously my eye sight isn't what it was as I didn't spot this isn't carpet! Anyway, what I posted stands - you cannot lose your deposit in order for the landlord to replace the whole floor.

That looks like the colour the rest of the flooring should be but isn't because the rest of the flooring was exposed to sunlight/daylight and the pattern is because your mat protected the flooring in this way.

I'd plead that if asked by the landlord. Also the rest of the flooring looks like it's getting close to end-of-life so if your concerned, you could get some ash coloured contact paper and stick it to the floor but I'd colour match with the rest of the floor first before going down that route.

I'd also recommend to the landlord that if they are getting the flooring replaced, they should reconsider how they lay their flooring so that you could have a door mat in a well (so to speak) so it is at the same height as the flooring and not on top of the flooring. Would allow for the mat to be replaced as needed without causing any shadows to the flooring.