Stain without sanding first?

Q: I have a wall to wall rug that has been in my apartment since way before I moved in (more than 10 years), and I would like to remove the rug. Can I stain the hardwood floor without sanding first?

I understand that I won’t know what condition the floor would be in, but I am looking for a easy way to make the floor look decent.

A: No you can’t stain without sanding first. this work is really best left to the professional. I have been doing this work 34 years and so many factors can impact a job, I still get tense doing it. This is not work for the novice.