In [10]: df = DataFrame(dict(A = Series(['1.0','1']), B = Series(['1.0','foo'])))
In [11]: df
Out[11]:
A B
0 1.0 1.0
1 1 foo
In [12]: df.dtypes
Out[12]:
A object
B object
dtype: object
In [13]: df.convert_objects(convert_numeric=True)
Out[13]:
A B
0 1 1
1 1 NaN
In [14]: df.convert_objects(convert_numeric=True).dtypes
Out[14]:
A float64
B float64
dtype: object