Cleaning Wax Finish Hardwood Floors

When the whole floor is stripped of wax to remove wax buildup give it a final cleaning by mopping the surface of the wood with hot water.

Cleaning wax finish hardwood floors. As a rule of thumb only dry clean your hardwood flooring. Wax is one of the oldest types of hardwood floor finishes around. It is a safe and effective cleaner for most of the surfaces available. Attack sticky debris asap with a damp clean cloth a mini squirt of wood floor cleaner and a vigorous rub.

It s an inexpensive alternative to other finish types but it requires unique maintenance and regular upkeep. Scoop a tablespoon of solid wax with the putty knife onto a soft lint free cloth. Vacuum your hardwood floor once a week. Make your cleaning fluid make the cleaning fluid for your waxed floor.

If you don t like to crouch plant one foot on a rag. Lift off dust and pet hair with a microfiber mop head ideally treated with a positive electric charge so it can capture negative ion ephemera. Use your vacuum s hard floor setting. Leaving hot water on your flooring long enough to dissolve wax is just asking for the water to seep through the cracks swell the wood and ruin your floor.

If using liquid wax pour or squeeze a tablespoon from the can or bottle directly onto the hardwood floor then. Hot water can dissolve wax especially if it contains vinegar ammonia washing powder or a similar cleaning agent but no flooring manufacturer would recommend using it. Deep clean heavy dirt and grime buildup. A microfiber mop pre treated with a dusting agent will pick up dust and dirt and prevent scratches.

Try working in sections with a mop and going over it with a dry microfiber cloth on a dry mop. Avoid using wet mops for cleaning hardwood floors as it can result in clouding the wax coat or damaging the wood. Use a broom or hardwood floor mop for daily cleaning. Waxed floors should be cleaned with solvent based cleaners instead of water based ones.

Use liquid wax or oil on unvarnished hardwood linoleum or unfinished cork. If a surface finished hardwood floor still looks dingy or dull after dusting deep clean it with any ph neutral wax free and petroleum free cleaner such. Use a quarter of vinegar with a gallon of warm water in a bucket. Every so often wax should be stripped with a liquid wax stripper.