Hardwood floors are becoming a popular flooring choice, It’s mainly popular because of the natural beauty they bring to your home. A protective coating like polyurethane can help extend the life and help protect your hardwood floors from wear and provides a barrier that protects against moisture. This popular top coat for hardwood floors is a great choice but it can become dull over time as it collects dirt. Wax and other consumer based products that leave a waxy film should not reapplied to your floors. Over time, a natural build-up will occur and to remove wax buildup a deep cleaning of the wood floor is required. With a few simple products you can remove the hazy wax build-up but it is a labor-intensive process.
Before You Begin, Here’s What You’ll Need:
Stripping wax can be an messy and expensive process. It is recommended to hire a professional but if you insist on doing it yourself here’s a few simple supplies are all that is needed to remove wax buildup and get the job done right.
Knee Pads or Knee Cushion
Broom & Dust Pan
Mineral Spirits
Microfiber Cloths
Bucket
Mop
Rubber Gloves
Note: This is a DYI process. If you have any issues or need to hire a professional, go here to see our hardwood floor cleaning service
It is most manageable to work in with a small section of flooring at a time. Working in roughly a 4-foot by 4-foot area makes it easy to reach in a single position. Keep your hands protected as you work with rubber gloves. It is also a good idea to wear old clothing because stripping wax can be a messy process.
Steps to Remove Wax Buildup
Rub with Mineral Spirits & A Soft Cloth
Spray or pour mineral spirits on a section of the floor or a cloth. Start working the mineral spirits into the wax coating by rubbing in the same direction as the wood grain. As you rub, wax will come up on the cloth. When one section of cloth gets dirty, moisten another section of the cloth and keep going. As the wax comes off, you will notice that the cloth turns a yellow hue. When the moistened cloth comes up clean, the wax has been effectively removed. Continue working with mineral spirits and a clean cloth until all the wax has been removed from the section.
Repeat with the Next Section
Once the wax layer has been stripped with mineral oil and both a cloth, move on to the next section of flooring. Make sure to move along in a logical pattern so it is easy to track where you have been and what flooring you still need to treat. Thick knee pads or a gardening cushion will help to protect your knees and shins as you strip the wax from your hardwood flooring.
Mop with Hot Water
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. Take care to dry any remaining water, as standing water can easily damage the surface of hardwood floors. Try working in sections with a mop and going over it with a dry microfiber cloth on a dry mop.
Visit our website for more information on our wood floor cleaning and wax removal service https://www.healthyhomesvc.com/hardwood-floor-cleaning/