Cleaning Wax Finish Hardwood Floors

Vinegar is recommended for this purpose.

Cleaning wax finish hardwood floors.

Vacuum your hardwood floor once a week. Scoop a tablespoon of solid wax with the putty knife onto a soft lint free cloth. Use your vacuum s hard floor setting. 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.

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. Deep clean heavy dirt and grime buildup. 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.

Use a broom or hardwood floor mop for daily cleaning. Avoid using wet mops for cleaning hardwood floors as it can result in clouding the wax coat or damaging the wood. Take care to dry any remaining water as standing water can easily damage the surface of hardwood floors. Use a quarter of vinegar with a gallon of warm water in a bucket.

A microfiber mop pre treated with a dusting agent will pick up dust and dirt and prevent scratches. Wax is one of the oldest types of hardwood floor finishes around. Make your cleaning fluid make the cleaning fluid for your waxed floor. Try working in sections with a mop and going over it with a dry microfiber cloth on a dry mop.

As a rule of thumb only dry clean your hardwood flooring. Every so often wax should be stripped with a liquid wax stripper. 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. 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.

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. It s an inexpensive alternative to other finish types but it requires unique maintenance and regular upkeep. 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.