Beautiful character and texture may be added to your home with hardwood floors. Whether richly stained or left unfinished, this popular flooring option adds a touch of character to halls, living rooms, dining rooms, and other spaces. When kept properly, hardwood may withstand years of use and survive for many years.
A crucial component of wood floor maintenance is applying wax. Hardwood floors can rapidly get dull or dirty from regular usage, especially in high-traffic areas like kitchens and entryways. Restoring brightness and adding a glossy feel to wood floors can be achieved by applying polish or wax. Wax, however, serves a purpose beyond just a glossy finish; it also serves to seal and shield the exquisite surface of hardwood flooring.
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How Wax Hardwood Floors
Use a broom or mop to gently clean the hardwood floor before applying floor wax to prevent dust or debris from becoming stuck in the wax and damaging the finish. Make sure the wax you use is appropriate for your floor and finish. Certain contemporary hardwood flooring varieties, for instance, feature sealed surfaces that should not be waxed; water-based polish is necessary for these finishes instead.
It is important to adhere to the guidelines provided by the flooring manufacturer and the product’s label in order to safeguard your floor and prevent the creation of an unsafely slippery surface. To avoid mishaps, nonskid rug pads are to be placed beneath all rugs and runners.
How to Use Solid Paste Wax on Hardwood Floors
For concrete, untreated cork, genuine linoleum, and unpainted hardwood floors, go for traditional paste wax in a can. Paste wax, however, should never be applied to vinyl, urethane-finished, or no-wax floors. Hand-apply this kind of wax for a durable sheen.
Prepare Cloth
To keep a gentle, lint-free cotton cloth (like an old T-shirt) from absorbing too much wax, moisten it and wring it almost dry.
Apply Wax
Working the wax into the surface, apply it lightly and evenly (as directed on the packaging). (Use paste wax’s liquid equivalent if you prefer soft wax.)
Buff to Shine
The waxed surface will appear foggy as it dries. Using a fresh towel, an electric polisher, or a sponge mop coated in terry cloth, buff the surface to a high sheen.
How to Apply Oil or Liquid Wax on Hardwood Floors
Unfinished cork, linoleum, and unpolished hardwood can all be treated with liquid wax or oil. Make sure you carefully follow the directions on the label. The finish usually lasts shorter with liquid wax than paste wax, despite the former being quicker to apply. This product should not be used on vinyl, urethane-finished floors, or no-wax floors.
Get the cleaning tool ready
To stop the wax from seeping in, dampen a mop, an electric floor polisher pad, or a soft, lint-free cloth.
Apply Oil
Lightly and evenly apply polish. The solvent will evaporate and leave the polish behind when it dries.
Buff to Shine
After the floor has dried, buff it using a fresh towel, an electric polisher, or a sponge mop that has been wrapped in a terry cloth towel.
How to Use Water-Based Silicone Polishes to Shine Floors
Water-based silicone polishes ($12, Walmart) work well on most types of flooring, though not linoleum, cork, or unsealed wood. Only this kind of polish is appropriate for surfaces with urethane finishes. Instead of applying a single, thick coat that takes a long time to dry, use numerous thin applications of these long-lasting polishes. Additionally, since polish stains paint and wallcoverings, you should refrain from splattering it on baseboards or walls.
Prepare the floor and mop
Dampen a fresh mop head before using. A portion of the polish should be poured straight onto the floor and onto the mop.
Dry and Polish
To prevent bubbles in the liquid, properly distribute the polish.
Repeat and Buff
In high-traffic areas, apply second and third coats, buffing after each coat dries.
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