All hardwood floors, whether made from new or recycled wood, or even vintage floors that have been in place a century or more, need periodic waxing. Floor wax helps seal the porous wood surface, protects it from stains, hides scratches and dents and increases shine.
The waxed surface makes the wood floor more resistant to chemicals and wear than an oiled floor. It can be difficult to see and feel the difference between a waxed and an oiled floor. Often a waxed wood feels a bit softer and a little more slippery than an oiled wood floor.
There are two main types of hardwood floor wax, solid paste wax and liquid wax. Solid paste wax for wood, such as Minwax Paste Wax, is sold in cans and usually contains more wax and less solvent. Its consistency is fairly thick so it must be applied by hand with a cloth, on your hands and knees.
How often you wax wood floors depends on the amount of footfall in the room. As a general guide, wax every six months, but in a home with only one or two people, you could get away with once a year. In a commercial building where a high number of people visit, waxing much more often may be necessary.
An easy way to fill in microscratches and shine wood floors is to polish your floors after mopping. After dusting and spray mopping, use a designated microfiber mop pad to apply polish to wood floors to add shine. Bona floor polish is easy to use and adds a protection and shine with every application.
Vegetable oil will preserve the finish of your floor and keep it looking shiny and new. If you're going to take this approach, combine two cups of vegetable oil with two cups of distilled white vinegar. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray it on your floor while wiping it down with a clean, microfiber cloth.
Vinegar and Ammonia: Cleaning products that have a base of vinegar or ammonia eat away at the dirt on your floor - and also the floor's finish itself. Overtime, the acid will wear down your hardwood, leaving you with splotchy patches that are difficult to revive.
Apply the wax lightly and evenly (per package instructions), working it into the surface. (If you prefer soft wax, use the liquid-equivalent of paste wax.) As the waxed surface dries, it will appear cloudy. Buff to a shine with a clean towel, an electric polisher, or a terry cloth-covered sponge mop.
Beeswax is a safe and natural alternative to commercial wood preserving products which may contain high levels of toxic materials. Beeswax not only seals and protects the hardwood finish, it also transforms the floors into bright and shiny ones.
The benefits of waxing your hardwood floor.
It minimizes the absorption of spills, preventing unwanted stains. It will fade or completely hide the appearance of minor scratches, scuffs, and dings. Wax also keeps dirt and other invaders from harming your floor's finish.
Floor wax penetrates wood pores when its rubbed onto the surface and buffed to a sheen. It gives wood floors a natural look; when you touch the floor, you're touching the wood, not a coating. It's not as durable as varnish but protects against water and some wear. It's simple to touch up using a rag and fresh wax.
Wax finishes are easy to distinguish due to the way they react to water. It is easy to mark them with water spills. In an inconspicuous area, corner or behind a door, apply two (2) drops of water. If within ten minutes, white spots appear under the drops of water, the floor has a wax finish.
What is the Best Finish for Hardwood Floors? Polyurethane is the most popular finish for floors. It's tough enough to handle constant traffic and is resistant to almost everything. There are two types of polyurethane finish: oil-based (solvent borne) and water-based (waterborne).
The satin sheen is the most popular finish for hardwood floors. This hardwood floor sheen has about 40% luster and is easy to keep clean. This level of sheen disperses light and doesn't show all of the imperfections or dirt.
Oil base poly is a thicker product, and will build up a thicker layer of protection for your hardwood floors. It is a great choice for longevity and high traffic areas. We generally recommend and apply 3 coats of oil based polyurethane. Water based finishes will lay out thinner, but are slightly harder than oil based.
Dampen a clean, lint-free cotton cloth and dip it into the floor wax. Apply the wax to the hardwood floor lightly and evenly, following the instructions found on the wax packaging. Liquid wax also may be used. Some floors may require sanding before wax is applied.
Apply Floor Wax
We recommend applying anywhere from four to 10 layers of wax coating to achieve a durable, long-lasting finish that won't require immediate stripping after only a few buffing sessions. However, for high-traffic areas, you may want to apply additional layers of wax.
As long as you keep the surface properly protected and maintained on a daily basis, you should be fine with having them stripped and wax every five to six months.
Do not wet mop wood flooring. Damp is good. Dripping wet is bad. If you can ring out the mop or pad, you're working with too much water.
How to clean wood floors. Remember: Water is wood's worst enemy (even on sealed floors!), so use a damp mop rather than a soaking wet one. "You don't want to let any water sit as you're cleaning your hardwood floors, so be sure to work in one small area at a time," Wise said.
Since vinegar is an acid, it will actually break down the finish on the surface of your floor, and over time it will reduce the shine, and leave a dull appearance.
Buffing a hardwood floor with a buffer is an easy and efficient way to restore its shine without sanding. Make sure that all areas are dry before you begin buffing. Put on the appropriate protective gear and attach the buffing pad to the buffer. It's important to give each area equal attention for a uniform shine.