An Overview of Hardwood Floor Waxing

06/06/2022

All of us love hardwood floors because of the classic elegance that it adds to our home. However, this is not the case when your hardwood floor is dull, dingy, or dinted. Hardwood floor waxing is one of the most popular and economical ways to restore the gleam of hardwood floors and prolong their life.  

Why is Waxing done?  

A popular floor finishing technique, waxing involves applying a thin layer of clear or coloured wax to a hardwood floor and then buffing to a shine. Natural or synthetic waxes are blended with solvents for this purpose. As the solvents evaporate, the hardened wax creates a protective coating over the floor surface. 

Waxing of the floor offers a host of benefits including 

• Prevents staining of the floor by limiting the absorption of spills 
• Eliminates minor imperfections such as dings, scratches, and scuffs marks.  
• Ensures durability of underlying finishes by creating an initial line of defence against dirt, dust, and spills.    
• Compared to un-waxed floors, waxed floors last longer because of their increased hardiness.  
• Clear wax creates a glossy and shiny look that can’t be achieved by vacuuming or mopping. Use of coloured waxes can also create a richer and deeper patina by adding an attractive tint.  

Can all floors be waxed? 

Waxing is most appropriate for hardwood floors that have been treated previously with a varnish, lacquer, oil, or shellac because the properties of these protective finishes gets bolstered by wax. However, unfinished floors can also be waxed.  

Waxing should never be done for urethane-finished floors and vinyl designed or no-wax linoleum floors. Also, waxing is only suitable for hardwood floors that are in decent structural condition without any significant bulging, warping, discoloration, gouging, or chipping. If your hardwood floor has any of these problems, repair or replace the floorboards before waxing.   

Waxing Techniques for Best Results  

Preparation of the surface, application, and buffing are the three phases involved in hardwood floor waxing.  

 Surface preparation 

• Remove furniture and rugs from the room 
• If there is old wax on the floor, strip it off using a soft cloth dampened with a commercial wax stripper or mineral spirits. Fine-grade steel wool can be used to remove stubborn wax.  
• Eliminate loose wax build-up and dust by vacuuming or dry mopping the floor.  
• Remove grime using a sponge mop.

Application:   

• Always wear a dust mask and gloves to stay protected from fumes. 
• While applying solid paste wax, be in a comfortable kneeling position. Remain standing, if you are using liquid wax. 
• Solid wax should be applied using a lint-free cloth and a putty knife. However, for quick application of liquid wax, use a sponge mop. 
• Work in sections of one- to two-foot and spread a thin wax layer using the cloth or sponge mop. Start from one corner, and move towards the exit. Always wax the floor in the direction of the floorboards. 
• Allow the first coat to dry, which may take up to an hour depending on the product used.  
• Apply additional coats as required. 
• Allow the final coat to dry until it’s hazy. 

Buffing: 

• Rub a cloth or glide a mop over two-foot sections of the floor.  
• To speed up the process, you may use an electric floor buffer. 
• Before replacing furniture or stepping on it, keep the floor undisturbed for at least eight hours.  

If you have more questions related to hardwood floor maintenance, please contact us at Enoak.