If the wax finish is discoloured by spillages which have not been cleaned up immediately or have dirt build-up, work area with wax using fine steel wool to remove grime and old wax. Wipe the floor clean, let it dry for about 30 minutes, and then buff.
I use water with a drop or two of dish soap to clean my floors. I use the soap and water sparingly and immediately dry with a soft cloth. The drying should help buff any wax remaining on the floor. If you notice the floor is getting dull and buffing does not restore the shine, it's time to reapply a thin coat of wax.
Bona Cleaner
A concentrated detergent for the simple and safe cleaning of lacquered or hard wax oiled wood floors. Thanks to its alkaline content, it works as an effective degreaser without harming the wood.
Stop Using Wax-Based or High-Residue Cleaners: Avoid using Pine-Sol, Mop & Glo, and even certain products like Fabuloso or Swiffer Wet Pads, as they can leave behind a layer of residue that attracts dirt and creates a hazy buildup over time.
During construction or renovation projects, floors should be protected from alcohol, acetone, chemicals, and oils and perspiration. And stains, marks and scratches can be removed easily from waxed floors using Murphy Oil Soap.
Soft Household Soap
For less stubborn wax residues, soft household soap can be effective: Dilute the soap in water to create a mild cleaning solution. Apply the solution to the waxed surface with a soft cloth, scrubbing gently to lift the wax. Rinse with clean water and dry the surface promptly to avoid watermarks.
Because it's an acid, vinegar can eat away at hard finishes like polyurethane and wax. Use only white vinegar, diluted with water, on soft floors that are finished with an oil-based coating.
Too much cleaning product used
This will often leave floors sticky. When you use too much cleaner, the excess creates a soapy residue that is sticky to the feet especially when you've not done enough rinsing. To tackle this potential cause of sticky floors: Try to follow the instructions on the label.
It's actually a combination cleaner and acrylic coating, designed to add a very thin finish and shine to many types of flooring. The label says it's suitable for tile, vinyl, hardwood, marble, linoleum, ceramic and no-wax floors, but it warns not to use it on unsealed or worn wood or on unsealed ceramic.
Wax can be safely removed from wood flooring by using a plastic scraper to gently lift the wax. Then, apply a mixture of mineral spirits and water to a cloth and wipe the area. Avoid excessive moisture, as it can damage the wood. Always test in an inconspicuous area first to ensure no damage occurs.
You can use a hardwood floor cleaner, such as Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner or Bruce Hardwood and Laminate Floor Cleaner. Home Depot carries both products in 32-ounce spray bottles — $7.97 for Bona's product and $4.48 for Bruce's. The spray products deliver a mist that you can wipe away with a mop while you are standing.
Mix ¼ cup of lemon juice with ½ cup of olive oil and a gallon of warm water. Mop the floor with this solution, which not only cleans but also enhances the wood's natural sheen. Regular maintenance helps keep your floors shining longer. It includes using doormats to reduce dirt and wiping up spills right away.
Waxed floor
The heat and humidity of steam mops may damage waxed floors. The steam will peel off the wax layer, leaving the floor tarnished and unprotected.
Generally, bleach should only be used on hard, nonporous surfaces in good condition. Learn more here. 1. Clorox® Scentiva® Disinfecting Wet Mopping Cloths are not for use on unpainted wood and unfinished, unsealed, unpainted, waxed, oiled or worn surfaces.
1 cup of vinegar, a few drops of dish soap, and 1 gallon of warm water are enough to clean the linoleum floor tiles.
Will Bona Floor Cleaners leave behind any residue? No, Bona Floor Cleaners are formulated to clean without dulling or leaving any residue on your floors.
Many cleaners spray a ton of floor soap, believing "wet equals clean." Then they forget to rinse out their mop pad, resulting in a floor mop that is fully saturated with dirty water. Continuing to use the mop pad on the floor leads to smearing dirt, not lifting it.
Use Bona's mild, specially-formulated Wood Floor Cleaner for the best results, or the Bona Wood Floor Spray Mop. Just spray and wipe!
Homemade cleaners like the hardwood floor cleaner vinegar dawn mixture are surprisingly effective. Vinegar's natural acidity helps to break down dirt and grime, while Dawn dish soap effectively cuts through grease. This combination ensures a thorough clean without leaving harmful residues behind.
Avoid wet-mopping floors with water and using household cleaners, as this can strip the wax coat off or damage the wood. To keep dust at bay before it dulls the finish, dry mop waxed floors as often as necessary with a microfiber cloth pad or vacuum-clean with a dust brush attachment.
Dip a microfiber mop or soft cloth into the cleaning solution, wring out excess water, and gently mop the waxed wood floors in the direction of the wood grain. Avoid saturating the floor with water, as excessive moisture can cause damage to the wood and the wax finish.
Using an ice cube to harden the wax drippings is one way to remove wax from hardwood floors with minimal scraping required. Simply hold the ice cube in place on the wax for 30 seconds, even if the wax has already cooled.
Mix one cup of distilled white vinegar in one gallon of water in a bucket. This solution breaks down the remaining wax and prevents further buildup. Use a microfiber mop into the solution and wring it out.