Clean waxed hardwood floors


Aftercare For A Waxed Floor

Wax is our preferred option for use with antique or wooden floors with a bespoke patina. Waxing will give an unrivalled depth and beauty to the floor. A significant advantage of a Wax finish is that it can be maintained and restored relatively easily and does not require specialist tradesmen to carry out this work. The property owner or cleaner can carry out both daily and periodic maintenance.

A waxed floor will never require sanding and sealing. Over time the beauty of the floor will be enhanced by scratches, scuffs, dents etc. Some say a waxed floor requires more maintenance than either Polyurethane or Oil. This is true to some extent, initially, at least. However, in the long run, wax is favourable.  Wax is a “little and often” approach to maintenance.

To compare, solid wood floors and engineered wood floors sealed with either Polyurethane or Oil require very infrequent maintenance/refurbishment. However, although an Oil or Polyurethane floor seal requires less regular maintenance or restoration, the restoration is a lot more involved when it becomes necessary. It will mean inconvenience and significant cost, as this work is skilled and beyond the average homeowners’ skill or experience.

A Waxed floor in a residential situation might require application and buffing (with a rotary buffing machine) two or even three times in its first year. This will be more frequent in a commercial setting. There is no definitive prediction on frequency, as this depends on the particulars of each project. This can be discussed with the owners/person responsible for making the best predictions.

Over time, the wax will harden, and wax applications will be required less often; buffing alone will be more common than waxing and buffing. Should the floor become dull and lose its lustre, you can apply another coat of wax and buff it. The floor will look better than when it was initially installed.

As an everyday regime, the homeowner or cleaner simply needs to sweep with a soft brush or vacuum. Never wet mop a waxed floor! If care is exercised, moist cloth and a PH-neutral cleaning solution can be used to clean a waxed floor.  This doesn’t mean a wet mop. A moist cloth can be used, but a wet mop is terrible.

If a waxed floor is cleaned with a moist cloth, the floor needs to be dried and buffed off immediately  (As you clean) with a dry towel.

By this, I mean buff dry with a towel as you go rather than cleaning the entire area with a moist cloth and then drying off.  The cleaner needs to ensure that no spillages are left and to take care that the bottom of the bucket containing the warm water and cleaning solution is not placed directly onto the waxed floor (This is because it will inevitably be wet and could lead to rings/stains on the floor).

What also needs to be borne in mind is that cleaning in this way will remove the layers of wax over time. So if a regular wax application is not taking place also, the wax could eventually be entirely removed. There is a cleaning agent within Mylands wax so that when waxing and buffing a floor, it receives an excellent clean simultaneously.

Some practical tips for a waxed floor are as follows:

To wax and buff, apply the wax with a rotary buffing machine. Place a small amount of wax on the floor, then buff evenly (A golf ball-sized dollop will cover about a square yard). Allow about 30 minutes to dry, then buff until a lustrous shine is apparent (It’s not complicated!). Do not to over-wax the floor. If the floor dulls, try buffing instead. Avoid wax build-up under furniture and other low-traffic areas by waxing less often in these areas. Any water, wine, spillages etc. should be cleaned immediately.

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.

 

Waxing Hardwood Floors 101: Benefits and Pro Tips

Photo: istockphoto.com

Hardwood floors add classic elegance to your home—but not when they’re dull, dinted, or dingy. Fortunately, waxing hardwood floors is an economical, tried-and-true way to restore their gleam and prolong their life. Read on to learn the technique for applying a high-performing wax finish that will look so grand, you’ll be walking on air!’

Why wax hardwood floors?

Popularized in the 1940s, waxing is a floor finishing technique in which clear or colored wax, made of a blend of solvents and synthetic and/or natural waxes like beeswax or carnauba, is applied to a hardwood floor in a thin layer and then buffed to a shine. As the solvents in the wax evaporate, the wax hardens into a protective seal that confers a host of benefits:

That said, wax offers only limited resistance to deeper dents or gouges, and does little to ward off warping or bulging from widespread moisture exposure due to leaks or minor floods. Wax should be considered as a top coat—a final layer of protection, not the only protective finish, on a hardwood floor.

Advertisement

Photo: istockphoto.com

Is it good on all floors?

The best candidate for waxing is a hardwood floor that was previously treated with a penetrating wood sealer, lacquer, varnish, shellac, or oil, as wax can bolster the protective properties of these finishes. However, you can also wax unfinished floors.

Never wax urethane-finished floors (which could prevent them from being effectively recoated with urethane; instead, use polish) or those labeled “no-wax,” such as no-wax linoleum or vinyl designed to look like wood (they come with a factory coating that doesn’t require waxing).

Waxing is also only suitable for hardwood floors in good structural condition; that is, with no significant chipping, gouging, discoloration, warping, or bulging. If your hardwood is plagued with these problems, replace or repair affected floorboards (e.g., sand away discoloration or fill gouges with wood filler) before waxing hardwood floors.

Refinishing your floors?

Some jobs are better left to the pros. Get free, no-commitment estimates from licensed flooring contractors near you.

Find local pros

+

 

What type of wax should I use?

Make sure to use the appropriate wax for hardwood floors:

Photo: istockphoto.com

What waxing techniques achieve the best results?

Use the tips below to master the three phases of waxing hardwood floors: surface preparation, application, and buffing.

Surface preparation:

Application:

Photo: istockphoto.com

Buffing:

How can I keep waxed hardwood floors looking great?

Follow these tips to prolong the life and luster of your waxed hardwood:

Advertisement

Photo: istockphoto.com

Refinishing your floors?

Some jobs are better left to the pros. Get free, no-commitment estimates from licensed flooring contractors near you.

Find local pros

+

Cleaning parquet and laminate flooring - what to look out for when wet or dry cleaning

In the living room and bedroom, dining room or hallway - wooden parquet and laminate floors everywhere create a homely atmosphere and at the same time do not require special care compared to textile floors coatings. What to look for when cleaning and caring for floors and how to remove unsightly stains without harming expensive flooring can be found in our brief overview of the treatment of wood floors. nine0003

Parquet, laminate and similar materials: what should I pay attention to when cleaning?

All wooden floors are divided into parquet, parquet or laminate floors. In the case of parquet and parquet boards, we are talking about pure wood, while laminate, on the other hand, is a mixture of materials based on fibreboard (MDF). These types of coatings differ little in appearance, but have specific properties:

Parquet and parquet board

Parquet can be laid in various ways: staggered, herringbone, mosaic. A parquet board is nothing more than a parquet floor, however, wooden boards or tongues are made for the entire length of the trunk, and therefore have a much longer length than wooden parquet slabs. In addition, both types of coatings can differ in surface treatment: wax, oil or varnish. In the first case, wax is applied to the parquet, which gives the wood a matte or velvety sheen. In the second, the parquet is rubbed with oil, which makes it possible to better protect wide gaps from moisture. Lacquering parquet reduces the likelihood of moisture and dirt penetration, but does not protect against water ingress into cracks and deep scratches. That is, any parquet remains very sensitive to moisture. That is why it is so important that as little water as possible gets on the parquet during cleaning. In essence, we are talking about cleaning with a strongly wrung out wet cloth. It is worth noting that wooden floors can swell or shrink depending on the humidity of the surrounding air. nine0003

Laminate

In most cases, laminate imitates wood, but it is also found with imitation ceramic tiles or natural stone. Laminate is made from wood fiber board (MDF) as a base, on which a decorative coating is applied, and then a layer of transparent melamine resin, the so-called opaque film. This makes the surface scratch resistant and extremely easy to clean. However, the edges remain sensitive to moisture - especially if the laminate is not installed correctly. That is why such floors - like parquet - require exceptionally "slightly damp" cleaning with a minimum amount of water. nine0003

Dry mopping with a vacuum cleaner and broom

Before wet mopping, remove dust and light dirt such as animal hair from parquet or laminate flooring with a vacuum cleaner, mop or broom. Otherwise, during cleaning, water will mix with dirt, resulting in stains and even minor scratches on the floor.

When vacuuming wooden floors, it is important to choose the right nozzle. Many vacuum cleaners come with a special floor nozzle or even an additional parquet nozzle. As a rule, such nozzles are equipped with a small brush ring made of natural hair, which does not leave scratches on sensitive wooden floors. nine0003

Can I clean laminate flooring with a steam mop? After that, you can proceed to wet cleaning - classic with a mop and a microfiber cloth or floor wet cleaning machine. When using a mop or microfiber cloth, it is important to wring it out thoroughly before wiping the floor so that as little water as possible falls on the floor and it can dry in a couple of minutes. As for the textiles used for cleaning, in this case microfiber should be preferred. This material has enhanced mechanical action and effectively binds dirt even without cleaning agents. When cleaning oiled or waxed parquet, you can use even more gentle window suede or cotton or viscose cloths. nine0003

Wet cleaning with floor cleaner

Due to the particular sensitivity of parquet and laminate to moisture, it is important that as little water as possible comes into contact with it during cleaning. Otherwise, the coating may swell and be permanently damaged. For gentle wet cleaning, special devices for wet floor cleaning are excellent. After them there is a minimum amount of moisture, which dries completely in a matter of minutes. In addition, they eliminate the need to constantly rinse and wring out mops and rags. nine0003

Before cleaning with the wet floor cleaner, dust and coarse dirt must be removed from the wooden floor. If the model is also equipped with a suction function, preliminary cleaning with a vacuum cleaner is, in principle, not required.

After this you can start wet cleaning. For best results, you can add a small amount of special wood floor cleaner to clean water. In the process of cleaning, you need to slowly move the floor cleaner back and forth along partially overlapping trajectories. This will evenly clean the floor and leave no streaks. As a rule, the wooden surface dries in 2 minutes. If wet spots remain on the floor after this time, it is recommended to wipe them off by hand with a soft cloth. nine0003

Recommendations for the use of wet floor cleaners

Cleaning parquet and laminate with a steam cleaner

Steam cleaners can also be used to clean parquet or laminate floors. Choose a floor nozzle with a microfiber cover and work the floor with quick back and forth strokes combined with short bursts of steam. At the same time, it is important that there is no more steam than is necessary to dissolve the dirt. Do not hold the nozzle in one place for too long, so that puddles do not form on the floor. If the appliance is equipped with a steam flow adjustment function, select the lowest setting. In general, cleaning wood floors with steam is allowed only if the floor is professionally installed and moisture cannot enter the crevices and unprotected end edges. Otherwise, there is a risk of floor swelling. nine0003

It all depends on the cleaning agent

In order to keep your wood floor looking both clean and well-groomed, you should use cleaning agents for cleaning that contain components not only for cleaning, but also for maintenance. Which product is best for your wood floor depends on the surface treatment:

Lacquered wood floors: For a thorough but gentle cleaning, refreshing and care of varnished wood floors (parquet, laminate, cork), a moisture protection product is well suited. It has impregnating properties, due to which the floor absorbs less moisture. This allows you to protect the tree not only from swelling, but also from re-contamination. nine0003

Oiled or waxed wood floors: A waxed wood floor care product is suitable for cleaning and maintaining oiled or waxed wood floors. It leaves a silky sheen without streaks and at the same time protects the floor from moisture. However, in this case, it is necessary to strictly observe the dosage, since with the frequent use of such products, a sticky layer is formed on the tree, to which dust easily adheres. When cleaning oiled or waxed wood floors, avoid using alkaline cleaners, such as all-purpose cleaner, as they remove the care product from the wood. nine0003

If there are streaks on the floor after cleaning, there may have been too much cleaning agent. Surfaces that are rarely walked on turn gray at first, because a protective film that is too thick attracts dust. Such places should be cleaned first, using only clean water. After that, high traffic areas can be treated with the addition of a care product.

Recommendation: If you are not sure if the product is suitable for your floor, test it in an inconspicuous place. Additional cleaning and maintenance instructions for various floor coverings are often also found in the cleaning and maintenance instructions of the flooring manufacturers. nine0003

SOS: removing stains from parquet and laminate

Any stains on wooden floors can be divided into 2 categories: stains on the surface and stains that have already eaten into the wood.

If liquids such as red wine or juice come into contact with the coating, wipe them up immediately with an absorbent cloth. Surface stains, in particular food residue or shoe marks, are usually easily removed with a damp microfibre cloth.

For stubborn stains, you can treat the stain with an all-purpose cleaner. Good alternatives to all-purpose cleaners are household cleaners, such as water mixed with dishwashing detergent, neutral soap or fabric softener, an eraser to remove dirt, or a little alcohol (to remove colored substances). Always rub the soiled area in the direction of the wood structure and finish by rinsing with water. nine0003

If the stain has already eaten into the wood, it is much more difficult to remove it, because in order to get to the stain, you must first remove the wax, oil or varnish. In this case, often resort to the help of specialists from cleaning companies.

Suitable cleaning technology for parquet and laminate

Wet floor cleaners

Steam cleaners

Vacuum cleaners

Wood floor cleaners

You may also be interested in:

Ceramic tile cleaning

PVC and linoleum cleaning

Residential cleaning

Wood floor maintenance | Karcher

Wooden floors in the living room, bedroom, dining room or hallway are becoming more and more popular, not least because of their attractive appearance. However, care should be taken when cleaning: wooden floors are sensitive to water. But how to wash them without causing harm? With the right floor cleaner, you will no longer have to worry about the condition of your beautiful parquet. nine0003

Special characteristics of wooden floors

There are different types of wooden floors: parquet, floorboard and laminate, where parquet and floorboard are made only from wood, and laminate from a mixture of materials with fibreboard. Each type of flooring has its own characteristics:

Parquet

There are different types of parquet, such as strip parquet, mosaic parquet or herringbone parquet. As with floorboards, surface treatment is important for parquet: the elements are coated with wax, oil or varnish. Wood floors can swell or shrink depending on the level of humidity. They are also susceptible to moisture. Therefore, when cleaning, it is important to ensure that as little moisture remains on the floor as possible. nine0003

Laminate

Laminate flooring is usually made to look like wood, but there are also options with spectacular tiles or stone. It consists of a fibreboard (base layer), a decorative layer and a transparent melamine resin layer on top (overlay). The surface is scratch resistant and easy to clean, but the edges are usually sensitive to moisture, especially if the laminate is not installed correctly. nine0003

Wet cleaning with floor cleaners FC 3 Cordless and FC 5

Since wooden floors are sensitive to moisture, it is important to use as little water as possible when cleaning them. The FC 3 Cordless and FC 5 floor cleaners are ideal for gentle wet cleaning, as they leave a minimum amount of moisture behind, which dries completely in just a few minutes.

FC 3 Cordless

FC 5 and FC 5 Cordless

Important note

Vacuum the floor before cleaning with the FC 3 Cordless to remove large and small particles of loose dirt. Although the FC 5 has a suction function and can suck up small particles, it cannot be used as a substitute for vacuuming.

Cleaning wooden floors step by step

1. Before damp mopping, remove dust and large dirt particles from wooden floors with a vacuum cleaner, cordless electric broom or conventional broom. nine0003

2. Remove the water tank from the FC 3 / FC 5 and fill it with water up to the mark. Add detergent according to dosing instructions.

3. Install blank rollers on FC 3 / FC 5, paying attention to the color code on the device and rollers (blue to blue, green to green).

4. Turn on the device and start cleaning by moving the machine slowly back and forth. Note: If you are using an FC 5 machine, dampen the rollers at the station before use. nine0059

5. After cleaning, remove the dirty water tank from the device, empty it completely and rinse with clean water.

6. Remove the microfiber rollers, wash them at 60°C in a washing machine without fabric softener, and then dry them.

7. After use, fully charge the battery devices (until the LED indicator lights up permanently).

8. Position the unit at a parking station in a convenient location until next use, secure the casters. nine0003

Additional cleaning tips
  • To avoid overfilling the dirty water tank, it is recommended that the fresh water tank on the FC 5 is only half full.
  • Don't spend too much time cleaning one area so the floor doesn't get too wet.
  • If you have an oiled or waxed wood floor, you should also avoid treating one area too long as this can remove the oil or wax from the surface of the wood. nine0036
  • Delicate floor coverings such as natural cork should be tested for watertightness in an inconspicuous area.

It's all about the detergent

In order to keep your wooden floor not only clean, but also in good condition, you should use a detergent when cleaning, which, in addition to the cleaning component, contains a surface care component. The choice of equipment for a particular type of wooden floor depends on the type of surface treatment:

  • Wood floor with protective coating : Care product RM 534 is ideal for thorough and gentle cleaning, refreshing and maintenance of wood floors with protective coating (parquet, cork and laminate). Contains a moisture-protective component that prevents swelling of the floor covering.
  • Oiled/waxed wood floor : Detergent RM 535 with special care agent. Leaves no streaks or streaks, gives a silky-matte shine and protects the floor from moisture. Ideal for cleaning and maintaining oiled or waxed wood floors. nine0036

The right product for every application

FC 3 Cordless

Cleans better than a mop Maximum freedom of movement thanks to battery technology.

more

FC 3 Cordless

Cleans better than a mop Maximum freedom of movement thanks to battery technology.


Learn more