How to Strip Wax Buildup From Floors |
| If your kitchen floor looks yellowed or grimy or has spots of sticky, built-up wax, it's time to strip it down. Here's how to do it yourself. |
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Steps: |
| 1. |
Purchase a wax stripper that is appropriate for your floor. Visit a janitorial supply store to get the most effective wax stripper. To make your job easier, select a stripper that does not require rinsing. For best results, use a wax stripper that is the same brand as the floor wax you typically use. |
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| 2. |
Consider renting an electric floor scrubber and a wet-dry vacuum to reduce the elbow grease required. Look in the yellow pages under "Equipment Rentals." The floor scrubber scrubs away wax, and the wet-dry vacuum will suck up the stripper and wax residue afterward. |
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| 3. |
Gather your supplies. You'll need: rubber gloves, wax stripper, a cotton mop, several scrub pads, toothbrush, putty knife, floor squeegee (or a window squeegee), a plastic dustpan, rags and three buckets. (You won't need the squeegee, dustpan and rags if you use a wet-dry vacuum.) |
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| 4. |
Remove any furniture, area rugs or pet food bowls from the area. Sweep or vacuum away any dust, crumbs or loose dirt. |
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| 5. |
Test the stripper on a part of the floor that is not readily visible before you get started. Some older linoleum floors cannot withstand stripping. |
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| 6. |
Determine your plan of attack. You'll want to start in the corner that is farthest from an exit and work your way toward the exit. If you are doing this by hand, plan to strip 2-by-4-foot (60-by- 120-cm) sections of the floor. If you are using a floor scrubber, you can strip larger sections. |
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| 7. |
Fill one bucket with the wax stripper. Dilute it according to the manufacturer's instructions. Put all of your scrubbers, scrapers and tools in another bucket. Bring all three buckets to the corner of the room that you plan to use as your starting point. |
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| 8. |
Use the mop to cover two 2-by-4-foot (60-by-120-cm) sections of the floor with the wax stripper. Apply enough stripper to coat the area thoroughly but not so much that it floods the area and soaks between seams or cracks. Apply stripper more liberally in areas with a lot of buildup. |
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| 9. |
Allow the stripper to soak according to instructions, then use the scrub pads (or a floor scrubber) to scrape away the wax buildup in one of the sections while you leave the other section to soak. |
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| 10. |
Use the toothbrush to scrub nooks and crannies and the putty knife to scrape away gobs or multiple wax layers in corners. |
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| 11. |
Use the squeegee to scoop the wax residue and stripper into the dustpan. Soak up excess liquid with rags or the mop. Dump all of this into the third bucket. (Or simply suck the residue up with a wet-dry vacuum if you have one.) |
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| 12. |
Apply stripper to a third 2-by-4-foot (60-by-120-cm) section before you begin scrubbing the second section, so the stripper can soak in and do its work while you scrub the second section. |
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| 13. |
Alternate sections like this until you complete the floor. Make sure to strip the baseboards if they need it. Always apply stripper to the second-to-next section so that the stripper can soak into the wax while you scrub the other section. |
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| 14. |
If you encounter a section where you can't scrub away all of the buildup, remove what you can and then reapply the stripper. Allow it to soak in while you work on another section and then rescrub it. |
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| 15. |
Mop the floor if you used a stripper that requires rinsing. |
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| 16. |
Allow the floor to dry thoroughly. Place a fan near the floor to accelerate the drying process if necessary. |
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| 17. |
Wax the floor and seal it as soon as the floor is dry to provide a protective coat. Apply wax sparingly to avoid future wax buildups. |
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Overall Tips: |
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Use a scrub pad with a long handle (like a mop) to save your back from unnecessary crouching and bending. |
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If you need to walk on an area that has stripper on it, make a footpath of rags to avoid getting stripper on your shoes, socks or feet. |
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Before you go to the effort of stripping a floor, consider whether you want to replace the floor entirely. Now might be a good time to do so. |
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To remove wax buildup from a hardwood floor, use products that are specifically designed for wood floors. Never use water to strip or wash a wood floor. Consult a hardwood floor professional if in doubt. |
