Hardwood flooring can add lots of character to your home and can also make rooms appear bigger than what they are.
However, many types of hardwood flooring require regular waxing because over time they can begin to lose their shine, instead becoming dull and dingy.
It is important to note that certain types of hardwood flooring should not be waxed if they have a polyurethane surface. If this is the case you will need to get them recoated rather than waxed.
You should also refrain from waxing sealed surfaces. Use a water-based polish instead as it isn’t going to cause damage. Deciding whether your wood floors require waxing will depend on the amount of foot traffic that it is subject to.
Those that are frequently walked along are going to collect more dirt and dust and because of this, over time they will appear grubbier.
Waxing your floor will help to reduce these imperfections and can also improve the floor’s resistance to stains. This is because the wax will form a layer that absorbs any spills and will prevent them from reaching the actual wooden surface beneath.
By preserving the surface it is ultimately going to enhance the durability and prolong the life of the floor.
Although wax is good for rectifying these matters, it isn’t going to offer resistance against more severe stains. If you are contemplating waxing the floor, it should be structurally sound. If this isn’t the case, it should be repaired before you use wax on it.
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How often should I wax my hardwood floors?
The regularity in which you are going to need to wax your hardwood floor will depend on the volume of footfall.
If there are several people inside your home, the flooring is going to be subject to much more foot traffic and it is, therefore, going to collect more dust and dirt. In a home that is occupied by an individual or only two people, you aren’t going to need to wax them as often.
As a general guide, it is advised that you wax your flooring around once every six months but in houses where there are fewer people, completing the process once a year is likely to suffice.
It also depends on the type of flooring that you have as the waxing requirements can differ between laminate, stone, and hardwood variations.
Although regular waxing is crucial for maintaining the appearance of the floor, you should avoid overwaxing it. Too much wax will build up over time and before applying any future coatings, you will likely need to strip the existing layer.
Rooms that are rarely used and areas that are covered by furniture will not require waxing as frequently because they aren’t occupied very often and the areas beneath furniture aren’t visible.
What is the best wax for wood floors?
Two types of wax can be used on hardwood floors, thus including a solid paste wax or a liquid wax. The aforementioned has more wax content and less solvent and a thicker consistency.
This type of wax will need to be applied using a cloth. The latter has a thinner consistency and more solvent.
Due to this consistency, it will need to be applied using a mop, however, more coats will need to be applied when compared to solid paste wax.
It is important to ensure that the wax you use is intended to be used on hard floors rather than furniture. Wax products that are suitable for hard floors should be solvent-based rather than water-based. Water-based or acrylic waxes can damage wooden floors.
Some popular liquid variations include the Minwax Hardwood Floor Reviver which does not require any special preparation before application. It will also protect your floors for around 3 to 6 months.
Another liquid-based product is the Weiman High Traffic Hardwood Floor Polish which restores the floor’s surface by removing unwanted scratches.
One of the best solid wax variations is the Minwax Paste Finishing Wax. Adding a natural finish, it will protect the floor from unwanted scratches.
Does Murphy’s Oil Soap Shine Wood Floors?
There are mixed reactions surrounding the use of Murphy’s Oil Soap on wooden floors. It is an oil-based product that contains 98% of naturally derived ingredients and is formulated with water, coconut, natural fragrances, and other plant-derived ingredients.
Aside from wooden flooring, it can also be used to clean wooden furniture. It helps to enhance the durability of the flooring and can be used for light or deep cleaning purposes.
After application, this product intends to leave your flooring with a naturally shiny appearance and a fresh scent. Not only is this product suitable for wood flooring and furniture but it can also be used to clean tiles, laminate flooring, and wood paneling.
If you intend to use this product to clean your floors, for the best results you should mix 1/4 of a cup of the product with a gallon of water increasing the measurements per the volume of water.
The formulation is going to affect how much residue is left on the floor and it is important to consider this so you can mop it up upon noticing it so that it doesn’t deter from the shiny appearance.
Does Murphy’s Oil Soap Ruin Wood Floors?
As suggested by the name Murphy’s Oil Soap is an oil-based product and products of this kind generally aren’t recommended for cleaning hard floors, especially those with a polyurethane seal.
This is because the ingredient composition of such products can destroy the seal and it is also likely to leave the floor with a sticky residue and cloudy appearance.
After using an oil-based waxing product you may also find that it makes it more difficult to re-coat it in the future.
You may also notice that footprints become much more visible after using this type of product due to the residue that it leaves behind, hence why it is important to mop this residue up as soon as it is noticed.
Although this product claims that it will leave floors with a natural shine, as with many products of this kind, it can do the opposite and leave them looking duller than anticipated.
The residue is also likely to become more difficult to remove the longer that it is left on the surface. Despite these concerns regarding the use of this product on hardwood flooring, the manufacturers state that it is safe for application onto these surfaces.
To ensure that the product doesn’t leave residue on the floor, it is important to ensure that the formula is diluted and mixed correctly.
How do you wax hardwood floors naturally?
Along with the vast selection of designated hardwood floor wax products, there are also natural remedies that can be used as an alternative, vinegar being one of the most prominent solutions.
Hardwood requires special upkeep to maintain its appearance and finish. Although vinegar is deemed to be safe to use on this type of flooring, it is rather acidic and can cause damage to porous surfaces.
To eliminate severe damage, it is important to ensure that it is heavily diluted in water as this will help to reduce the acidness. Because of this, you will need to use your judgment to assess the volume of vinegar and water that is required.
For a quick clean, you may wish to use a mop accompanied by a dusting agent to trap and collect these particles. You can also attach disposable cloths to the mop head.
To check the strength of the solution, you can test it out on a small area that isn’t visible as this will allow you to assess how the surface responds to the formulation.
If you intend to use pre-established products rather than your own remedies, a GreenGuard Gold certification will identify that the product is safe and doesn’t contain harsh ingredients.
Regardless of the product that you decide to use, you should abide by the manufacturer’s specifications and also ensure that it is a specific hardwood cleaning product.
Can I use car wax on hardwood floors?
Though it may seem surprising, car wax is a very versatile product that can be used for many cleaning tasks and isn’t solely restricted for use on cars.
You can use car wax to clean bathroom mirrors to prevent them from fogging, it is also an effective solution to preventing the development of mildew on shower tiles, etc.
However, despite the product’s versatility, using it to clean your hardwood floors isn’t recommended.
While it is of course a wax-based product, it isn’t specifically intended for application onto this flooring.
Products that are specifically intended for hardwood floors will have undergone rigorous testing to ensure that it is effective in its purpose and isn’t going to damage the floor or affect its appearance.
Car wax, on the other hand, isn’t likely to have been subject to extensive testing to assess its suitability on different floor surfaces.
While it has been tested and approved safe for use on cars, the texture of flooring is different and so it may not deliver the desired effect.
Some may wish to proceed and take the risk of using this product on hard flooring, however, you should be prepared for it to deliver different results to those that you were anticipating.
How much does it cost to wax hardwood floors?
The cost of waxing your hardwood floors is going to depend on whether you are going to be completing the process yourself or hiring the help of a professional.
If you are going to be doing it yourself you will need to account for the cost of the cleaning products that will be used.
If you are going to be using a solid paste you will require the use of a cloth as well as the product. If you are using a liquid-based formula you will require the use of a mop. The majority of hardwood floor cleaners retail below $20 and cloths are a rather affordable expense too.
You will also need to buff the wax so that it blends into the flooring and refrains from leaving any unwanted marks. If this is the case, you can either use a wax brush or a cloth and rub it in using some elbow grease. If you are going to enlist the help of a professional the cost will likely be based upon the measurements of the room that requires waxing.
It will also depend on the materials that are going to be used and whether there are sections of the floor that need to be repaired before the wax is applied.
Although the task can likely be completed without the help of a professional at a cheaper cost, if you do not feel confident in doing so, we would advise you to hire a professional.