How to Strip and Wax a Floor

A shiny, well-maintained and clean environment generate a welcoming atmosphere to clients, visitors, employees and everybody else who walks inside your building and home. Eventually, however, your flooring will lose its shine and luster and become dull and discolored. So when this occurs, it is time to strip your last wax finish and put on a new one, in order to bring back the beauty and luster of your flooring. And, to keep people in awe not just of the building but your floor as well, here are steps to properly strip and wax a floor.

Steps in Stripping the Floor

1. Before starting your task, determine the kind of floor you have and select the most appropriate floor stripper for the floor type such as the resilient or non-resilient floor.
2. Put away any obstacles. After selecting the best floor stripper for your need, clear the area of tables, chairs, desks, rugs, or carpet, or anything that could get in the way of your stripping job. After all the furniture and clutter has been removed, it is time to sweep the floor and examine the surface. Make sure to get rid of anything that is stuck on your floor like gum, tape, stickers, and dirt.
3. Dilute the stripper correctly by following directions on the product. After mixing the solution well, test it over a small corner that is not so conspicuous. If the solution discolors or bleeds the floor, it can be because the stripper is not suitable for the floor type or the solution is too strong.
4. Place the stripper in a mop bucket and apply on the floor by mopping. Generously mop the affected areas with the stripper and let it sit for around 5 to 10 minutes. It is very important not to let the stripper solution get dry. After this, thoroughly brush off the old floor wax using an electric floor scrubber or just do it manually. You will notice that the floor gets duller. Now, it is time to remove that wax by using a squeegee, then vacuum to siphon off any residue and dry the area. After the old wax is stripped rinse your floor twice using a neutralizer to make sure there is no residue left and then vacuum again.
5. Check if all residue and wax are removed by placing a black towel on your floor just before it gets dry. If the towel appears white, it means that there is still residue left, which means that it needs to be treated again. Another way of checking is by allowing your floor to dry and then use a putty knife to lightly touch the flooring and if there is wax in the knife, it would be best to repeat the stripping process.

Waxing the Floor

When the floor has completely dried, fill another mop container with the wax sealer. Apply it on your floor thinly, yet evenly, so as not to deluge the floor area. Let it dry. Generally, drying time is around 45 minutes between coats. After drying, test if the floor has totally dried before walking over the area. If the floor is somewhat sticky, it’s not yet totally dry. Repeat the process as needed, until the desired coating is achieved.

For a more professional and perfect shine of your floor, it is also beneficial to you, as a homeowner or a businessman, to hire professional cleaning services. These professionals can help you in significant ways in keeping your dwelling safe, healthy, and clean.

Cassie Smitty is the owner of Cassie’s Meticulous Touch cleaning Co and provide services like house cleaning, office cleaning & lawn care services in Ocala FL.