Floor Waxing

A great method for making your floors look their best is to apply a bit of wax. However, if you don't use the right general methods then you can easily end up making a mess, or possibly even damaging the floor itself. To avoid that problem, all you need to do is follow these simple directions.

• Know your floor. Not all floors can be waxed, and even those that can shouldn't necessarily be waxed in the same manner. Do a little research on the type of floor that you have, and make sure that it can actually be waxed, or that it even needs to be waxed. Once you know your floor, you can begin choosing the type of product to use.
• Remove the old wax. Before you can begin applying the new wax, you will need to remove the old. This process is called stripping. And frankly it really doesn't need to be done all that often. Usually it only needs to be done whenever you are applying new wax, which should be done about every month or so depending on the type of floor that you have. Usually all you will need to do is follow the directions on the appropriate stripping product, though you may need to use some specialized equipment and elbow grease to do the job properly.
• Clean the floor. Once you have the old wax removed, you need to clean the floor again. This will help ensure that you don't have any wax bits waiting around on the floor, and that you don't have any dirt and grime that can get smeared around or even trapped by the new wax. Simply sweep and mop as you normally would, being especially careful to remove all dirt.
• Read the directions. After having chosen the correct type of wax, make sure that you read the directions at least twice. This will allow you to be completely familiar with the proper method for applying the wax to your floors.
• Apply appropriately. It is always a good idea to follow the directions of the manufacturer over others that you receive, since they do know their product better than most others. A typical method for applying wax is by using a new mop and spreading it around on the floor in an even layer. Work slowly, and be careful not to over do it in any one area since it will show up (and possibly make the floor extra slippery).
• Work in sections. It is also a very good idea to work on your floor in small sections. This way you are less likely to make mistakes, and be more prone to doing a good job. When you are working, make sure that you have the wax going in the same direction since the stroke marks can often show up.
• Wait, and then repeat. Allow a minimum of 45 minutes to pass between the first coat of wax that you put down and your second. When applying the second coat simply use the same methods that you did before. Be careful that you don't put too much wax down, or your floor can begin to discolor.