How to Clean Build Up Off Wood Floors

Light Wax Build-Up Removal

• 1). Remove all items from the room.
  
  
• 2). Sweep the room clean with a broom.
  
  
• 3). Use a rag and mineral spirits and work on small areas (two square feet), rubbing with the grain of the wood. Use a fine steel wool pad to remove stubborn build-up. Do not use the steel wool in a circular motion; follow the wood grain. Make sure the room is well ventilated. Rinse the rag and re-apply mineral spirits as needed.
  
  
• 4). Work in small sections from one side of the room the other, moving back as you work toward an exit. As you remove the wax with the mineral spirits, use a clean, damp cloth to rinse.
  
  
• 5). Set up a fan to speed up drying. Use a damp mop and go over the floor one more time to remove all left-over debris.
  
  

Heavy Wax Build-Up Removal

• 1). Purchase a stripper appropriate for your floor. If you know the manufacturer of the wax on the floor, use a product that they recommend (usually their own brand). If you don’t know the manufacturer, choose a stripper by carefully reading the labels. Avoid products with harsh chemicals. There are a lot of products available today that are both floor-friendly and environmentally friendly.
  
  
• 2). Rent an electric floor scrubber from a hardware store. You might be able to get by without a scrubber and rely on elbow grease, but you can’t go wrong with a machine designed specifically for the job. You’ll also need a squeegee, some rubber gloves, a couple of buckets and two mops.
  
  
• 3). Test the stripper by hand in an innocuous area to make sure the product works and doesn’t damage your floor.
  
  
• 4). Dilute the stripper with water in a bucket if the instructions call for it. Follow the instructions carefully. Apply the stripper beginning in one corner, working across the room and backing up as you cover the entire room and make your way to an exit.
  
  
• 5). After the time specified on the label, use the scrubber to remove the wax.
  
  
• 6). Squeegee the residue, and empty it into a bucket. You also could use a wet-vac to remove the old wax.
  
  
• 7). Mop the floor clean. Use a clean mop, not the one used to apply the stripper. Let the floor dry at least 24 hours before applying another coat of wax.