How To Remove Paste Wax From Wood Floors

Nothing adheres well to wax and even after cleaning the wood grain can become contaminated.

How to remove paste wax from wood floors.

Paste wax also protects wood from water vapor and heat trauma. While waxes vary most contain an emulsion of paraffin or carnauba an extract from brazilian palm trees in a solvent when you apply the wax the solvent evaporates and only the wax coating remains. The wax can add a finish to wood that gives it the appearance of a fresh shine all the time. Wax can penetrate the wood making future paint or stain finishes or touch ups difficult or impossible.

How to remove wax paste from furniture without damaging polyurethane. Removing old wax from wood floors is time consuming but it is not an impossible task. To gain a better understanding of how to remove it it s good to have an idea of the ingredients in floor wax. Be sure to use the correct type of wax for your floor and finish.

Furniture manufacturers often recommend paste wax as a furniture treatment to add sheen and protect the finish. There is more than one way to remove wax from an existing finish but none guarantee success. For example some types of modern hardwood flooring have a sealed surface that should not be waxed. Sanding down the finish can drive the wax even deeper because the friction of sanding heats up the wax.

These finishes require a water based polish instead. Before waxing hardwood floors carefully clean the surface with a broom or mop to remove any dust or dirt that could get trapped in the wax and impact the finish.