Are you thinking of waxing your hardwood floors the first time? First of all, it is an excellent decision! Waxing is the best way to restore their shine and protect them from spots and scratches.
Since you are waxing your floors for the first time, you might be wondering whether to strip before waxing or not. Before that, let’s briefly discuss what stripping is. Floor stripping is nothing but removing the old wax coat, dirt, and grime on the floor surface before you apply a new coat of wax. Now coming to your question –
Technically, it is not necessary to strip your floors before waxing. But, if the floor seems grimy and dull, it will be best if you strip it before applying a new coat of wax. It is necessary to inspect the floor type; so that you do not damage it while stripping.
Why Stripping Before Waxing
↬ Removes dirt, grime, and old wax
Your floors come in contact with lots of things daily, causing an accumulation of dirt and grime on them. Also, as the wax layer becomes older, it starts looking yellowish. As mentioned earlier, stripping will remove all the grime, grease, and strains along with the old wax.
↬ Restores the Shine
Because of old wax, floors become dull and lose their luster. But you can restore the shine and luster by stripping off the yellowish and cloudy-looking old wax coat. If you strip before applying the new layer, you will get a smooth and finished surface to work.
↬ Prevents Spots and Scratches
Because of high traffic and accumulated wax layer, there are chances of marks and scratches on the floors. These marks and scratches not only make the floor look dull; but also cause wear and tear. With a fresh coat, spots and scratches will be easy to remove.
How to wax your floor
- Shift your furniture and other belongings to another room.
- Then vacuum all the floor areas thoroughly.
- After vacuuming, start sweeping the floor to remove dust and debris.
- Now mop all over the floor with a cleaning solution.
- Let the floor dry for some time.
- Pour the liquid wax into the bucket and mix it thoroughly.
- Dip a clean mop in the wax bucket and apply it to floors, starting at the corner farthest to the door.
- Let the wax sit on the floor. Generally, it takes 30 minutes to an hour for it.
- Apply the buffing pad to your buffer, and buff the floor until it begins to shine.
- With this, your waxing task completes here.
Wrapping Up
This blog must have cleared your doubts. Stripping and waxing of your floors have several benefits; it restores shine, prevents scratches and spots, etc. You can wax your floors with above mentioned easy steps; If you are not sure about it, then it is always a good choice to hire a professional.
