How to Remove Old Wax from Tile Floors

Nowadays, floors don’t need waxing much. However, if you have those tiles that were used in the old days, you would need to wax them often to bring a nice and polished look to them. But there is one drawback that comes with it: when you use wax on your floors, even though you may wash it away at the moment, it still leaves some traces of wax behind, thus giving a very yellow and dull look to your floors. Here is how you can remove old wax from the tile floors so that your floors look as good as new. 

1- Things Needed

Wax can make your floors look yellow and dull, but having the following items and using simple techniques, you can bring back the shiny appearance of your tiles. Some things you will need for the process are:

• Water

• A mop 

• Gloves

• Waxing Solution

• Brush

2- Floor Preparation 

Before starting the process, you must ensure that it is in the right condition. You should not try anything on the floors with dust and dirt on them as it will worsen things. The tile can get scratched when the old wax is removed in the presence of dust. Therefore, sweep or vacuum the floor to remove all dust and dirt. 

3- Preparation of the Wax Remover 

There are a couple of wax removal solutions available in the market. Still, you should read the instructions carefully before buying any product from the store to remove wax from the floor. If you're making the remover yourself at home, then certain household items can be very effective. Vinegar and ammonia are two amazing products that easily remove the old wax from your floors. Just mix some vinegar and ammonia into a hot water bucket and then add the solution into another bucket. During this process, windows should be kept open to let in the fresh air. Ammonia is strong and abrasive, so you should protect your hands by wearing rubber or latex-free gloves. If your tiles don't have a lot of deposits, you can only remove the wax with water and vinegar. Otherwise, an ammonia mixture must be used. 

4- Stain Treatment 

Wax Remover should first be applied to more pigmented or more yellow areas. Corners are usually more yellowish and dull; therefore, they must be the first ones to be treated. Wet a rag in the wax removal solution, apply it to the affected areas and leave it on for 5 minutes. Clean the solution from the floor with the help of a rag and then rinse the rag in a bucket of water. This should be repeated until all the stains are removed, and the tiles look much clearer. If the stain is stubborn, a brush can be used to clean it. 

5- Remove Wax from the Entire Floor

Once you have removed the bad wax stains, you can proceed with removing the wax from the entire floor. Pour the solution you made all over the floor and keep it there for a few minutes. Wipe everything with a rag and rinse the rag in a clean bucket of water. 

6- Floor Cleaning 

Don't forget to change the water in the bucket before re-wiping the floor to remove residual wax. If the water looks dirty, it is good to change the water. This will also get rid of the smell caused by ammonia and vinegar.

By using the simple steps mentioned above, you can easily get rid of the wax traces from your floors and make them look beautiful and clean again.

Read More about House cleaning tips here.