Four Ways To Polish A Hardwood Floor
Polishing a hardwood floor is one of those household chores that usually takes a lot of time. Today, however, there are several ways to polish a hardwood floor without having to see too much effort.
If you wait too long without proper polishing, you may find that the floor gradually loses its distinctive style and elegance, as dirt has made it opaque and stained.
The wood material also weakens faster without polishing and makes moisture easier to absorb and the planks become twisted.
What is the best way to polish a wooden floor? Although the use of wax is the traditional way and is still common today, there are in fact other interesting products that achieve the same result.
In this article, we share four effective ways to do this so you can apply them when you want to see your hardwood floor shiny and clean. Take notes!
What should be used to polish a wooden floor?
There are several products for polishing hardwood floors in stores; traditional wax is still used for plank floors. However, if the wood is special, you should use other products.
If your floor is made of untreated wood, linoleum or cork flooring, you can use liquid wax or oil. It is not recommended to use such wax on urethane-coated vinyl floors or non-polished floors.
Another great option is water-based silicone varnish. It can be used on almost all floors except cork flooring, linoleum or unpolished wood.
Paste-like wax can be used to polish linoleum, cork flooring, concrete and untreated wood. It should not be used on vinyl floors or urethane coated floors.
There are some homemade waxes that can be applied to any wood to make it shiny and new-looking. Results may vary.
Effective ways to polish hardwood floors
If you already know which wax is best for your floor, in the next section you will learn how to apply it the right way to make your wood look like new. Are you ready? Let’s get started!
1. Liquid wax and oil
- Clean the floor surface to remove any dust and dirt that may be on it.
- Dampen a soft cotton cloth with liquid wax and spread it evenly around the floor.
- When it is dry, polish it with a clean towel or varnish.
- It is dry when you notice that there is only surface gloss left.
2. Water-based silicone varnish
- Sweep and mop the floor to get rid of dirt that has accumulated on its surface and between the planks.
- Dampen a clean cloth and pour a little varnish into it.
- Apply it in a thin layer on a wooden floor and be careful not to make bubbles.
- When it is dry, polish the floor with a clean towel or polisher.
- Make sure each layer is completely dry before adding the second layer of varnish.
3. Paste-like wax
- Sweep or vacuum the floor before applying this product.
- When the floor is clean and dry, moisten a soft cotton towel that is not lint-free.
- Apply a little wax to the floor, follow the instructions that come with it.
- Allow to dry and polish with a clean towel or polisher.
- When the floor looks uneven, it is because it is dry.
4. Homemade wax and turpentine
If you want to use a homemade product, here is an easy beeswax-turpentine guide . Two ingredients with an oily texture that leaves the wood clean and shiny.
It is a product that is free of toxic chemicals and can be used on your wood floors, as well as on furniture that is starting to look opaque and uneven.
Ingredients
- 50 g grated beeswax
- 60 ml of turpentine
Manufacturing
- Pour the grated beeswax into a heat-resistant container and melt it in a water bath.
- When the mixture starts to look liquid, mix it with a wooden spatula and slowly add turpentine.
- Stir until the product is smooth and remove from the heat.
- Allow to cool to room temperature and store in a screw cap container.
Note: If the smell of turpentine bothers you, you can add a few drops of essential oil to get rid of it.
Use
- Clean the surface of the wooden floor and apply a sufficient amount of wax.
- Apply with a microfiber cloth until the floor shines.
Choose the most suitable way to polish a hardwood floor and give it the care it needs to keep it beautiful. As you can see, there are pretty similar methods for doing this. The only difference is in the polish you use.
