How to wax a hardwood floor

These days, waxed floors aren't all that common as oiled, varnished and stained floors are much easier to clean. Wax works coat the wood with a protective layer but it needs to be applied on top of bare wood or wood that has already been waxed. This type of coating allows you to preserve the natural look of the wood while giving it a touch of authenticity and elegance. What's more, it leaves behind a unique old-time smell! However, waxed hardwood floors are water-sensitive and stain easily. The colour will also fade over time and your floors can get slippery if you apply too much wax.

Steps 

1. Preparing the floor

2. Applying the wax

3. Putting the room back in order

Before you set about applying the wax, the floor must be properly prepared. In order for the wax to do its job, it needs to be able to penetrate the floor properly. 

You can therefore only apply wax to bare wood or a floor that has previously been waxed. It's also important to ensure that the floor is clean and free of dust. If the floor has already been waxed, you'll need to remove the previous layer of waxusing steel wool and wax remover. 

If you want to re-wax the entire surface, you'll have to move all your furniture out of the room. You can attempt to work around furniture but there will be a marked difference in finish if you ever decide to rearrange the room. If you are in the process of moving things around, use the time to sand down the whole floor before applying a fresh coat of wax.

Before applying your wax finish, you should apply a hard wax oil to the surface to protect the wood from stains. This type of product helps to block the pores of the wood to protect it from liquid marks.

In order for the wax to work as efficiently as possible, you'll need to work through a few different steps.

• When it comes to applying wax, it's best to work in small surfaces.

• Always start at the far end of the room, working your way back to the door to avoid having to step on the floor and leaving marks. 

• Apply liquid wax using a brush fitted with a microfibre mop head.

• Wipe any excess away with a cloth as you work. Do not forget this step as if you leave too much wax on the floor it will remain tacky to the touch. 

• Leave the wax to dry for 24 hours or the amount of time indicated by the manufacturer (this varies between products).

• Apply a second coat following the same method.

• Leave the wax to dry once again for the required time.

• If you want a shiny floor, finish by buffing the floor with a soft cloth.

Do not walk on the floor before the required drying time is up.

Be sure to check your furniture is fitted with felt pads or else stick some onto the feet of your items. This will help to prevent the furniture from scratching the floor when moved. 

Please note that floors need to be waxed on a regular basis to ensure they have adequate protection. As a guideline, try to do this about twice a year. However, this will vary depending on how often you use the room. If it is a bedroom, once a year should suffice.

Do not place a rug over your freshly waxed floor for at least ten days. 

Required skills 

While waxing a floor is a fairly straightforward job, you will need to follow the right steps to ensure that the wax penetrates the wood properly. If you fail to prepare the floor properly, the wax will simply stay on the surface and the floor will quickly get damaged. There aren't a lot of steps to carry out and each step is quite easy so don't be discouraged!

Time required 

1 hour minimum, depending on room size.

Number of people required

1 person

Tools and equipment 

• Mop

• Steel wool

• Soft cloth

• Liquid wax

Safety wear

• Protective gloves

Please note: this is a non-exhaustive list; be sure to match your personal protective equipment to the job at hand.