How To Wax Hardwood Floors [Including Natural Methods]

No matter how clean you keep your hardwood floors, at some point, you'll find that they will become a bit dull. However, waxing them can help restore the luster to the floors, making them look brand new. But what's the best way to wax hardwood floors? What are the best natural methods to use? We have looked into the answers to these questions come in this post, we will go over them.

Here are the steps to waxing hardwood:

Gather your materials and move furniture
Sweep the floor
Mop the floors
Let the floors dry
Apply the floor wax

Keep reading for all the details on how to complete each of these steps for the best effect!

Best Way to Wax Your Hardwood Floors

The frequency at which you wax your floor will depend on your personal preference and the amount of traffic that the floor receives. It will also depend on the type of hardwood floors you have. Generally, it's best to have your hardwood floors waxed anywhere from every 6 to 24 months. Continue reading to learn more about how to do it.

Things you'll need:

Floor wax
Cleaning solution for hardwood floors
Broom
Dust mop
Sponge
Microfiber mop
Putty knife
Buffer or buffing pads
Lint-free cloths
knee pads
Rubber gloves
2-gallon bucket

1. Gather your materials and move furniture

Before waxing the floor, make sure that you have all of your cleaning tools and solutions gathered in the room. It's always best to double-check to avoid having to make a quick run to the store. Next, you'll want to move any furniture or other standing items from the room that you plan to wax.

2. Sweep the floor

Next, take your broom and sweep the hardwood floors starting from the corner farthest away from the entry. Be sure to remove any large pieces of debris and dirt that may be logged in corners and beneath the furniture in the room.

This step is essential to prevent sealing any dirt or debris into the floor, so it's best to be pretty thorough. You can also use a vacuum with a hose attachment to suck up any loose dust or dirt on the floor in the corners of the floor.

Check out this broom on Amazon.

3. Mop the floors

After thoroughly sweeping the floors, take out your two-gallon bucket and fill it with the cleaning solution. Next, fill the bucket with water. Then, proceed to mop the floor starting from the area farthest away from the door.

4. Let the floors dry

Depending on the size of the area that you've mopped, the temperature in the room, the floors may need anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes to dry completely. You can improve this drying time by ensuring that you wring out your mop thoroughly when you apply or rinse off the cleaning solution.

5. Apply the floor wax

There are three different types of floor wax to choose from: liquid, solid, and water-based silicone. Each wax type will have its own application method. Let's take a look.

Liquid wax

Take a lint-free cloth and apply a quarter-sized amount of wax to it. Use the cloth to rub the wax in the direction of the wood grain. Do this until you have covered the entire hardwood surface. Next, grab your electric buffer and start at the same stop, buffing your way backward in the room.

Or, if you are buffing the floor by hand, take your dry pad and go over the entire surface using circular motions as you remove the wax from the floor. Then, apply one to two more layers of wax to add an extra layer of protection to the floor.

Check out this liquid wax on Amazon.

Solid paste wax

Apply a small dab of the paste wax to a cleaning cloth or a lint-free cloth. Next, rub the cloth in a circular motion to evenly distribute the wax over the floors. Be sure to follow the grain of the wood for the best results. Next, let the wax dry per the instructions on the label.

Then, use your electric buffer or a buffing sponge to buff the floors. When buffing the floors manually, be sure to work in a circular motion, again going in the direction of the wood grain. You'll notice the floors beginning to shine again once the wax is removed.

Learn more about this solid paste wax on Amazon.

Water-based silicone wax

Use a paint pad applicator or a foam brush to apply the silicone wax to the floor. Rub the wax in the direction of the wood grain to make sure that it penetrates the surface to enhance the texture. Next, let the wax dry on the wood for the recommended drying time. Then, buff the floor manually with a lint-free cloth or with an electric buffer.

Keep in mind that using an electric buffer will always be a time-saver. And if you don't have one (or don't want to purchase one), you can always rent one for the day from your local hardware stores such as Home Depot or Lowe's.

Take a look at this affordable electric floor buffer on Amazon.

Making a DIY Floor Wax

If you prefer to use an all-natural solution to wax your floors, try adding two tablespoons of distilled white vinegar with two tablespoons of olive oil and 15 drops of essential oil. Mix the ingredients with two cups of hot water and then pour it into a spray bottle.

Next, sweep and mop the floors as you normally would to remove any standing debris and dust--you don't want to seal this into the floor when you apply the wax.

Then, spray the floor with the solution in small sections starting from the area away from the door and working your way backward. Next, go over the floors with your mop once or twice for accurate coverage. Then, let the floors dry--you don't need to buff out this DIY polish.

Buy orange oil on Amazon.

What do you use to wax hardwood floors?

To wax floors, you'll need a floor wax. These waxes are either paste or liquid-based and contain various natural waxes, oils, polymers, and other synthetic substitutes. Floor wax solutions can be applied using a microfiber pad, sponge, or mop, depending on the type of wax you use.

Does Beeswax work on hardwood floors?

Historically hardwood floor waxes were made from beeswax, linseed oil, and other plant-based oils. And though you can mix beeswax with other solutions such as turpentine and linseed oil to create a wax, it's much easier to purchase a commercial floor wax that contains it-as many do.

What is the best wax to use on hardwood floors?

There are a few high-quality waxes that you can use on your hardwood floors. Let's look at the top three.

Minwax Hardwood Floor Reviver

This floor wax by Miniwax provides a brilliant shine on hardwood floors for up to six months. It dries within two hours and is an easy water-based liquid wax that can provide beautiful shine with just one coat. It leaves a lustrous clear finish on the floor without changing the picture of the color of the wood, and it contains polyurethane to ensure a long-lasting shine.

Rejuvenate All Floors Restorer

Here is another liquid wax that is worth taking a look at. This polish contains a rich mixture of resin and oil that makes it very durable and resilient. The solution dries in 45 minutes and can even be used on unglazed tile floors and other surfaces. It's perfect for vinyl, laminate, tile, terracotta, and linoleum. If you're looking for a solid wax that a reputable brand backs, here it is.

How do you wax hardwood floors naturally?

You can wax hardwood floors Naturally by making your own DIY wax polish. There are a few different ways that you can do this, but ultimately the main ingredient to the polish should include a base oil such as an essential oil, olive oil, or linseed oil, and wax such as Carnauba wax or beeswax.

Find olive oil on Amazon.

How can I make my old hardwood floors shine?

The best way to make old hardwood floors shine is to either wax or apply a coat of polyurethane to the floors. If you are looking for a permanent shine, sealant and lacquer will also work best. However, if you prefer not to seal the floors, you can wax them every 6 to 12 months as needed.

Wrapping Things Up

Applying wax to your hardwood floors is a great way to help bring it to a brilliant shine. Before waxing your floors, it's best to thoroughly sweep and mop the floors to not seal in any dirt and debris and ensure that you get the best final finish.

Before you go, be sure to check out our other posts:

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