Caring for Your Wood Floors: Proper Waxing and Buffing in South Amboy, NJ

Hardwood floors have become a treasure in many homes. They look sophisticated, beautiful and when messes happen, the floors are so easy to clean. However, to keep your hardwood floors looking natural and pleasing, you’ll have to wax and buff your floors.

If you’re in a newer home, your floors are newer, and are most likely covered in an oil-based finish. Those floors you don’t want to wax or buff. If you’re living in an older home, you might have to wax and buff your floors several times a year, since the floors are coated, but not in the way new floors are. The following is a step-by-step process outlining how to properly go about waxing and buffing in South Amboy, NJ:

• Gather your equipment: To successfully wax and buff your floors, you need the right equipment. You’ll need a type of wood restorer, paste wax, rubber gloves, and old towels or socks. Waxing and buffing can be a dirty process, so don’t use cleaning supplies that are new or cloth you’re afraid of getting dirty. In addition to those items, you’ll also need a floor buffer. If you don’t have one or choose not to use one, be ready to use your muscles.
• Test your wood: You’ll need to know if your floors have the coating that’s been developed in recent years or if your floors have an older coating. If your floor has an older coating, you’ll need to use the traditional wax and buffing method. To see if you have an older finish, put a drop of water the size of a small coin on the floor. If it soaks right in or creates a white spot on the floor, you have an older finish on your floors. If the water stays put and doesn’t create a spot, that’s a good sign you have a recent, modern finish.
• Wipe your floor: Once you know you have an older finish on your floors, use the wood restorer and wipe the floor down using an old cloth. The wood restorer is the first step to making your floors look shiny again. Leave the wood restorer to dry for an hour.
• Wax it: Put a layer of wax paste on the floor. Make sure the coat is not to heavy; you don’t want to plainly see the wax on the floor. Rub the wax into the floor and let it dry for 30 to 45 minutes.
• Buff it: Use your floor buffer, or your hands if you don’t have an automatic buffer. The floor buffer will polish your floors with a rotating pad. If you choose to use your hands to buff in a circular motion, make sure you use a thicker towel and a lot of elbow grease to pick up all of that dirt.

You have hardwood floors for a reason, so make sure you take full advantage of them! Doing so means making sure you clean your waxed floors regularly. For more information or for waxing and buffing in South Amboy, NJ, visit Love ‘N Kare Carpet Center.

Categorised in: Wood Floors

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