Q&A for How to Strip and Wax a Floor

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Do I put a sealer down first or last over the waxed floor?

Community Answer

Depends on the floor. Hardwood wouldn't take sealer, just stain and finish. Vinyl composite tiles you would strip/clean, seal, then polish/wax.

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Question

Can polyurethane be used on floors?

Community Answer

Polyurethane is a finish, not a wax. Wax goes over your floor finish to protect it, and some floor finishes should not be waxed (polyurethane is one of these). Wax is easily stripped-off with an ammonia solution, mop, and floor cleaner. Polyurethane must be stripped with furniture-stripping chemicals, putty knives, solvents, steel wool, and a whole lot of elbow grease.

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Question

How long should I wait after stripping a floor to wax and finish it?

Community Answer

After mopping to remove any leftover stripper, allow the floor to dry thoroughly before you apply the wax. The time depends on humidity levels, air flow, etc.

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Question

Do I put a sealer first or last over the waxed floor?

Community Answer

Sealer first (let it dry), then wax over it. The sealer will make the floor finish last longer. I highly recommend using a sealer.

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Question

How do I test a light switch?

Community Answer

Use an ohmmeter. Remove switch from circuit; put one lead on each pole. With the switch on it should read zero; with the switch off it should read infinity.

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Question

After I have stripped the floor, why does it have white spots?

Bill Jowers

Community Answer

It could be a couple of things. 1) Wax could be contaminated by using same mop bucket as stripper, could be old wax, or wax may have become frozen in weather at distribution point. 2) Stripper not completely rinsed or neutralized on the floor (most common problem, but usually you see the wax "fish-eye" or simply not drying). 3) If you used a neutralizer, it may have been under-diluted (too much neutralizer). 4) This may be a chemical reaction to the sealer you used or the sealer was not cured enough and mixed with the wax. 5) Temperature or humidity is too high (or even too low).

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Question

How do I strip built up wax from a marble kitchen floor?

Community Answer

It will probably take a few strips to fully remove the wax build up. I would apply some stripper on the area and wait 10 minutes to allow the stripper to bite into the wax. Then, I would use a scraper blade to remove the top layer of old wax. Scrape the whole area and apply more stripper; then, use the floor scrubber followed by a mop and bucket to pick up the stripper and wax.

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Question

Can the floor machine ruin the tile when stripping it?

Community Answer

Usually this is not a concern if the floor is in good condition. Be sure to use the proper machine for stripping. If any tiles are loose or cracked, you can get the stripper underneath the tile(s) and cause them to lift up and literally fly across the room. Check the area to be stripped prior to starting in order to identify potential bad areas in the floor.

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Question

How long do I leave the stripper on the floor?

Community Answer

Leave it 20-30 minutes before you use the scrubber. That gives the stripper a chance to loosen built-up wax.

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