If you want an attractive shine and protective coating on your tile floors, you need to wax them. This makes the floors easier to clean as well. Moreover, the wax layer provides your tile floor with extra protection against stains.
Homeowners nowadays have a lot more options for giving their floors a shine. Keep in mind that there is modern flooring that you shouldn’t wax. This article will tell you what you need to know about floor wax for tile floors. It will also provide steps on how to wax your tile floors.
Floor Wax for Tile Floors: Waxing Different Types of Flooring
Floor wax is usually made from organic ingredients, such as beeswax and carnauba wax. There are some made from linseed and other plant-based oils. Some flooring experts prefer to use these natural waxes. Even though synthetic substitutes are more popular now.
Here are some types of flooring that needs waxing:
● Hardwood, Including Parquet
All hardwood floors need periodic waxing. These include those made from new or recycled wood or even vintage floors. Keep in mind that floor wax helps seal the porous wood surface. It also protects it from stains and hides scratches and dents. It even increases shine. For this kind of flooring, you need to wax it every six to 18 months. It usually depends on traffic and wear.
● Terra-cotta
You can treat terra-cotta and other unglazed floor tiles with sealer and wax. Do this right after you finish installing the floors. The sealer and wax bring out their color variations. This also adds a shiny or matte finish and protects them from stains. You should also keep the tiles clean and the wax reapplied. Make sure to wax this floor every one to two years.
● Vinyl Composition Tile or VCT
It’s important to wax VCT right after you install this flooring. That’s because you need to strip and re-wax it in a periodic manner. Make sure to do this every six to 12 months.
Other things you need to keep in mind when waxing your floor are the following:
- Strip the old wax from your hardwood floors with mineral spirits. Do this before you apply a new layer.
- Make sure to apply paste waxes by hand. You can use cheesecloth or a soft cotton cloth.
- Apply liquid waxes using a sponge mop. You can also use a mop stick fitted with a microfiber pad.
- Apply the stone sealer using a paintbrush or paint roller.
- Apply acrylic floor finish using a sponge mop. You can also opt to use a mop fitted with a microfiber pad.
Floor Wax for Tile Floors: Tips on How To Wax Your Tile Floors
Keep in mind that wax can build up over time. So it is vital to thoroughly clean and remove the old wax coating before applying any new wax.
Here are the steps you need to do in waxing your tile floors:
- First, pour the vinegar and cream of tartar into the bucket. Then, agitate using your scrub brush. Make sure to scrub the tile floor in a circular motion. Do this until the wax coating disappears.
Then, put the dry towel under the tap so you can get it wet. Make sure to wring it out. Then, go behind yourself with the dry towel. You should also wipe down each section after you remove the wax. You can continue doing this for the entire tile floor.
- The next thing you need to do is to empty out the bucket and rinse it out. Make sure to fill the bucket with warm water. Then, squeeze in two squirts of dishwashing liquid.
Then, lower the mop into the water and agitate it by lifting the mop-up and down until the water is sudsy.
Make sure to mop the entire floor with soapy water. This is to remove any vinegar residue or leftover floor wax. Don’t forget to empty the bucket, rinse it, then fill it with warm water.
You can go over the floor with the warm water and mop to rinse it. Make sure to let the bucket, mop head, and floor air dry.
- After that, you can now open the bottle of floor wax. Pour the wax into a dry bucket. The next thing you need to do is to dip the mop head into the floor wax. Make sure to drag it along the floor, starting along the wall farthest from the door.
You should apply the wax in even coats. It should be one strip at a time. Then walk back and forth across the room and toward the door. Make sure to let the first coat dry for an hour. After that, you can apply a second coat. Don’t forget to let that coat dry for two hours before moving furniture back into the room.
You might be wondering, can you wax ceramic tiles? Yes, you can, after all, waxing ceramic tiles is vital in floor maintenance practice.
Waxing will make your ceramic tiles waterproof. It also makes the tiles stain-resistant and creates a non-slip surface. It is important that you go for the best wax for ceramic tile floors. This way you can make your floor mirror elegance.
Before you start waxing ceramic tile, make sure the floor surface is clean. This is to keep you working on an obstruction-free surface. Keep in mind that wax may build up on the floor surface. As such, it is advisable to strip off the old wax before you apply a new layer. You can strip old wax using a vinegar solution mixed with warm water. You can use a mop for cleaning the floor surface.
Are you too preoccupied to do your regular house cleaning? You don’t need to worry as Clean My Space CT can get the job done the first time around. We offer the best residential cleaning services and commercial cleaning in Connecticut. Our services include move in/move out cleaning and office cleaning services. For inquiries, you can call us at (860) 539-8725. You can also send us an email at info@cleanmyspacect.com and request a quote.
