How to Remove Floor Wax Buildup

Wax is used to keep our floors protected while providing a beautiful shine. It can eventually wear off and begin to look dull from wax buildup. The best way to apply a new coat of wax is to remove the first coat of wax.

How to Remove Floor Wax Buildup

Materials Needed

• Butter knife


• Bucket


• Broom


• Mop


• Water


• Ammonia


• Gloves

1. Take a butter knife and scrape the floor lightly. This is the best way to tell if you have floor wax buildup. If the buildup comes up easily, then you have floor wax buildup.


2. Take as much furniture as possible out of the area. You want to make sure all areas of the floor are covered, especially buildup that has accumulated where the furniture legs sit.


3. Use a broom to thoroughly sweep the area. Wet a mop and wring it until it is damp. Mop over the floor to remove any residue to make the wax removal easy. Allow the floor to dry.


4. Fill a bucket with 2 gallons of hot water. Add ½ cup of ammonia to the bucket. Dip a mop in the bucket and swish it around to mix the liquids. Wear protective gloves to protect your hands.


5. Wring the mop lightly but leave enough liquid to soak the floor. Cover the entire floor with the solution and allow it to sit on the floor for up to one hour. The ammonia will eat away at the wax buildup the longer it sits on the floor.


6. Dip the mop into the solution and wring the mop out. Mop the entire floor with the mop.


7. Pour out the solution and rinse the bucket. Rinse the mop.


8. Fill the bucket with clean water. Use the water and mop to rinse the floor. Dip the mop into the water as many times as possible to clean the sticky wax.


9. Allow the floor to dry for several hours.