How to Polish Wood Floors and Restore Their Shine

How to Polish Wood Floors and Restore Their Shine

Polishing a wooden floor is one of the most time-consuming chores. However, today various methods can easily make the floor shiny.

If you wait too long without polishing it properly, you may notice that it gradually loses its distinctive style and elegance as the dirt makes it opaque and dull.

In addition, without sealant, the material deteriorates faster, ie moisture penetrates more easily, and the floorboards become deformed.

What is the best way to polish a wooden floor?

Although the use of wax is a traditional method and is still popular today, there are actually other interesting tools that achieve the same goals.

What you can use to polish a wooden floor?

There are various products for polishing wooden floors in stores. Traditional wax is still a good idea. However, if the tree is special, you need to use other means.

If your floor is made of untreated wood or cork, you can use liquid wax or oil. It’s not good to use this type of wax on a urethane-coated vinyl floor or a non-polished floor.

Another great alternative is water-based silicon paint. You can use it on almost all surfaces, except cork, linoleum, and wood that has not been polished.

A wax paste can use to make linoleum, cork, concrete, and untreated wood shine. It should not be used on vinyl or urethane coating.

Several homemade waxes can be applied to any tree to make it shiny and new in appearance. The results may be different.

Effective ways to polish a wooden floor

1. Liquid wax and oil

  • Clean your floor surface to avoid any dust and dirt that may be on it.
  • Dip a soft cotton cloth into the liquid wax and spread it evenly on the floor.
  • When dry, polish with a clean towel.

2. Water-based silicone polishing

  • Sweep and wash your floor to get rid of the dirt, that accumulates on the surface and between the boards.
  • Soak a clean cloth and pour a little polish on it.
  • Apply a thin layer on the wooden floor, being careful not to form bubbles.
  • Then, when dry, polish the floor with a clean towel or sander.

Make sure each layer is completely dry before applying the coating.

3. Wax paste

  • Sweep or wash your floor before using this remedy.
  • When it is clean and dry, soak a soft lint-free cotton towel.
  • Apply a little wax to the floor following the instructions on the label.
  • Let it dry, then wipe it with a clean towel or polishing machine.

4. Homemade recipe for wax and turpentine

If you want to use a home remedy, here is a simple combination of beeswax and turpentine, two components with a greasy texture that make the wood clean and shiny.

It is a remedy that does not contain toxic chemicals and can be used for your wooden floor, as well as furniture that is dull and looks dirty.

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup of grated beeswax (50 g)
  • 1/2 cup of turpentine (62 ml)

Preparation:

  • Pour the grated beeswax into a fireproof container and melt it in a steam bath.
  • When you get the liquid, mix it with a wooden spatula and slowly add turpentine.
  • Mix until smooth.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Allow cooling to room temperature and store in a container with a lid.

Tip: If you are concerned about the smell of turpentine, you can add a few drops of essential oil to improve its smell.

Application:

  • Clean the surface of the wooden floor and apply the required amount of wax.
  • Spread with a microfiber cloth until shiny.

Choose the most appropriate method of polishing a wooden floor and make sure it looks beautiful. As you can see, the procedure is almost the same. The only difference is the remedy you use.

If you live in Tampa, FL area, you can reach out to Carpet Monkey Cleaners for your floor cleaning and polishing.

Picture Credit: Pexels