How to Remove Wax Build Up

Older furniture or flooring mighht have received one too many coats of wax over a lifetime, resulting in a grubby, dark finish instead of the desired clean, shiny finish. The unattractive effect of wax buildup is worsened by the dust and grime that becomes trapped in with the wax as each layer is added. There are ways to remove wax builldup on furniture and floors, some harsher than others. Removing the wax takes elbow grease and requires either a sander or a chemical solution to dissolve the wax.

• 1

  Check closely to ensure your piece of furniture or flooring definitely has a wax finish. Do this by dropping some water on the surface to be tested and looking for the water droplets to create beads. If the finish is wax, this will happen. If the water doesn't bead, there is no wax finish on the surface.

• 2

  Look at the thickness of the wax on the floor to be cleaned. If the wax is very thick and the floor covers a wide area, it might be practical to use a sander to remove the wax layer. If you're planning to use a sander, Hardwood Installer.com warns that some floors might have shellac finishes under the wax layers, which could be damaged by the sander.

• 3

  Choose an inconspicuous place to do a practice run on first.

• 4

  Gently rub the waxed surface with the 0000 steel wool and cleaner. Do not use the steel wool on surfaces that are very glossy, as the gloss can be affected. Once part of an area is cleaned with steel wool, the rest of the area will appear markedly different, so use the wool for the entire area.

• 5

  Clean crevices and cracks using the toothbrush and cleaning solution.

• 6

  Buff up the piece of furniture with a soft cloth or attach the cloth to the outside of a dry mop to buff up a floor to its brighter new sheen.