Clean and wax tile floors

There are many types of tile floors, with the most common ones being vinyl, linoleum, and ceramic. While the latter does not require waxing, the other two types of floors do. Floor-care experts even recommend waxing the “no-wax” floors as it can protect the surface from abrasion.

Vinyl floors are made of pure vinyl or a blend of vinyl and another material. The pure vinyl floors usually cost twice as much as vinyl blend floors. Vinyl resists most stains and substances. Vinyls with a cushioned backing have extra resiliency and absorb noise. Overall, it is an easy surface to care for.

Ceramic tile is made from clay, marble, slate, glass, or flint. It is very durable and easy to maintain.

Before starting to clean, gather everything you will need. To clean and wax tile floors you may need any or all of the following: a broom or dust-mop, a buffer machine with brushes or pads, detergent, stripping chemical, white vinegar, a floor sealer, floor wax, a putty knife, cleaning cloths, a wrung-out mop or wet vacuum, a mop bucket, a mop for wet mopping, a dustpan, latex gloves, protective goggles, a bucket, a spray bottle and a small brush.

Begin by sweeping or dust mopping the area. You’ll need to clear the floor of all furniture or other objects. Remove all loose dust and dirt by using a broom or a clean, dry dust mop and dustpan.

Remove any stains from the floor.

Wet-mop tile floors on a weekly or as-needed basis. Select the appropriate cleaner for the type of floor that you have. There are two methods you can use for mopping a floor.

Method 1

Mix the cleaner with water in the mop bucket and apply it to the floor. Dump the dirty water and refill the mop bucket with clean rinse water. Mop the floor with rinse water, changing the water as needed. Wring the mop and soak up excess water so the floor is just damp.

Method 2

Mix the appropriate cleaner and water in a spray bottle. Fill the mop bucket with clean rinse water. Spray the floor with the cleaner. Dip the mop in the rinse bucket, wring the mop and mop up the cleaning solution.

Whichever method you use, start in the back of the room away from the door or entrance hallway. Mop from left to right in three-foot sections, working toward the door. Each three-foot section should overlap the previous one. Working from the back of the room to the front and overlapping mopped sections will prevent you from walking on the cleaned area and will make sure that the entire floor area is clean.

Let the floor air dry. Empty the mop bucket, rinse it with clean water, and hang it to dry. Rinse the mop in clean water and hang it to dry.

Floors will occasionally need to be stripped and refinished. Stripping removes all of the old floor finish and the dirt that has been ground into the finish. Waxing the floor puts on a sealer or finish that protects the floor from wear and staining. It also should make the floor more slip resistant.

Floor care experts suggest that the following signs mean it is time to refinish a floor:

1. There are worn traffic areas showing and the bare floor is becoming exposed through worn-away finish or sealer.

2. The finish has an obvious flaking or chipping.

3. The floor is no longer shiny and has dark shadowy areas.

4. Spills have stained the floor.

5. There is built-up wax on the floor. Built-up wax may look yellow or have gray or black patches.

The first step in refinishing a floor is to strip the floor. After the floor has been stripped, it should be completely clean and ready to receive a new wax coat.

Wear heavy latex utility gloves and protective goggles when stripping built-up wax or sealer from tile floors. Mix water and an ammonia-based floor stripper. Apply a heavy coat of the ammonia solution with a mop. Let this stand for 10 minutes or until a haze appears.

Hand-scrub the edges with a brush. Scrape the wax loose from corners with a small putty knife. Pick up residue in corners and along edges with a hand cloth if needed. Scrub the wax loose use a buffer machine with a brush or nylon pads.

Use a warm, clean rinse water and a wet vacuum or a wrung-out mop to pick up wax and dirt. Change the rinse water as needed. Add one cup of white vinegar to 2.5 gallons of rinse water. Use this solution as a final rinse to get rid of any film from the wax and stripping solution. Be sure to reach corners and edges. Air dry the floor.

Using a mop, apply one coat of sealer and three coats of wax. In high-traffic areas, you may need two coats of sealer and three coats of wax. There are two main types of finishes: wax-based and polymer finish. Wax-based polishes require at least two coats of wax. Polymer finishes typically contain a dissolved metal, usually zinc, that strengthens the floor finish. It is a strong finish that is easily touched up to keep the floor glossy. Polymer finishes are also easier to strip.

Apply liquid wax evenly to the clean, dry tile floor. Make even strokes with a little overlap. Wait 30 minutes or longer before going back over missed areas. Apply the next coat at a right angle to the first coat to catch any hairlines missed.

If you are just touching up a wax finish, mix half liquid wax and half water in a spray bottle. Spray lightly on the floor just ahead of the buffer machine. Buff until a glossy finish appears.

Rinse all of your mops well and hang them to dry. Clean other supplies and equipment and hang them to dry as necessary.

While stripping and refinishing is time-consuming, it can prolong the life of your floor and keep a high quality appearance.