Two ways to safely remove wax on your hardwood floor

No one likes their hardwood floor covered with wax. But we can’t avoid careless moments in our life when we accidentally let the candle drip hot wax on the floor. The first thing you need to do - as the professional from  The King Live advice - is wait patiently for the wax to dry before trying to remove it. And then you can try removing the wax with the two methods below.  

The hot method

For this method, you’ll need:

• A hair dryer 

• A plastic card

• Wood furniture wax

The hot method is not hard to perform. But you need to be careful not to contact the heat directly to prevent burns. Here is how to get wax off hardwood floor  with the hot method:

• Step 1: Turn the hair dryer on medium heat, then place it 12 inches away from the wax. 

• Step 2: Wait for the wax to soften then scrap it out with the plastic card.

• Step 3: If there is any residue left, apply the wood furniture wax on the spot to buff and cleanse the area.  

Using wax to clean wax sounds like a crazy thing to do right? But the truth is, the wood furniture wax has chemicals to buff out imperfections. You also have to buff a wide area since it will make the affected spot blend into the surrounding better.   

The cold method

For this method, you’ll need:

• Ice cubes or a cold pack 

• A plastic card

• Cotton cloth

• Wood furniture wax

The cold method is easy and safe. What you need to do is be patient and remove the wax bit by bit so that you won’t gouge the floor. Here is how to get wax off hardwood floor with the cold method:

• Step 1: Place the ice cubes or the cold pack on the wax even though it’s already dried.  

• Step 2: Wait for the wax to harden (which you may need to hold the ice cubes/cold pack in place for 2 - 3 minutes).

• Step 3: Use the plastic card to pick up the max, do it outside-in and slowly pop the wax off. If the wax doesn’t seem to be easy to pick up, repeat step 2. 

• Step 4: When all the wax is completely removed, wipe the spot with the cotton cloth to absorb the excess water on your hardwood floor.

• Step 5: If there is any residue left, apply the wood furniture wax on the spot to buff and cleanse the area. 

Scraping hardened wax takes time so don’t rush into it and damage your floor. Just lift the edges bit by bit until you can pop the wax out. Don’t try to scoop the whole wax off. If the wax still sticks to your hardwood floor, it’s a sign that it’s not completely hardened.   

The things you need to avoid

We know how eagerly you want to remove wax on your hardwood floor. But keep in mind that some fast way to achieve that goal can damage your floor. So here are the things you need to avoid if you want to safely remove wax from hardwood floors:  

• Mineral spirits are not the answer in this situation. It will remove the protecting wax on your hardwood floor, which will make it more vulnerable. 

• Don’t use steel wool or green scrubbies to remove the wax. They will leave scratch marks on your beautiful hardwood floor.

• A knife or a razor blade is not the tool for scraping the wax off since they can leave scratches and remove the protecting wax layer of your hardwood floor. 

Want to check out more useful tips by professionals from TheKingLive? Don’t forget to visit their website for informative posts like How long does a carpet last - A complete carpet maintenance guide .