How to Get Wax Buildup Off Vinyl Tile Floors

Overall, vinyl tile floors are very easy to clean. However, from time to time, they are subject to a wax buildup that is dull, yellow or flaky in appearance. Cleaning off this wax takes a little extra effort than what you would put into a traditional scrubbing of the tile. You don't have to do it often though. And the results should last a fairly long time as long as you clean the floor properly.
Check to see which type of wax buildup the floor has. Is the wax coming off in flakes or is the floor simply discolored?

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mop
• Rough bristled scrub brush
• Vinegar
• Ammonia
• Long-handled spoon
• Rubbing alcohol or club soda
• 2-gallon bucket
• Rubber gloves

Flaking Wax

1. Take care of your flaking wax, usually caused by too much in certain areas of the floor, by giving your floor a heavy duty cleaning.

2. Fill a bucket with 1 gallon of warm water, ¾ cup of white vinegar and ¾ cup of ammonia.

3. Stir the solution with a long-handled spoon until the vinegar and ammonia are no longer clearly visible.

4. Dip your mop in the solution and wet mop the floor as normal, rinsing the mop as you go without heavily wringing it out.

5. Fill the bucket with water only and wet mop the floor a final time to rinse it. Let the floor air dry. Wait a week before you apply any new wax.

Discolored Wax

6. Strip the wax from the floor entirely if the wax has become discolored.

7. Fill the bucket with a mixture of three parts water to one part rubbing alcohol or club soda.

8. Wet mop the floor with the solution. Then go back over the tile with a rough bristled scrub brush, using a circular motion.

9. Scrub more than you think you need to. You want to make sure to get all of the wax off so that when you wax again it will go on evenly and you won't end up with flaky buildup instead.

10. Fill the bucket with water only and wet mop the floor a final time to rinse it. Let the floor air dry. Wait a week before you apply any new wax.

Tips & Warnings

• After you wax your floor again, use the cleaning method in Section 1 at least once a month to keep future wax buildup at bay. Don't use these instructions if you spill candle wax on the floor. Just scrape it off with a putty knife when it dries.
• Wear rubber gloves when working with ammonia and open a window or turn on a fan. Do not walk on the floor while it's drying. That's a great way to make the floor look dirty again immediately.