How to Get Rid of a Film on My Hardwood Floors

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By Shannon M. Beck
eHow Contributing Writer

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People love hardwood floors in part because of their lustre, but over time wax buildup can cause a cloudy grey or white film that disturbs this luxurious quality. Proper removal of this film depends on the type of wax applied. If the floors are newer, the wax is likely a water-based acrylic wax. Favorite brands of this type of wax include Mop and Glo, Swifter Wet Jet for Hardwoods and Orange Glo. If your floors are older, the wax is a probably a paste wax, which is easier to remove than water-based acrylic wax.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Clean rag
Odorless Mineral Spirits
Ammonia based wax stripper
Mop
Wood floor wax

Determining the Wax Type

Step 1

Dampen a small rag with odorless mineral spirits.
Step 2

Rub the damp rag on small patches of the floor where the film appears.
Step 3

Inspect the rag. If there is a dirty film on the rag, then the wax is paste wax. If nothing comes up with the rag, the wax is water-based acrylic.

Removing the Wax

Step 1

Clean the floors with the odorless mineral spirits if you found paste wax on the floor. Do not dilute the mineral spirits in water. Instead lightly dampen a cloth dust mop with the mineral spirits, and go over the surface.
Step 2

Strip the wax using an ammonia-based wax stripper if you found water-based acrylic wax on the floor. Follow the manufacturer's directions, and remember that this is a harder wax to remove, so it may take a couple of tries.
Step 3

Once the film is removed, apply a new coat of wax to restore the shine.

Tips & Warnings

Speak to staff at your local cleaning supply store to find the best wax for your floor. A high-quality wax will take many years to build up the film that you just spent so much time removing.
Never attempt to clean hardwood floors with water.