How to Clean a Gummy Wax Build-Up on a White Kitchen Floor

For many types of vinyl and linoleum floors, regular waxing is needed to bring out their shine and protect them from wear. At least once a year you have to remove built-up wax from linoleum or vinyl flooring, especially in lower-traffic areas where wax doesn't get worn away as quickly. Built-up wax on white floors often looks yellow or dull, and it can get sticky and attract dirt and dust. Whether you use everyday household items or commercial wax strippers, removing gummy wax buildup from floors means getting down on your hands and knees to scrub.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Buckets
• Distilled white vinegar
• Cream of tartar
• Scrubbing brush
• Thick cleaning rags
• Mop

1. Fill a bucket with a gallon of distilled white vinegar and a cup of cream of tartar. Swirl it around until the cream of tartar is completely dissolved.

2. Fill another bucket with hot water and several thick cleaning rags.

3. Wet the scrubbing brush with the vinegar solution and start scrubbing a small area of the floor. Use a gentle, circular scrubbing motion and work on one area until it is completely covered with the vinegar solution. The wax should start coming off as you scrub, but let the solution sit for several minutes on very thick, sticky wax stains.

4. Take a cleaning rag out of the water and wring it out. Wipe the area you have just cleaned. If the wax is very thick or dirty and hasn't come off completely, scrub it again with the vinegar solution and wipe it again with a wrung-out towel.

5. Scrub and wipe the entire floor, doing one small area at a time. Change the hot water frequently as it becomes dirty, and use fresh cleaning rags to avoid spreading wax onto a cleaned area.

6. Mop the floor with clean water to rinse away the last of the vinegar solution. Leave the floor to air dry or wipe it dry with rags.

7. Clean the floors regularly with a cup of ammonia and a cup of vinegar mixed in a gallon of water to prevent further wax buildup.

Tips & Warnings

• If you use a commercial wax stripper on your floor instead, read the instructions carefully and make sure it is the right product for the type of floor.

References

• Tips For Removing Wax From Floors
• Strip Wax From Linoleum and Vinyl Floors