waxing is a floor finishing technique in which clear or coloured wax, made of a blend of solvents and synthetic and/or natural waxes like beeswax or carnauba, is applied to a hardwood floor in a thin layer and then polished to a shine. As the solvents in the wax evaporate, the wax hardens into a protective seal that confers a host of benefits:
Extend floor life: Waxed floors are much harder than un-waxed wood floors. This increased hardness and durability, if maintained, waxed wood floors have the potential for a longer life span than un-waxed hardwood floors.
Preserves floor finishes: If you’re looking for the best wax for floors, you should know that it is essential when it comes to improving your home’s floors. Wax acts as the first line of defence against spills, dust, and dirt, preventing them from encroaching on underlying finishes, such as oil, and enabling the underlying finish of your floor to last longer. However, choosing the best waxes for your specific needs can be a chore with so many options and possibilities out there. Whether you have just purchased a new home or are looking to maintain your older one while sprucing it up, knowing which wax is ideal for each situation may seem like an impossible feat to accomplish.
Enhances the floor beauty: A shiny floor tends to be a focal point in many homes, and the kind of wax you use can greatly influence how your floors look. There are several different kinds of wax products available on the market, which fall into two categories: shiny and coloured. The most common shiny waxes are made of polymers, detergents, and silicone-type materials. These shine up your floors like car wax, except that they won’t make your floors as slippery as car wax does. Coloured waxes are created from naturally occurring resins and oils, such as shellac, dammar, copal and beeswax. These add colour to the floor while providing some shine.
Enhances stain resistance: The wax seal allows spills to slide across the floor for easy cleanup. Traditional wood floors are maintained through the periodic application of floor finishes. Wax seals do not replace the need for a finish, but rather minimize the possibility of a spill being absorbed by the bare wood.
A minor imperfection is minimized: Wax reduces the appearance of superficial scratches, dings, and scuffs marks. Over time wax dissolves from the paint surface and replenishes itself as molecular particles fill in for those that have been removed. The fine scratches and swirl marks are not removed but their appearance is reduced or eliminated. A complete wax job will restore a shine to the paint finish as well as leave it smooth and glossy.