How to Remove Floor Wax

By Matt Oden | Comments | Oil and Wax Stains → Floor Wax

Remove floor wax more easily with a few quick tips. Nothing looks quite as good as a floor that's just received a glossing with floor wax. Wood, tile, even linoleum can look like brand new when they're shined to a mirror finish with a new coat of wax.

Don't get so caught up in looking at your reflection in your newly-waxed floor, however, that you neglect to notice that you've inadvertently stained your pants, your glass door, and the sink you rinsed your mop in with floor wax, too, as floor wax since removing floor wax only becomes more difficult the longer you let the stain set in.

Removing Floor Wax From Washable Fabrics

What You'll Need Before You Start:

Credit Card or Knife
Liquid Laundry Detergent
Clean White Cloths
Dry Cleaning Solvent

Wax of any type is difficult to remove from washable fabrics, and floor wax is no exception. These greasy, heavy stains often require multiple washings in order to remove them completely, especially if the stain is set in the fabric. Time and heat are your worst enemies when it comes to wax stains on fabrics; the longer a stain sets, the harder it is to remove, and if you expose the stain to heat, such as the heat from a dryer or an iron, the stain may become permanent, and therefore impossible to remove.

To remove floor wax from washable fabrics:

Gently scrape any solid wax from the fabric using a credit card or knife.
Soak the stain with liquid laundry detergent, and work the detergent into the stain.
Wash on the hottest setting safe for your fabric. Do not dry in the dryer. Line dry.
Check to make sure the stain is removed; if not, repeat steps 2 and 3 until the stain is removed.
If repeated washings alone do not remove the stain, use dry cleaning solvent to attempt to get the stain out.
Place the stained portion of the fabric on a clean, white cloth, stain side down.
Soak a clean white cloth in dry cleaning solvent; dab at the stain until it is removed.
Repeat steps 2-4.

Removing Floor Wax From Glass

What You'll Need Before You Start:

Credit Card or Putty Knife
Rubber or Other Protective Gloves
Ammonia
Paper Towels

Glass doors or windows near floors being waxed sometimes get an inadvertent waxing, as well. Take care how you remove the wax, however, or you may end up with a greasy film on your glass that can be difficult to remove. Ammonia, the ultimate grease fighter, is perfect for removing floor wax from glass, but don't assume that a window cleaner that contains ammonia as an ingredient is up to the task -- straight ammonia will remove floor wax and the greasy residue it leaves behind much better than a dilute solution of ammonia.

To remove floor wax from glass:

Gently scrape any solid wax from the glass using a credit card or putty knife.
Don rubber or other protective gloves.
Apply ammonia to a paper towel.
Wipe the glass with the ammonia soaked paper towel. Wipe dry with a dry paper towel.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all wax residue is removed.
Clean the entire glass window using ammonia and paper towels to remove streaks.

Removing Floor Wax From Sinks

What You'll Need Before You Start:

Rubber or Other Protective Gloves
Ammonia
Nylon Scrubber Sponge
Dry, Clean Cloths

If you've waxed your floor yourself, chances are good that you've washed your wax applicator in a sink in order to keep it from hardening. The problem is, while you're washing and rinsing your applicator, you may be spreading wax residue on your sink. You may not even realize that you've left wax residue on your sink until later, when spots appear on your sink that no amount of dish soap or all-purpose cleaner will remove. Ammonia will quickly cut through floor wax, leaving your stainless steel, ceramic, porcelain or cultured marble sink sparkling again.

Note: Do not use ammonia on stone, marble or natural sink materials, as ammonia may stain or discolor these materials.

To remove floor wax from sinks:

Don rubber or other protective gloves.
Apply ammonia to a nylon scrubber sponge.
Scrub the floor wax stains, rinsing often with hot water.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 until all wax residue is removed, then dry the sink using a dry, clean cloth.

Don't despair if waxing your floor has left you with floor wax stains on your washable fabrics, glass doors or windows, or sinks -- having a floor with a mirror-like finish doesn't have to mean stains on other surfaces in your home. Attack floor wax stains as soon as you spot them, and your floor won't be the only thing looking shiny and new!