How do I remove built up wax on my clay tile floors that are 80 years old?

Question

We live in a mediterranean style home  built in the twenties.  Old  wax is chipping off the tile floors and the tile underneath the wax appears to be unglazed.  I'm afraid I'll take the aged look away if I strip the wax, but I can't get a smooth application of Johnson's Plaza with little pieces of wax flecking off.

me · Accepted Answer

Your in a tough spot here with this floor.. By best suggestion would be to work small areas at a time with a scrubber and warm water and a small bit of mild ph clothing detergent like woolite or ivory snow. You may luck out and find an old scrubber in a thrift shop... As you do a small patch rinse with clear water and dry with terry towels. Then rinse the flooe again and dry with the towel till there is no residue. 

An electric scrubber with brushes is the best to use. Otherwise it's hands and knees time.

http://www.skymall.com/shopping/detail.htm?pid=102717915

cptkay2001 · Answer

there may be a number of suggestions, I would test everythngn in a small corner, or under the appliances if possible to check the outcome.  If it is a true wax, and not a plastic coating like most modern floor products, you can try gentle head with a cloth and an iron to melt and lift some of the wax, re-settling the rest, as was will travel to the heat source, meaning it will flor towards the iron, or up, use the cloth to catch the wax and keep the iron cleaner.

Anonymous · Answer

No way around it.  You're going to have to strip the floor.  Once you strip make sure you seal the tile again then apply new floor finish for that kind of tile.  It sounds like it may be terrazzo.  Make sure you get all the stripper off before you re-finish otherwise you will trap the stippper under the finish and it will look terrible.  Good luck!

Anonymous · Answer

ammonia dissolves wax without affecting tile.

How do I remove built up wax on my clay tile floors that are 80 years old?

4 Answers