How to polish wooden floors

Wood floors are elegant and classy anywhere. Whether they are present in a commercial building or in a house, they give the place a stunning look. In order for these wood panels to look good, the floors need to be maintained and polished regularly.

1. Remove all furniture. Try to avoid scraping the furniture against the panels to avoid further damage. Glue fabric under the feet to protect the wood in the future.

2. Vacuum floors to remove wood from loose debris and dust. The polish will be easier to apply if all residue has been removed.

3. It is good to know the type of material the floor is made of in order to know what products can be used. If your floor has lost the polish or lacquer, it will need to be removed to apply the new, stronger coat of the desired polish or wax to give the material a protective coat.

4. Avoid mopping a floor that has been waxed. Rather sweep and vacuum to clean it.

5. You will need to use the correct polish on the floor. If you have a polyurethane finish, you will need to use a water-based product for the best results.

6. It is essential to read the instructions on the packaging. Products vary and some may have specific chemicals that must be applied in a certain way. In some cases, you will need to wash and sand the floor before applying the polish.

7. If you are testing a new product, test the chemical on a small section of the floor. Some products can discolor wood and it is always important to test what the material can handle. Discoloration could occur immediately and further use of this polish should be discontinued.

8. The package usually tells you how to apply the polish. Most of the time, circular motions are the best way to get streak-free finishes. You may need to apply the polish to a cloth before application or you can apply the polish directly to the floor. Some products are not as strong when they are in initial contact with oxygen.

9. Overlap the circular strokes, as this could also give you a gentler, more professional cleaning.

10. Make your way from the door, around the room, and back to the door. Working in this direction will allow you to leave the room once you’re done without having to walk through the wet polish.

11. Waxed floors will need thinner coats as the polish will take longer to dry. This application should be done over time, since it will be necessary to apply two to three coats.

Commercial companies generally have a larger area to hold, in these cases you may need bulk packs of the polish that you can get from a wholesale supplier.