Home Owners

Wood - Repairs

We recently bought a house that is 50 years old. After ripping up the carpet, we found beautiful hardwood floors. In order to buy cleaning products to restore them, we need to know if they were waxed or treated in the past. How do we determine this?

Fifty years ago, hardwood floors were waxed with paste wax, so chances are your floors were waxed. To tell for sure, mix 1 part vinegar with 2 parts water in a spray bottle and spray the floor in an area where people don't walk. Rub the floor till it feels clean. Next, rub your hand on the spot you cleaned and on a spot were you didn't clean. If the spot you didn't clean is more slippery than the spot you cleaned, then you can be sure there was some type of wax used. For comprehensive hardwood floor restoration, however, we suggest consulting a professional, which you can find at www.flooranswer.com. Good luck!

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