Mopping, applying wax and buffing

Environment
Move furniture and floor rugs and remove all dust by sweeping the floor. Using about five litres of clean warm water in a bucket to which half a cup of vinegar has been added, dip the mop into the bucket and wring the mop until almost dry. Mop the floor, using quick thrusts of the mop following the grain of the wood. Allow the floor to dry, you may follow up the mopping with a soft cloth removing all moisture. 

Allow the floor to dry completely before applying a thin layer of wax. The wax must dry and sink in before the floor is buffed. You may use a floor buffing machine if you are lucky enough to have one. However, the very best method I know, one that has been tried and tested for many years, is getting down on one’s hands and knees with a polishing brush! A word of caution though, the brush must not be applied direct to the floor as your floor will be left with marks from the bristles. The brush has to be covered with soft padding such as old fleece or mutton cloth first and then a layer of old pantyhose!

But all this waxing has its downside as there is a tendency for a wax build up, making your floors dull and lack lustre. In order to prevent this, at least once a month, clean your floors with mineral spirit, available from your local hardware. Take care to ensure that you are working in a well-ventilated area when cleaning with mineral spirit. After removing the wax build up proceed with cleaning as above and then applying wax.

But as there are so many types of wood floors, one must always take care to follow the manufacturer’s after care and maintenance instructions.