Although you use a cleaner to make your floors shine, it might seem as though they’re always sticky. That’s because the chemicals in your floor cleaner leave behind a residue. Not only does this residue make your floors sticky, it can also lead to a cloudy appearance and discoloration on wood floors. Fortunately, you can follow these steps to remove floor cleaner residue.
How Does Floor Cleaner Residue Occur?
Even though floor cleaners are supposed to make your floors clean, they can leave behind a residue that actually makes them sticky. This is the result of one of the three main ingredients in floor cleaners. Most cleaners contain water, solvents to cut through dirt, and surfactants to suspend dirt and make it easier to wipe away. These surfactants are what leave the residue on your floors. How sticky your floors get depend on how much surfactant the cleaner had to begin with. If you’re not diluting your floor cleaner properly, this is likely leading to very sticky floors.
Removing Residue With an Ammonia-Free Cleaner
While sticky floors are annoying, you have several options for how to remove the residue that’s causing the stickiness. The first option you can try is an ammonia-free cleaner like Windex. Spray a two-foot section of your floor and let the cleaner sit for about two minutes. Next, use a dish-scrubbing sponge to rub the section of the floor where you sprayed the cleaner. Immediately after scrubbing, use a clean and damp towel to wipe the area so the residue can’t dry on the floor. Finally, repeat this process on your entire wood floor to remove the rest of the cleaner residue.
Removing Residue From Laminate Floors
If you have residue on your laminate floors, soap or floor wax is one of the likely culprits. To cut through this residue, you’ll need an acidic cleanser. For difficult jobs, you’ll also need to use a detergent. To begin, make sure you thoroughly sweep the floor so you have no dirt left behind. Next, combine a gallon of warm water and a cup of white vinegar in a bucket and mix together.
Dip your mop into the bucket, wring it out, and mop your floor from end to end. You’ll also want to rinse the mop often to make sure you’re getting enough cleaner. Once you’re done cleaning, wipe the floor with a soft towel. To get the best results, stand on the towel and move your feet back and forth until you’ve dried the entire floor.
If the residue is still there after mopping with vinegar, add a drop of dishwashing soap to a non-abrasive sponge and scrub the floor. Rinse the sponge and reapply the soap as often as needed. Finally, mop the floor with vinegar again to remove the residue from the soap.
Don’t Use Dirty Water
Once you’ve removed the residue from your floor, you want to make sure it doesn’t start to build up again. The first way you can do this is by not using dirty water to clean your floor. While you might start out with clean water when you begin mopping, it can quickly get dirty as you go. Trying to use this dirty water to clean your floors will only make them sticky.
To avoid using dirty water, choose a mop bucket that keeps the clean and dirty water separate, or opt for an automatic scrubber that applies the cleaning solution, scrubs the floor, and vacuums up the dirty water.
Dilute Concentrated Cleaners
While it’s more economical to buy concentrated cleaning products instead of ready-to-use bottles, you need to properly dilute the concentrated cleaner in the bucket. Using a concentrated cleaning product without using enough water when diluting it won’t make it easier to clean your floors. Instead, it will only lead to big residue issues. Make sure you follow the directions and properly dilute your concentrated cleaning products.
Look for Residue-Free Floor Cleaners
Another easy way to make sure residue doesn’t accumulate on your floors again is to use a residue-free or low-residue cleaner. Unfortunately, not all residue-free cleaners are made the same. Even worse, some cleaners that claim they’re residue-free still leave behind a film. Fortunately, you can use an easy test to see just how much residue a cleaner will leave behind. Simply spray the cleaner on some glass and wipe it away. You’ll quickly be able to see if it leaves behind any residue.
While sticky floors are a frustrating problem, you can remove the residue left from floor cleaners with these cleaning tips.
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Question: Removing Wax From Laminate Flooring?
March 24, 2010
Javier
By Javier from Spring Hill, TN
Answers
December 13, 20137 found this helpful
I just spent a week trying different methods for removing the buildup on my floors. I tried the vinegar, ammonia, and mineral spirits.routines to no avail. But what did work was zep floor stripper from home depot, a plastic scraper, a rag, and a sponge. I added a little more than the recommended amount in a bucket with water, and had another bucket of fresh water with a large, clean sponge. Wear gloves and dip the rag in the zep mixture, spread it in a small area, about 4x4. Let sit for a few minutes and use the plastic scraper, going with the grain of the laminate to scrape up the residue. Then use the sponge to wipe away the excess, squeeze it out and rinse the area twice with the water. I also used a fresh mop after finishing each room. The floors look great again. So don't give up hope.
ReplyWas this helpful? 7
November 21, 20168 found this helpful
This is the BEST and ONLY solution to removing wax build up from laminate flooring! I tried so many different solutions that I found and after wasting energy and money I'm so glad I came across your method to sanity before spending lots of money on new flooring.
I can't thank you enough Kittu. ZEP floor stripper did the job quick and easy. THANK YOU!!!
ReplyWas this helpful? 8
November 27, 20161 found this helpful
Heavy duty floor stripper made by ZEP says not to use on wood but doesn't specify laminate. Did you use it on your laminate?
ReplyWas this helpful? 1
November 28, 20161 found this helpful
Our dark laminate flooring has a waxy coating of floor finish on it that leaves it sticky and hazy. Would you suggest using ZEP to clean it?
I have never tried the product. I have tried many things and nothing works!
ReplyWas this helpful? 1
December 6, 20161 found this helpful
I did use this on laminate flooring. It worked great without damaging my floors finish. Good luck!
ReplyWas this helpful? 1
Anonymous
February 18, 20171 found this helpful
I tried this and it worked great on my laminate that had been waxed for several years. A local cleaning company had quoted me $250/hour to strip laminate so I saved a ton of $$$$.
ReplyWas this helpful? 1
July 31, 20170 found this helpful
I used it on 20 yo wilsonart laminate "wood" floors. They were so bad and had such dirty built up wax that I was using it full strength in spots. I broke up the wax with the brush end of a quickie mop so I only hand scrub stubborn spots.
Mopped up and rinsed floor twice then went over with a towel on my feet. Finished w zep high traffic polish - just one coat - they look new!!!
November 10, 20170 found this helpful
I have tried all kinds of ways to remove wax buildup from my laminate floors .Your method using Zep floor wax stripper worked
it was tiring and took time but it really did the job Thank you
Take your time follow all steps do a little area at a time .after I poured a small ammount of Zep .on the floor I used a large sponge to spread it on the area I waited about 9 or 10 mins. then scraped the floor in the direction of the grain wiped that up and washed it with a damp rag. # did the process again it was so worth it. my bedroom
floor looks great now I need to do the rest of my floors
Anonymous
June 27, 20180 found this helpful
I just brought some zip cleaner for the school we have old wax build up in a new cleaners are not doing the job
June 30, 20180 found this helpful
What do I use to remove high gloss floor polish off laminate flooring please
February 15, 20190 found this helpful
Finally after years of experimenting I was able to remove wax buildup and ALL residue from my floors. They look brand new.
I never would have considered using a scraper on my flooring but it works like magic. Thank you for this ingenious tip!!
March 19, 20190 found this helpful
Can I use zep stripper on dark laminate flooring It has a haze and is sticky
March 29, 20190 found this helpful
What did you all use to scrape? Everything Im finding is a metal and/or razor edge. Im afraid this will scratch the laminate. Or a squeegee? But I imagine this wont work. Help! Maybe an ice scraper?
Read More AnswersQuestion: Removing Floor Wax from a Laminate Floor?
February 1, 2019
How do you remove mopped on or spray wax from a laminate floor without de-laminating the finish?
Answers
Judy
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
February 1, 20190 found this helpful
You can soften wax with a hairdryer and scrape it off gently. Then put some vinegar in some warm water and damp mop.
Pghgirl40
Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
February 10, 20190 found this helpful
Vinegar and warm water work if it hasn't set. If there is a long time waxy build up you can try the technique Judy suggested. Just be very careful not to scorch the floor. Keep kids and lets out of the area while working and keep water and dryer at a distance to avoid electric shocks. Flush the water used down the toilet unless you have a septic system. Don't do that then. Just be careful not to let the water go anywhere where kinds of animals can get to it if you dump it outside.
Answer this QuestionQuestion: Removing Wax Film on Laminate Floor?
June 17, 2016
I have a light color laminate floor that I used the store bought waxes on. I did not know that I should have not used those products. Now I have a brown color film on it and I need to know of a way to remove it.
Any suggestion that will help will be appreciated. Thank you.
Answers
Judy
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
March 1, 20170 found this helpful
You can spray with vinegar, wait 15 minutes, and rinse.
Answer this QuestionQuestion: Using Wax on New Laminate Floors?
My husband and I just put in brand new laminate flooring (it looks like wood, and is grey colored). My mom came to visit and tried to help by waxing our floor and "surprising" us. She used a lot of wax. The stuff she bought was meant for wood flooring. By the time we got home the wax had been on our floor for hours. I know you're never supposed to put wax on laminate.
My question is: Will waxing the floor only once do damage? Or is it okay to leave it and just never do it again. It seems like the problem is when the wax builds up, so I'm hoping this didn't do too much damage.
By Irene H.
Answers
December 7, 20170 found this helpful
As long as it looks ok, I would not worry about it and just not put it back on again. I do know of a lady who waxes her laminate all the time. It looks ok, but to me it is very slick and if liquid was spilled on it, I think it would be a fall hazard.
Answer this Question