# How do I strip wax buildup off my kitchen floor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 19, 2006, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-strip-wax-buildup-off-my-kitchen-floor/384767 "2006-12-19T12:28:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![I\_Know\_Nothing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f04885/32.png) [@I\_Know\_Nothing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Know_Nothing)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-strip-wax-buildup-off-my-kitchen-floor/384767/1 "2006-12-19T12:28:03Z")
We have a bunch of old wax buildup on our kitchen floor and I would like to take it off. If I take a metal scrubber and scrub really hard I can take some off in a small area but to do this for the entire floor would take days, not to mention a probable case of carple tunnels. Is there some piece of equipment or chemical I can use to take the wax off? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-strip-wax-buildup-off-my-kitchen-floor/384767/2 "2006-12-19T12:48:41Z")
I can’t tell you where you’ll get it. Commerial floor crews use a wax stripper. A half hour soak and some abrasive scrubing from a rough pad or brush. Wash it off and refinish the floor. Be carefull about the fumes like the product says. I leave other solutions and this ones finding for you. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-strip-wax-buildup-off-my-kitchen-floor/384767/3 "2006-12-19T13:07:29Z")
[http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=152426-000021887-05239&lpage=none](http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=152426-000021887-05239&lpage=none) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-strip-wax-buildup-off-my-kitchen-floor/384767/4 "2006-12-19T13:41:29Z")
Make a paste of water and washing soda (laundry aisle). Spread it and leave for an hour or more. Rinse well with half water/half vinegar. Rinse again until it’s all up. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-strip-wax-buildup-off-my-kitchen-floor/384767/5 "2006-12-19T16:54:25Z")
You’ll need to look at hardware stores to find floor stripper. Ace always seems to have the stuff, and usually in home-friendly quantities. Put it on the floor, let it sit a while, scrub the gunk off, rinse, repeat as/where needed, and be amazed as layers of wax and trapped dirt disappear. Protect yourself - this stuff dissolves wax and acrylic finishes. It’ll just as easily strip all the skin oil out of your hands. Trust me on this - it stings, so gloves are a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-strip-wax-buildup-off-my-kitchen-floor/384767/6 "2006-12-19T21:11:50Z")
[QUOTE=gotpasswords] You’ll need to look at hardware stores to find floor stripper. Ace always seems to have the stuff, and usually in home-friendly quantities. Put it on the floor, let it sit a while, scrub the gunk off, rinse, repeat as/where needed, and be amazed as layers of wax and trapped dirt disappear. Protect yourself - this stuff dissolves wax and acrylic finishes. It’ll just as easily strip all the skin oil out of your hands. Trust me on this - it stings, so gloves are a good idea. [/QUOTE] Many chemicals also asorb through the skin into the blood stream, so get glooves the are meant to protect from chemicals, not just water.