How to Remove Stubborn Wax Buildup from Kitchen Floor Tiles and Linoleum

In preparations for the holidays, I've been doing some serious winter cleaning at my house. Wall and ceilings are getting scrubbed, plus the kitchen floor was stripped and waxed for the first time in oh, about four years.

For those of us with old linoleum floors and floor tiles, wax buildup is something that just happens with time. Floor wax wears unevenly due to traffic patterns and when stripped, doesn't always come off evenly. Most of the time we don't even notice wax build up happening until we noticed a peculiar yellowy-grey patch that doesn't clean up nor will respond to wax stripper.

If you are stripping and waxing your kitchen floors and have run across a patch of wax buildup that won't respond to commercial floor stripper, this simple cleaning technique will work every time. Be sure that the kitchen is well ventilated before tackling this cleaning project.

Supplies

Sponge mop
Bucket
Hot water
Household Ammonia
Cleaning gloves
Stiff bristle scrub brush ~ a cheap one from the dollar store works great.

How to remove patches of floor wax buildup

1. Strip the kitchen floor wax using your normal product. Rinse the floor thoroughly.

2. Mix 1 cup of ammonia with 2 quarts of hot water in a mop bucket. Using the sponge mop, apply the ammonia solution liberally to the tiles with the wax build up. Let set for several minutes.

3. Use the stiff bristle brush to gently brush off the wax in a circular motion. Add more solution if needed to loosen accumulated wax.

4. Mop the floor a second time with the ammonia solution, then rinse with clear water.

5. Let dry thoroughly before reapplying floor wax.