Four Ways to Seal Your Hardwood Floor

Since wood is a material that tends to become opaque if not taken care of, it's important to look for a good method of sealing and maintaining it.

Sealing your hardwood floor is one of the home jobs that take up a lot of your time; however, nowadays there are various methods to leave your floor shining without going through so much trouble.

If you wait too long without sealing it properly, you may notice that, little by little, it loses its characteristic touch and elegance since the dirtiness made it opaque and stained.

Additionally, without a sealant, the material deteriorates at a faster rate, allowing humidity to be absorbed more easily, and the planks become warped.

What is the best way to seal your wood floor? Although using wax is the traditional method and still common today, in reality there are other interesting products that achieve the same goals.

In this article, we will share four effective ways to do this job so you can apply it whenever you want to see your hardwood floors shiny and clean. Take note!

What Should You Use to Seal Your Wood Floor?

At the store, there are various products available to seal your hardwood floor; the traditional wax is still used with plank wood floors; however, if the wood is special, you have to use other types.

If your floor is made of unfinished wood, linoleum or cork, you can use liquid wax or oil. It’s not recommended that you use this type of wax on vinyl floors, that are coated in urethane, or floors that aren’t sealed.

Another excellent alternative is a water-based silicon polish. You can use this on almost all floors, except cork, linoleum, and wood that has not been sealed.

Paste wax can be used to shine linoleum, cork, concrete, and unfinished wood; it should not be used on vinyl or urethane-coated. 

There are some homemade waxes that you can apply on any wood to leave it shiny and like new. Results from the recipe may vary. 

Effective Ways to Seal Your Hardwood Floors

If you already know what the best wax is for your floor, the following section will teach you how to correctly apply it so that the wood looks like new. Are you ready? Let’s get going!

1. Liquid Wax and Oil

• Clean the surface of the floor to eliminate any dust and dirt that may be on it.
• Wet a soft cotton cloth with the liquid wax and spread it uniformly across the floor.
• When it’s dry, polish it with a clean towel or a polisher.
• When you notice that all that’s left is varnish, it’s dry.

2. Water-Based Silicon Polish

• Sweep and mop the floor to get rid of the dirt that accumulates on top and in between the planks.
• Wet a clean rag and pour a little bit of the polish on it.
• Apply a thin layer on the wood floor, being careful to not make bubbles.
• Then, when it’s dry, polish the floor with a clean towel or polishing machine.
• Make sure that each layer has completely dried before applying another coat of the polish.

3. Paste Wax

• Sweep or vacuum the floor before applying this product.
• When it’s clean and dry, wet a soft cotton towel that doesn’t have fuzz.
• Apply a little bit of the wax on the floor, following the instructions on its label.
• Let it dry, then shine it with a clean towel or polishing machine.
• When the floor looks cloudy, it’s because it is dry.

4. Homemade Recipe for Wax and Turpentine

If you want to use a homemade product, here’s a simple beeswax and turpentine recipe, two ingredients with an oily texture that leaves wood clean and shiny.

It’s a preparation that’s free of toxic chemicals that you can use for your wood floors, as well as furniture that’s starting to look opaque and patchy.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup of grated beeswax (50 g)
• 1/2 cup of turpentine (62 ml)

Preparation

• Pour the grated beeswax in a heat resistant container and melt it in a double boiler.
• When it begins to appear liquid, stir it with a wooden spatula and slowly add the turpentine.
• Mix it until you have a homogenous product and turn off the head.
• Let it cool to room temperature and store it in a container with a screw cap.

Note: If the turpentine smell bothers you, you can add a few drops of essential oil to make it better.

Application

• Clean the surface of the wood floor and apply the necessary amount of the wax.
• Spread it with a microfiber rag until it shines.

Choose the most appropriate method to seal your wood floor and give it the care it needs to stay looking pretty. As you see, the way to do it is pretty much the same. The only difference is the sealant that you use.