After the Waterlox® finish has dried and cured for at least 7 days, cleaning may be done. For floors, we recommend using a broom, damp mop or microfiber mop on the surface as needed.
When a heavier cleaning is required for floors we suggest any of the following methods:
- Waterlox® Cleaner Concentrate (following the directions on the label). One quart (32 oz) will make between 8 and 32 gallons of cleaner. We do NOT recommend the use of other wood coating manufacturer’s cleaners as these have been proven to damage all types of wood finishes including Waterlox® finishes; or
- A damp mop with a maximum mixture of 1 – 2 oz. of white vinegar to 2 gallons of warm water; or
- Non-abrasive diluted household cleaner (stay away from ammonia and/or bleach products); or
- Murphy Oil Soap® can be used, but will tend to reduce the gloss by leaving a film on the surface.1
After cleaning any surface finished with Waterlox® finishes, rinse with clear water.
For touchups and in-between cleaning, use Waterlox® Cleaner Concentrate (spray) (following the directions on the label).
Avoid ammonia-based cleaners and products containing wax or acrylics, and try to prevent water from pooling or standing on the surface for long periods of time. We believe wax creates time-consuming maintenance issues, scuffs easily, leaves water spots and attracts dirt. Wax also makes it difficult to recoat your wood surface with Waterlox® when necessary. Even though waxes are compatible with Waterlox® finishes, we don’t recommend using them for the aforementioned reasons.
1 Residue of any type including Murphy Oil Soap should be removed by a mixture of TSP (trisodium phosphate) and water, followed by a clear water rinse before re-coating.
