How Often Should You Strip and Wax Commercial Floors?

March 10, 2025 at 17:42 PM EDT

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Originally Posted On: https://pristinecleanga.com/how-often-should-you-strip-and-wax-commercial-floors/

How Often Should You Strip and Wax Commercial Floors?

Overview

When your clients and employees are greeted with a dirty, stained, or smelly hard flooring system, it’s not the best look for your business. Whether you’re responsible for an office, school, bank, retail store, restaurant, warehouse, or government building, you need to keep flooring systems in good shape to avoid hazards and comply with regional health and workplace safety regulations. You don’t want to repel your target clients with a problem that’s easy to fix.

That’s why Pristine Cleaning Services Of Georgia LLC’s cleaning service experts have put together this guide. We explain how often you should invest in floor stripping and waxing services, what the process looks like, and all the benefits you can look forward to when you stick to a regular floor care schedule. When you’re done reading, you’ll be ready to implement a janitorial plan that aligns with your budget and goals.

Highlights

Introduction

Have you ever gone inside a store, medical office, or commercial space where things seemed fine until you noticed your shoes sticking to the floor? Whether it’s sticky spills, deep-seated stains, or unusual odors, an untidy floor can make you want to bring your business and your wallet elsewhere. After all, if a company cares so little about putting its best floor forward, what does that say about how they’ll treat and take care of you?

Now, apply the same logic to your business. Are your floors getting the TLC they need? If you’re unsure or curious about what you can do to maintain your hard floors and make them last longer, this article is for you.

Why Do Scents, Grime, and Germs Get Trapped in Commercial Hard Flooring?

Commercial hard floors endure heavy foot traffic, spills, and everyday wear and tear, making them a magnet for dirt, bacteria, and odors. Over time, and without proper maintenance, your floors accumulate layers of grime that can lead to an unsightly appearance, lingering smells, and potential health risks.

Here’s why:

Porous surfaces: Many hard flooring materials, like vinyl, tile, and linoleum, have microscopic pores that trap dirt, moisture, and bacteria.
Wax buildup and degradation: While wax coatings protect your floors, these well-used surfaces also accumulate dirt. When the wax breaks down, it exposes your floor’s underlying layer, making it more susceptible to stains and odors.
Spills and residue: Liquid spills, grease, and sticky substances can seep into your flooring, creating a breeding ground for bacteria and mold.
High-traffic areas: Constant foot traffic grinds dirt, dust, and grime into your floor, making regular cleaning and maintenance essential.

What Are the Benefits of Refinishing Commercial Waxed Flooring?

Your floors support foot traffic, but they also shape people’s first impressions and opinions of your business. A clean, well-maintained floor speaks volumes about your professionalism and attention to detail. Regularly refinishing your commercial waxed floors enhances their appearance and durability, helping you reduce long-term maintenance costs while creating a safer, healthier space for employees and customers.

A fresh wax coating protects against scratches, stains, and moisture, preventing premature wear and protecting your flooring investment. Over time, high foot traffic and daily wear can lead to slippery, uneven surfaces, increasing the risk of slip-and-fall accidents. Refinishing restores traction and creates a smooth, non-slip surface for better safety.

Aside from improving aesthetics and floor material protection, stripping and rewaxing also boost building hygiene and air quality. Old wax layers trap dirt, bacteria, and moisture, leading to unpleasant odors and potential health hazards. A deep refinishing process removes these contaminants, leaving your floors fresh, clean, and sanitary. For industries like healthcare, retail, and food service, where strict hygiene regulations apply, routine floor care helps maintain compliance with industry standards and ensures a healthier environment for everyone.

No matter the type of facility you manage—whether it’s an office, restaurant, school, or retail space—keeping your floors in top condition is the secret to meeting your safety obligations and making a lasting positive impression on your customers and employees.

How Do You Strip Waxed Floors?

Stripping and rewaxing commercial floors is a multi-step process that requires specialized equipment and expertise to ensure a deep clean and long-lasting protection.

Here’s how the pros do it.

Stripping Commercial Waxed Floors

First, your floors must be stripped.

Commercial cleaners generally take the following steps to strip your commercial waxed floors:

Preparation and safety measures: Technicians set up wet floor signs, ensure proper ventilation, and wear protective gear to avoid chemical exposure.
Applying the stripping solution: A commercial-grade wax stripper is evenly applied and left to break down old wax layers.
Agitation and wax removal: Technicians use low-speed floor scrubbers and stripping pads to agitate the surface and loosen built-up wax, grime, and stains.

Cleaning Commercial Hard Flooring

Before new wax is applied, your floors will undergo a thorough cleaning to remove any remaining residue. This may include vacuuming and dust mopping to remove particles and larger debris, deep cleaning and scrubbing with a commercial floor scrubber, and a final inspection to check for missed buildup or lingering problem areas. For the best results, any issue found during this inspection should be addressed before your technicians seal your surface with a new wax coating.

Rewaxing Commercial Floors

After your flooring is clean and dry, technicians apply a thin, even layer of high-quality commercial wax using a specialized applicator. They allow each coat 30 to 45 minutes to dry before adding the next, ensuring a smooth and even application. They typically apply three to five layers of wax to build a strong, protective barrier against foot traffic, stains, and moisture.

Next, they use high-speed burnishers to enhance your floor’s shine and durability. This final step creates a sleek, professional-grade finish, extending your floor’s lifespan and giving it the clean and polished appearance you desire.

How Long Does It Take for Commercial Floor Wax To Dry?

Drying time for commercial floor wax varies because the total drying time increases with the number of layers applied. Good airflow helps speed things up, while high humidity can slow the process down. The type of wax also makes a difference.

Some formulas dry quickly, while others take a full 24 hours to cure completely. Your technician will let you know what to expect during your initial consultation. To keep the finish looking its best, stay off your freshly waxed floors for at least 8 hours and wait 24 to 48 hours before moving heavy furniture or equipment back into place.

These precautions facilitate a durable, long-lasting shine.

What Gets Odors Out of Waxed Flooring?

Spills, bacteria, and mold buildup beneath worn-out wax layers often cause unpleasant odors that get trapped in your waxed flooring. A simple mopping session won’t remove them. Commercial cleaning companies tackle unwanted smells by locating the source and developing a plan tailored to your unique circumstances.

That could involve a spot treatment, where technicians use industrial, enzyme-based cleaners and high-powered auto scrubbers in combination with low-moisture extraction machines to eliminate odor-causing particles. Other times, stripping, deep cleaning, and refinishing your flooring wax top layer is the only way to say goodbye to a funky smell forever.

Most commercial janitorial experts offer obligation-free initial consultations. They’ll help you decide how to move toward a flooring system that looks and smells great without stretching your finances too thin.

When Should You Strip and Refinish Commercial Floors?

Spotting a noticeable difference between high-traffic areas and other parts of your commercial floors is one clear sign that stripping and refinishing are necessary.

Other signs that it’s time for floor refinishing service include:

You notice visible discoloration
You can’t get rid of scuff marks with your usual cleaning techniques
You identify scratches in your floor’s surface
Your floor has taken on a dull, uneven appearance
Strong smells linger even after regular cleaning practices, including mopping or vacuuming

When your floors no longer respond to routine cleaning or have persistent stains and odors, scheduling stripping and waxing services is the best solution.

How Often Should Your Commercial Floors Be Stripped and Waxed?

Regular sweeping and mopping can extend the lifespan of your flooring, but at a certain point, stripping and refinishing become necessary. Depending on traffic levels and environmental factors, most commercial spaces should strip and refinish floors every 6 to 12 months. High-traffic areas like retail stores, schools, and hospitals may require more frequent refinishing, while lower-traffic spaces like offices may only need it once a year.

Want to personalize a schedule that makes the most sense for your space? Don’t hesitate to collaborate with your floor cleaning company to make sure you’re making the most of your budget and allotted cleaning times.

Book Hard Floor Care To Keep Your Facility Hygienic and Looking Its Best

A routine stripping and waxing schedule prevents buildup, eliminates odors, and keeps your floors looking fresh and professional. It also eliminates trip, slip, and fall hazards, reduces liability, keeps clients and employees healthier, facilitates better air quality, and helps you comply with the strict health and safety standards that govern your industry.

Now that you know when and why to deep clean and refinish your hard floors, it’s time to put a floor care plan into action. A well-maintained facility reflects professionalism, boosts your company’s reputation, and protects your investment.

When you’re ready to work with a dedicated cleaning team that understands your needs, contact Pristine Cleaning Services Of Georgia LLC at (404) 937-6559. Let’s create a floor care strategy that delivers a shine that lasts.