What Can I Use to Take Encaustic Wax Off My Floor?

Initial Cleanup

• When you first spill encaustic wax, you need to respond just as you would if you spilled paint or wax. Wipe up as much of the wax paint as you can as soon as it spills. You can use paper towels or a clean rag to do this. If you wipe it up when the spill is fresh, the floor will require less concentrated cleaning later when the paint is dry.

Hair Dryer or Heat Gun

• One of the effective ways to remove the wax is to first melt the hardened wax paint with a hair dryer or a heat gun. As you are heating it, dab it with a clean rag or paper towels. After you have finished heating and dabbing, leave the spot alone for several minutes to see if any wax is still hardened on the floor. If you notice any, then gently scrape any remaining wax from the floor with a putty knife. While scraping, be very careful not to scratch the surface of the floor.

Paint Thinner or Cleaning Solvent

• Once you have removed the wax, you now may need to remove a paint stain from the floor. Dampen a small piece of a clean rag with paint thinner and scrub the floor where there is a remaining wax stain. If your floor is hardwood, vinyl or carpet, do not use paint thinner as it can damage the floor. Instead, wet a rag with a heavy-duty cleaning solvent that is appropriate for your type of flooring, whether it be wood or carpet. Scrub the stain away with the cleaning solvent.

Water and Clean Rags

• After you have scrubbed the paint away, you just need to rinse the floor with a clean rag that is moistened with clean, room temperature water. Be careful not to apply too much water to hardwood floors, but just enough to remove the solvent. After rinsing, dab the rinsed area gently to dry it.