parquet floor help please

[helsbells]

i've just moved into a new home with a parquet floor in the kitchen. its yucky to say the least, dark brown in patchs and dirty looking. some one suggested it is a build up of polish or wax. can anyone suggest how i get rid of the build up and restore it to its original loveliness. do i have to sand it back, can i just use meths to strip it or are there other ways, i don't want to damage it or make it worse than it is!

 

[WoodYouLike]

Try first in a corner to clean it with White Spirit (and steelwool 000). If it's build-up wax it is a terrible job to sand it down, you'll first have to clean of all the old wax.

 

[helsbells]

i will give that a go, thank you. will this remove built up polish too, just incase thats it. and if i manage to get it all off, do i then just apply a coat of wax or polish? sorry i really am new to this.

 

[WoodYouLike]

Hi Helbells

Yes, polish or wax will be removed. Depending on the state of the floor you find underneath you can (again) try out a corner with new wax or wax-polish to see if that does the trick to 'revive' it or if sanding is needed after all (but when you have removed all old build-up that will be much easier to do then)

 

[helsbells]

thats fantastic help, im definitely a lot less daunted by the prospect of doing it now! thanks for the advice !!