In high-traffic rooms or areas, sweep or vacuum daily to remove dirt and debris from the floor's surface to prevent buildup. ... as many vinyl floors have a no-wax finish,” warns Stein.

If you were to choose new flooring, you could switch to vinyl composition tiles, also known as VCT, if you wanted a smooth surface. VCT tiles would also allow you to stick with a checkerboard look ...

No-wax vinyl has a clear polyurethane coating that makes it shine. Wax won’t adhere well to the coating and will leave behind a mess that you’ll have to strip off. (Don’t use mop-and-wax ...

To remove candle wax from carpeting, you’ll need a damp cloth and a hot iron. Dampen a clean cloth so it’s moist but not dripping. Place it over the dried wax stain on the carpet so it covers ...