A long time ago I bought an older piece of furniture that had brass handles, wow were they cruddy. I was considering replacing them till I noticed one that must've been seldom used had a nice, subtle finish on the inner side. (I'm not really a fan of in-your-face brassiness). So I dove in to clean them. Brasso, all kinds of products, but I wasn't getting anywhere. What finally worked was a cheap little tub of stuff I found at the grocery store called "Twinkle".

Try mineral spirits (but it's quite stinky, too and the rags and pads are flammable while still wet with it). I can't imagine why anyone would suggest ammonia for the kind of wax that's typically used on wood. Ammonia works on the gunk referred to as "wax" that's applied to linoleum/vinyl sheet flooring. But wood floor wax is much different. Or at least it ought to be unless you have been using the vinyl floor "wax" on your hardood. If that's case, then I don't know. I use Butcher's Bowling Alley wax on my waxed wood floors. Mineral spirits (or turps) dissolve it easily. A floor buffer with scrubbie or steel wool pads is used to ease the elbow grease needed. It can't be "slopped on" when being applied as it is not liquid so you may be dealing with another type of product. Look at the orginal container and see what is described as a thinner or cleaner for it. That will give a hint as to what to use to remove it. You can also try applying another thin coat and allowing it to soften the lower layers and then buffing like mad with a heavy machine to spread out the under stuff. Try stuff in a corner and see what works. HTH L.

Mineral spirits (paint thinner) is safe for almost all finishes. Lacquers and shellac need a stronger solvent, and varnishes and oil finishes have chemically polymerized and are not affected by the thinner, which even is liquid form is a "thinner" and not a "solvent." The only thing I've seen OMS ever not do well on is some cheap Asian "rustic" furniture that seemed to be finished with thinned down roofing tar that was mopped on. But to be sure, test rub on the back or underside before starting out front and center.

Thank you. I will contact the owner and let him know. I will also request that they send someone else out to do the cleaning and not the guy that somehow seems to keep making things worse. This isn't the first time during this job that I had to call and have someone come out behind him to clean things up. Thank you for telling me that I should be left with a clean installation. Sometimes I feel like I am being that persnickety homeowner.