How best to deal with my wooden floor?

[ComtessedeFrouFrou]

Our dining room has floor boards in it. They were either waxed or varnished by previous owners and are looking very scratched and dull.

How can I

1. tell whether they have been waxed or varnished?

2. make them look better - preferably without having to re-sand the floor?

We've been mopping them with wood floor cleaner and a very well wrung out mop, but they look terrible.

I'm hoping that it's and I can strip and reapply, rather than having to go through the faff and mess of sanding them.

I have the same problem.

Reluctantly, I suspect there is no short cut and you have to sand them. No idea how you can tell whether they've been waxed or varnished.

I had a wild notion to paint them, like in IKEA catalogues, but then came to my senses.

Basil, I think that way madness lies

I think I have established that they are varnished and I think we will probably just varnish over them again but we've got a baby on the way and a long list of other priorities!

What's the difference between waxing and varnishing?

Is one better than the other? Is one easier maintenance?

Well varnish is harder, but usually you need to strip it before applying more (and it can scratch). You can reapply wax, but eventually it builds up and you have to strip it off periodically and start again. And it scratches...