Re: Floorboards wax or varnish?

I have just sanded really carefully my floorboards and this time I want the floor to stay light looking rather than dark. Last time I stained it, then varnished it. The floor itself is old and pale oak or beech (probably oak). I need it to be protected really well becos I look after dogs all the time, so there's a lot of traffic and I need to be able to wash it alot. I know I could just chose a varnish but also waxing has been suggested (the liquid kind) and apparently once that is applied it protects the boards just as well as varnish. Anybody have experience of this, cos its not a job I want to be redoing every year. Thank you.