Abstract: This invention provides an alkali-soluble resin coating composition, more particularly an aqueous floor polish composition, comprising water, at least one alkali-soluble polymeric film forming agent, preferably solubilized in water using ammonia or an ammonia derivative, a polyvalent metal crosslinking agent, and a plasticizing agent, wherein the improvement comprises at least a portion of the plasticizing agent being formed of a weak carboxylic acid, such as a tertiary alkyl monocarboxylic acid, or an unsaturated primary carboxylic acid, each acid having an average of from about 6 to 30 carbon atoms per molecule, or combinations thereof.