While cleaning a surface like the sealed hardwood floor is fairly simple, lacquered, varnished, shellacked or oil-treated floors may be more difficult to maintain. Although most of the new houses use surface-sealed hardwood, many older homes and Victorian houses still have the sealtreated floors. Here, we give you a few tips to keep your seal-treated or oil-treated floors in premium condition in smart ways.

Routine cleaning
Regular dusting with a dry mop keeps the surface free of dust and sand particles.

Use a dry microfiber mop for this purpose. You could also use your vacuum for the routine dusting. Standing Water can damage any kind of wood surface, but you can use a damp mop to wipe clean surfacesealed hardwood floors. However, moisture just does not go down well for oil-treated or lacquered surfaces, so you should never mop waxed surfaces.

Waxing
You would want to wax your oil-treated floor a few times in the year. High-traffic areas like the living room or kitchen may need to be waxed every few weeks. Keep these things in mind:

• Vacuum the surface to clear it of dust.
• Spirits and wax used in the process have strong pungent smells that can be nauseating. Ensure that the room is well-ventilated before you begin work.
• You could use spirit to strip off the old wax from your floor. However, it is more appropriate to follow the directions given on the package. After the floor has dried up, apply a thin coat of wax with an applicator or a cloth. Allow it to dry. Use two coats for best results.

Buffing
You can think of hiring a buffing machine to make your job easier. Remember to buff in the direction of the wood grain, though. Commercial waxes are made available by a number of brands. Before selecting a product, read the directions carefully and refer to the recommendations of your floor’s manufacturer. You can follow the simple tricks listed below for everyday care.

• Place doormats at entrances to prevent dust and debris from entering your house.
• Ensure that all your furniture has rubber padding underneath to avoid accidental scratches.
• Chalk out a weekly schedule for cleaning depending on traffic in the area. High traffic areas may need to be dusted and waxed more often.
• Carpets tape sticks to the hardwood floor and can be very difficult to remove. It is best to avoid them altogether if you want to save your hardwood floor. Plasticized backings on certain area rugs can also damage the finish of your hardwood floor.
• You would want to think of placing rugs or plastic trays in areas which are more likely to have standing water. For instance, under planters or near doggy bowls and outside the bathrooms.
• Always buy the appropriate cleaning solution for your hardwood floor; harsh and abrasive liquids can damage the surface permanently.
• If you have pets, make sure that you clip their nails regularly to avoid scratches.
  There is no reason why your hardwood floor will not look as good as new, if you care for it on a regular basis.