If you’re standing in front of a timber floor wondering whether to buy an oiled-floor cleaner or a lacquered-floor cleaner, you’re in the right place. Three short tests will give you the answer in about a minute, and you don’t need any special equipment — just a small drop of water and your hand.
This matters because using the wrong cleaner gradually damages a floor. Oiled-floor cleaners strip lacquer; lacquered-floor cleaners dry out oiled finishes; vinegar etches both; almost everything damages wax. So before you buy anything, know what’s on top of your wood.
The 60-second three-test method
Do all three tests on the same small spot — a corner, behind furniture, or inside a wardrobe.
Test 1: The water drop test
This is the most reliable single test.
- Drop about half a teaspoon of water onto the floor.
- Wait 30 seconds.
- Watch what happens.
Reading the result:
- Water beads up like a dome → Lacquered (polyurethane). The lacquer is sealing the wood. This is the most common modern finish, especially on factory-finished engineered timber.
- Water absorbs slowly, sits as a flat puddle → Oiled. The oil is in the wood, not on top. You’ll see a slightly darker spot for a few minutes after wiping.
- Water vanishes within seconds → Waxed, very worn finish, or untreated.
Wipe the spot dry as soon as you’ve read the result. Don’t leave water sitting on any timber floor.
Test 2: The touch test
Run your hand flat across the surface in two directions: with the grain, and across it.
- Slick, glossy, smooth — like glass → Lacquered.
- Smooth but with a soft, warm feel; you can feel the grain → Oiled.
- Smooth-ish with a slight drag; sometimes feels “soft” under firm pressure → Waxed.
Test 3: The sheen test
Get down low and look across the floor with light coming from a low angle — early morning sun, a lamp on the floor, or a phone torch laid flat.
- Continuous reflective sheen → Lacquered. Even matt lacquer reflects light fairly evenly.
- Soft sheen that varies with the wood grain → Oiled. Oil settles into the grain rather than over it.
- Patchy, lower sheen with visible micro-scratches → Waxed or worn.
What to do with the answer
Confirmed lacquered
Browse our lacquered floor care range. Use a neutral-pH cleaner like Bona Wood Floor Cleaner, Ciranova Hard Floor Cleaner, or the Bona Spray Mop. For an annual refresh, FirstFloor GrainGuard.
Confirmed oiled
Browse our oiled floor care range. Use a soap-based cleaner like FirstFloor Concentrate, Ciranova Floor Soap, or Bona Oiled Wood Floor Cleaner Refill.
Confirmed waxed
Browse our waxed floor care range, but read the page first — the wrong product can ruin a waxed finish in a single application. If you’re not 100% sure, contact us with a photo before buying.
Still not sure
Email us with a photo of the floor and a note on how the water-drop test went. We’ll reply within one working day with a recommendation.
Edge cases
Hardwax oil — modern hybrid finish. Water beads, but the surface has a softer feel. Treat as oiled for cleaning unless the manufacturer says otherwise.
Old solid timber (pre-1990s) — often shellacked or wax-on-shellac. Fast water absorption, slightly amber tone. Talk to us before buying anything.
Recently sanded and refinished — check the installer’s invoice. It usually states the finish (e.g. Bona Traffic HD = lacquer; Osmo Polyx-Oil = oiled).
FAQ
How accurate is the water-drop test? About 95% reliable on its own. Combining all three tests is close to 100%.
Will the test damage my floor? No, as long as you wipe within a minute.
What if different rooms have different finishes? Common — test each room separately and use the matching product per room.
