A lacquered (polyurethane) floor is sealed by a clear film on top of the wood — water beads on the surface, the floor feels slightly glossy or smooth, and you can see a continuous sheen under raking light. Lacquered floors are the most common modern timber finish in NZ, and they're easy to maintain with the right products.
Not sure whether your floor is lacquered? Use our 60-second floor finish identification guide — the water-drop test takes 30 seconds.
What's in the lacquered floor care range
- Neutral-pH cleaners for everyday use — FirstFloor Wood Floor Cleaner, Bona Wood Floor Cleaner, Ciranova Hard Floor Cleaner, Admonter Wood Floor Cleaner. All are water-based, will not strip the lacquer, and leave no film.
- Spray mop kits matched to lacquered finishes — the Bona Spray Mop Kit for Lacquered Floors is the most popular daily-cleaning system in NZ.
- Refreshers to extend the life of the lacquer — Bona Wood Floor Refresher, Grainguard and Floor Service NL Parquet Polish Mat. These add a thin clear coat that bonds to the existing lacquer.
- Protection products — GrainGuard for added wear resistance in high-traffic zones.
Which lacquered floor cleaner should I choose?
- FirstFloor Wood Floor Cleaner — our own concentrated neutral-pH cleaner for lacquered wood floors. Gentle, water-based, and great value for everyday use.
- Bona Wood Floor Cleaner + Bona Spray Mop — the most convenient daily-cleaning system. Works every time, minimal effort.
- Ciranova Hard Floor Cleaner — the specialist choice for parquet and premium European engineered floors. Slightly more concentrated than Bona.
- Admonter Wood Floor Cleaner — the right choice for white-stained, limed, or whitewashed lacquered floors.
Lacquered floor care rhythm
- Daily / weekly: sweep or vacuum (no beater bar), then damp clean with a neutral-pH cleaner on a microfibre pad. The Bona Spray Mop makes this a 5-minute job.
- Annually or semi-annually: apply a refresher to high-traffic zones. Bona Wood Floor Refresher or Floor Service NL Parquet Polish Mat both add a thin clear coat and renew the surface sheen without recoating.
- Every 7–15 years: professional recoat — a screen-sand and new lacquer top coat. Talk to a flooring installer at this stage.
What to avoid on lacquered floors
- Oil-based products. They sit on top and leave a slick, greasy film that's hard to remove.
- Wax-based polishes. Wax on lacquer creates a build-up that dulls the finish and can't be reversed without recoating.
- Vinegar. Mildly acidic — it etches lacquer over time, making the surface look dull and cloudy.
- Steam mops. High heat and moisture damage the lacquer's bond to the timber, causing lifting, bubbling, or delamination.
- Any supermarket multi-surface cleaner not rated for sealed timber. Most contain surfactants or pH levels that leave residue or attack the lacquer over time.
Frequently asked questions — lacquered floors
How do I know when my lacquered floor needs a refresher?
When high-traffic areas look noticeably duller than less-used parts of the floor, or when cleaning no longer restores the sheen. The refresher extends the life of the original finish by 2–5 years in typical residential use.
Can I use a lacquered-floor cleaner on engineered timber?
Yes — most engineered timber floors are factory-lacquered. Keep the mop damp rather than wet to protect the subfloor core.
My lacquered floor looks streaky after cleaning — what's causing it?
Most likely an oil-based or wax-based product has been used previously. Try a diluted Ciranova Intensive Cleaner or contact us for advice.
Does Bona Wood Floor Refresher change the sheen level of my floor?
It broadly matches the sheen of the existing lacquer. If your floor is a true ultra-matt, use the Floor Service NL Parquet Polish Mat instead.
How long between professional recoats?
In a typical NZ home with regular cleaning and annual refresher applications, most lacquered floors go 10–15 years before a professional recoat is needed.
Shop by brand
- FirstFloor - designed by New Zealanders, made in Europe for use in kiwi homes.
- Bona — global standard, best Spray Mop ecosystem, GREENGUARD Gold certified
- Ciranova — Belgian specialist, ideal for parquet and premium European oak
- Admonter — Austrian specialist, best for white-stained and limed-oak lacquered floors
- Floor Service NL — Dutch specialist, best matt-finish parquet refresher
