Treating surface-sealed floors

• 1). Make sure that the floor is surface-sealed, meaning that it has been treated with a urethane, polyurethane or poly-acrylic finish. Use your finger to rub on the surface of the flooring. If no smudge appears, then the floor is surface-sealed. Most new hardwood floors are surface-sealed.
  
  
• 2). Sweep the floor until no dirt or dust particles remain on the surface.
  
  
• 3). Fill a bucket halfway with water and add a squirt of liquid dish soap. Dunk a mop into the solution and wring it out until it is barely damp. Clean the floor with the damp mop, being careful not to leave any puddles of water on the floor as that can damage the wood.
  
  
• 4). Dry and buff the floor with soft, clean towels until it's dry and gleaming.
  
  

Cleaning other types of hardwood floors

• 1). Check to see if the floor has any type of seal at all. While some floors have no sealants, others are treated with a penetrating sealant that soaks into the wood. It should be fairly obvious. Floors with a penetrating sealant often appear glossier and have greater color depth than natural flooring.
  
  
• 2). Move all furniture and rugs out of the room so that the floor is completely clear.
  
  
• 3). Prepare the floor by sweeping and then running a vacuum over it it pick up any remaining dust or dirt.
  
  
• 4). Use a soft, dry towel to buff away scuffs and stains. Water is not safe to use on unsealed and penetrating-sealed floors, so it's important to get up all dirt with a dry method before waxing.
  
  
• 5). Use a liquid wax-stripper to remove wax buildup from the floor. Make sure to purchase a wax stripper that is appropriate for the floor, as some are designed for unfinished floors while others are designed for sealed floors. Apply the wax stripper according to the instructions in a well-ventilated area. Wait for the floors to dry.
  
  
• 6). Apply a light coating of wax to the floor and allow it to dry. Apply a second coat after the first coat dries, if desired.
  
  
• 7). Polish the floor with a buffing machine. Buffing machines can be rented by the hour or day from grocery and hardware stores. If that's not an option, thoroughly polishing the floor with dry, soft towels will also do the trick.