Cleaning & Caring for Parquet Flooring: Oiled vs. Sealed – Common Liability Traps at Move-Out

1. Parquet in the Lifespan Table: What Tenants Actually Have to Pay

Property managers frequently hand departing tenants flooring quotes ranging from CHF 2,000 to CHF 4,000 for total sanding and re-lacquering of living room parquet. In the overwhelming majority of cases, these demands are excessive and breach Swiss tenancy law.

Under Art. 267 para. 1 CO, ordinary wear and tear is compensated by the monthly rental payments. On genuine hardwood parquet, continuous aging and subtle surface changes are inevitable.

• Sealant (Lacquer Layer): Has an official lifespan of exactly 10 years under the joint Parity Lifespan Table of HEV and MV. If you lived in the flat for 7 years and the floor was sealed on move-in, your maximum liability share for sanding and varnishing is capped at 30%.
• Hardwood Timber Layer: Holds a lifespan of 30 to 50 years. Tenants only compensate timber replacement if floorboards suffered massive water buckling or deep gouges (e.g. stiletto dents or heavy dropped items).
• Sunlight & Furniture Shadows: Timber darkening from UV exposure or lighter patches where rugs or sofas stood strictly constitute normal wear. Landlords cannot claim a cent for this natural discoloration.

2. Oiled vs. Sealed: Fatal Maintenance Mistakes Before Handover

The most disastrous error occurs right before handover: tenants trying to clean the floor thoroughly inadvertently destroy the protective oil layer. Distinguishing finishes is essential:

• Sealed Parquet (Varnish Film): The timber is protected by a solid transparent lacquer barrier. Clean only damp with a firmly wrung mop. Never use scouring cream or vinegar cleaners, which etch the lacquer matte.
• Oiled / Waxed Parquet: The wood pores remain open, protected by deep-penetrating natural plant oils. Washing oiled timber with dishwashing soap or generic all-purpose cleaners strips the oil away. The timber turns grey, rough, absorbs dirt water, and stains permanently. Use exclusively replenishing natural wood floor soap.
• The Microfiber Trap: Standard commercial microfiber cloths feature microscopic sharp edges of polyester and polyamide. On oiled wood, they act like ultra-fine sandpaper, abrading the protective finish. Use only soft cotton mops.

3. Moisture & Swelling: Why 'Damp Only' is the Ironclad Rule

Wood is a hygroscopic material that expands when absorbing moisture. Standing water penetrates the tongue-and-groove joints between boards. Board edges swell ('cupping'), lacquer flakes off, or dark mold spots develop within the grain.

During final move-out cleans, the principle of 'damp-wiping only' applies without exception: the mop must be wrung so thoroughly that the floor dries naturally within two to three minutes.

4. Concealing Minor Scratches & Safe Handover with Mondar

Minor superficial white scuffs on oiled parquet can often be remediated before handover by gently buffing a small amount of maintenance oil into the spot with a soft cotton rag. The wood saturates and the visual contrast vanishes.

When booking an end-of-tenancy clean with handover guarantee through Mondar, trained teams inspect the flooring in advance. They deploy finish-specific professional treatments to deliver parquet in optimal handover condition — eliminating the risk of costly maintenance errors.