Water based polyurethane dries faster. 1  4-6 hrs before you can walk on the floors. 2  Hours 6-24, you can walk on the floors with socks. Avoid shoes and bare feet. 3  1 hrs you can walk on it with shoes. 4  After 2 days, you can move furniture back. 5  It's ideal to wait 1 week before dogs walk on the floors (unless they use doggie socks)