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Like other types of flooring, hardwood floors need to be cleaned on a regular basis. For the best results, you can apply liquid cleaner to your floors and spread it with a mop. Depending on the type of hardwood, finish, and debris involved, some cleaners will work better than others.
To help you select the best hardwood floor cleaner for your home, our team took a close look at some of the top-rated options on the market today. Here are our top recommendations.
Top 5 Hardwood Floor Cleaners
- Largest Bottle: Bona Refill Hardwood Floor Cleaner
- Best Concentrate: MURPHY Oil Soap Wood Cleaner
- Best Plant-Based Cleaner: Better Life Naturally Dirt-Destroying Floor Cleaner
- Best Polish Restorer: Weiman Hardwood Floor Cleaner and Polish Restorer Combo
- Best For Spot Cleaning: Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner
Compare Top Hardwood Floor Cleaners
| Product | Quantity | Formula | Scent | Floor Reccomendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bona Refill Hardwood Floor Cleaner | 128-ounce bottle | Biodegradeable, plant-derived | Unscented | Unwaxed, unoiled, and polyurethane-finished |
| MURPHY Oil Soap Wood Cleaner | Three 32-ounce bottles | Biodegradeable, plant-derived | Citronella oil | Wood floors, wood cabinets, laminate floors, cars, vinyl, and more |
| Better Life Naturally Dirt-Destroying Floor Cleaner | Two 32-ounce squirt bottles | Biodegradeable, plant-derived | Citrus mint | Hardwood, ceramic, tile, stone, bamboo, vinyl, laminate, and other sealed floors |
| Weiman Hardwood Floor Cleaner and Polish Restorer Combo | Two 32-ounce squirt bottles | Natural | Citrus | Finished hardwood, engineered wood, vinyl, and laminate floors |
| Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner | One 32-ounce spray bottle | Biodegradable, hypoallergenic formula | Apple blossom | Wood, laminate, and engineered floors |
| Product | Quantity | Formula | Scent | Floor Reccomendation |
Largest Bottle
Bona Refill Hardwood Floor Cleaner
- $19.96
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Comes in a 128-ounce bottle
- Has a biodegradable, plant-derived formula
- Works on unwaxed, unoiled, and polyurethane-finished wood floors
What Customers Are Saying
Those who were happy with this cleaner said that it was easy to use and worked on multiple types of wood. However, other customers said that it left a streaky film behind and that it wasn’t effective on dark floors.
Best Concentrate
MURPHY Oil Soap Wood Cleaner
- $13.98
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Comes in three 32-ounce bottles
- Has a biodegradable, plant-derived formula
- Has a citronella oil scent
- Works on wood floors, wood cabinets, laminate floors, cars, vinyl, and more
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied reviewers said that this cleaner left a nice natural shine, had a fresh scent, and was usable on multiple types of floors. However, dissatisfied reviewers said that the caps were poorly made and that the cleaner didn’t work well on laminate.
Best Plant-Based Cleaner
Better Life Naturally Dirt-Destroying Floor Cleaner
- $12.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Comes in two 32-ounce squirt bottles
- Has a biodegradable, plant-derived formula
- Has a citrus mint scent
- Works on hardwood, ceramic, tile, stone, bamboo, vinyl, laminate, and other sealed floors
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who enjoyed this product said that it cleaned floors easily, had a fresh smell, and was non-toxic. Customers who didn’t enjoy this cleaner complained that it left the floor feeling sticky and that it was ineffective on older floors.
Best Polish Restorer
Weiman Hardwood Floor Cleaner and Polish Restorer Combo
- $26.98
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Comes in two 32-ounce squirt bottles
- Has a natural formula
- Has a citrus scent
- Works on finished hardwood, engineered wood, vinyl, and laminate floors
What Customers Are Saying
Those who were pleased with this cleaner pointed out that it was simple to use and produced long-lasting results. However, those who were displeased with it said that it wasn’t effective at removing or hiding scratches.
Best For Spot Cleaning
Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner
- $14.95
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Comes in one 32-ounce spray bottle
- Has a biodegradable, hypoallergenic formula
- Works on wood, laminate, and engineered floors
What Customers Are Saying
Reviewers highlighted this cleaner’s ability to thoroughly clean laminate flooring and its effectiveness against mud and dirt. However, dissatisfied customers said that it left behind residue that got on their feet and socks and that it had an overwhelming scent.
Buying Guide to Hardwood Floor Cleaners
There are several important factors to consider before choosing a hardwood floor cleaner. Depending on the type of hardwood you’re using it on, the application method you prefer, and whether or not you have pets and children some floor cleaners may work better in your home than others. Here are some important factors to take into consideration before selecting a hardwood floor cleaner.
Ingredients
Cleaners with strong ingredients, such as nitric acid or sodium hydroxide, can potentially strip the finish off of hardwood floors. A cleaner that uses non-corrosive ingredients, such as water and citric acid, will be better for your floors and safer for your family, your pets, and the environment.
Packaging
Hardwood floor cleaners typically come in one of the following packaging options:
Spray
Spray cleaners distribute mist directly onto the floor, which is then typically wiped with a paper towel, cloth, or mop. While spray cleaners are good for smaller floor areas or countertops, they are inefficient at cleaning an entire room.
Squirt
Squirt cleaners are similar to spray cleaners except they dispense a larger pool of cleaner onto your floors. This type of cleaner is versatile and can be used on both small and large areas.
Refillable
This type of cleaner is typically poured directly from the bottle into a cleaning device, such as a mop or vacuum cleaner. The device then spreads the cleaner across your floor. These cleaners shouldn’t be poured directly onto your floor, as too much of it can cause damage.
Floor Type
Certain types of cleaners could cause damage or be ineffective on certain types of flooring. For example, wood cleaners with polishing agents shouldn’t be used on laminate floors, while waxed hardwood shouldn’t be cleaned with water. Be sure that the cleaner you choose specifically lists your type of flooring as a safe surface to use it with.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hardwood Floor Cleaners
Can wood floors be cleaned with vinegar?
Vinegar may clean the surface of hardwood floors, but it’s not recommended as a regular cleaning product. Its acidic nature can dull the sheen of your floor over time.
How often should hardwood floors be cleaned?
Hardwood floors should be deeply cleaned at least four to six times per year. Sweeping several times per week and mopping with water or vacuuming at least once per week can also go a long way to maintaining your floors.
Do hardwood floors need professional cleaning?
There are many professional cleaning services that can clean, polish, sanitize, and renew your floors. While this method will keep your floors looking shiny and new for longer, it’s up to you to decide if it’s worth the added expense. Consistently and correctly cleaning your floors yourself may not do as good of a job as a professional company, but it will still improve their condition.
Why You Can Trust Us
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
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