2021’s Best Hardwood Floor Cleaners (Reviewed & Compared)

Tired of dull and unwelcoming hardwood floors? 

We have the solution. 

Our team of experts evaluated and reviewed 10 of the best hardwood floor cleaners based on:

• Performance 
• Ingredients
• Safety
• Value for Money
• Versatility
• Ease of Use 

Take a look at our reviews and detailed buyer’s guide and have your wood floors restored to their full glory. 

Affiliate Disclosure

Used and recommended by flooring professionals for over a century, Bona has all the features of a high-quality and effective hardwood floor cleaner. 

What else makes this our top-rated hardwood floor cleaner? 

What It Can Do 

Thanks to its oxygenated formula, Bona can get rid of built-up dirt and stubborn stains quickly and easily, ensuring that your floors are restored to their natural sheen. 

Ingredients 

Bona is water-based and pH-neutral, so it’s safe for your floors, family, and pets. What’s more, it holds a GREENGUARD Gold certification for low VOC emissions, making it good for the planet and indoor air quality as well. 

Versatility

This cleaner can safely be used on all kinds of floors. Whether you need a prefinished hardwood floor cleaner or one for a site-finished floor, Bona gets the job done.

Packaging

You can get this product in a refillable spray or a refill bottle. The solution is ideal for areas of any size.

Ease of use

Bona is ready to use out of the box. Simply spray the fluid on the surface and wipe or mop it up; no rinsing is required. Moreover, most hardwood floor cleaner reviews confirm the product dries fast and leaves no residue or streaks.

Pros:

• A reputable company
• No residue or film
• Safe for all types of floors 

Cons:

• Some complaints about the smell

Used as a laminate and hardwood floor cleaner, the Zep Spray is the ideal solution for restoring your floors’ original shine and gloss. 

What It Can Do 

Not only does Zep leave your floors dirt- and grime-free, it can even repair scratched finishes. In fact, several users and experts praised Zep for having the best hardwood floor cleaners to remove stains, scrapes, and scuff marks.

Ingredients 

This water-based floor cleaning solution has a pro-grade formula that makes it safe for everyone in the household. It significantly facilitates cleaning hardwood floors as well. 

Versatility

You can use Zep with any solid or engineered hardwood and laminate flooring. 

Packaging

You can get this cleaner in a pump spray or a refill bottle. On top of that, it’s compatible with all mops, making it the best hardwood floor cleaner solution for spot and deep cleaning as well. 

Ease of use

Simply spray on the floor and wipe it with a mop or a cloth. There’s no need to rinse afterward as Zep dries incredibly fast, leaving no residue behind. 

Pros:

• Ready-to-use 
• Can be paired with a refillable mop
• Great smell 

Cons:

• Not suitable for oil-finished or unwaxed floors

If you’re looking for a cleaning solution suitable for hardwood and laminate floors, you won’t find a better option than BD Stoneworks.

What It Can Do 

The new BD Stoneworks formula includes the innovative additive PS3 (Triple-Action Poly Shield), which doesn’t just provide a streak- and residue-free cleaning with every use but also stops dirt and debris from sticking to the surface. 

Ingredients

This natural hardwood floor cleaner is eco-friendly, water-based, and non-toxic. Plus, it’s hypoallergenic — an excellent option for those with allergies and other sensitivities. 

Versatility

Even though this solution is a contender for the best laminate hardwood floor cleaner, you can also safely use it on bamboo, cork, and other flooring types. 

Packaging

BD’s Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner comes in a spray (ideal for a quick touch up) and a refill bottle, which is more useful for bigger surfaces. 

Ease of use

Thanks to the simple spray-and-wipe design of the BD Stoneworks’ floor cleaner,  spot cleaning has never been easier. 

Pros:

• Streak-free, no residue 
• Eco-friendly and biodegradable
• A pet-safe hardwood floor cleaner

Cons:

• Relatively expensive 

Fourth on our list of the best hardwood floor cleaners is a review of the Murphy oil soap wood cleaner.

What It Can Do  

This cleaner is a solution that’s been used for over 100 years to bring out the beauty and shine of wood in a natural way. 

Ingredients

As it’s formulated with natural ingredients, Murphy’s wood cleaner is 100% biodegradable and free of phosphate, ammonia, and bleach. In fact, 98% of its components are natural, including the distinct citronella oil scent. 

Versatility

Murphy’s Oil Soap is so versatile that it can even be used as a carpet and hardwood floor cleaner. This oil soap is suitable for wood and non-wood surfaces, including tiles, cars, and vinyl, and it’s known to remove stains off any surface.

Packaging

Murphy’s Oil Soap is pretty cost-effective. As a concentrated liquid, one bottle of Murphy’s can go a long way. 

Ease of use

To use this cleaning solution, simply dilute a ¼ or ½ cup in a gallon of water. Using a lightly damped mop, spread out the solution and mop up the excess water. 

Our contender for the best hardwood and tile floor cleaner will have all your floors looking brand new in the blink of an eye!

Pros:

• No ammonia, bleach, or oil 
• Made with 35% PCR
• Used on floors for over 100 years

Cons:

• Only available in a concentrated formula

Swiffer has everything you need to clean and maintain your hardwood floors in one exceptionally convenient and effective mopping system. 

What It Can Do 

Thanks to its unique dual-nozzle sprayer, this mop disperses a super-fine mist that completely coats the floor. The ultra-flexible, swivel mop head is also illuminated — great for reaching those inaccessible, dark areas under the furniture. 

The cleaning solution has all the features of a good hardwood floor cleaner — it quickly restores your hardwood floors’ natural shine, dries fast, doesn’t require rinsing, and is safe for kids and pets. 

Versatility

Will Swiffer ruin hardwood floors? On the contrary, the cleaning pads on the Swiffer mop can safely be used on hardwood floors; however, they aren’t recommended for unfinished, waxed, or oil floors. 

Moreover, the microfiber-like cleaning cloths trap dirt and grime instead of pushing it around on the floor, making it possibly the best hardwood floor cleaner for pet hair. And even though the pads contain a scrubby strip to dissolve stubborn stains, their texture is still soft and gentle on the wood. 

Packaging

The kit contains one battery-powered mop, 10 cleaning pads, and one WetJet Wood Quick Dry solution.

Ease of use 

The ease of use and convenience of the Swiffer is one of its standout characteristics. No need to wring-out wet mops or clean and wash dirty cloth — just add the solution, attach the pad, spray, and clean. It’s as simple as that!

Pros:

• Unique dual-nozzle sprayer
• Swivel mop head 
• Safe for pets and kids

Cons:

• Stickier stains might be hard to remove

Favored by professional hardwood floor cleaners, Bruce offers excellent value for money without compromising quality and effectiveness.  

What It Can Do 

In addition to being the best non-toxic hardwood floor cleaner, Bruce is the safest and most efficient option out there. Not only does it bring out the wood’s natural sheen, but it also dries quickly and leaves no film, streaks, or residue. 

Bruce doesn’t have a strong scent either, so it’s a fantastic choice for people who don’t like the lingering smell of floor polish in their homes.  

Versatility

This no-wax floor cleaner works amazingly on both hardwood and laminate floors, dissolving sticky messes and scuff marks in just a few sweeps. 

Moreover, users say that Bruce is the best hardwood floor cleaner for shine, leaving floors gleaming and glossy.

Packaging

Whether you want to use it on its own, fill up a spray bottle, or combine it with a mop, Bruce is up for the job. However, the refill bottle is more convenient and cost-effective — it’s perfect for big and small surfaces, and it lasts longer, too.

Ease of use

There’s no need to dilute this floor cleaner, just open the bottle and start cleaning. What could be easier and more convenient than that?

Pros:

• Best hardwood floor cleaner and shiner
• No residue or streaks
• Excellent price

Cons:

• Doesn’t disinfect 

Formulated from plant-based ingredients and B Corporation-certified, Method Squirt + Mop Wood Floor Cleaner is a strong contender for the safest, most effective, and best cleaner for a hardwood floor.

Ingredients

Method’s cleaner is one of the most eco-friendly products on our list. It’s crafted with naturally-derived ingredients, has never been tested on animals, and is completely biodegradable. 

Even the ergonomically designed bottle is made of 100% recycled plastic. On top of that, it’s wax-free, so it doesn’t leave any sticky residue or film behind. 

The final element in the Method Squirt + Mop is the pleasant lemon and ginger scent, which users describe as incredibly “fruity and delicious.” It’s often found in any best homemade hardwood floor cleaner. Therefore, the product cleans thoroughly while smelling great at the same time. 

Versatility

This floor cleaner is specifically formulated to treat and clean sealed hardwood and laminate floors, effectively removing scuff marks and greasy stains. 

Packaging

Thanks to the squeeze design, Method’s wood cleaner allows for easy dispersion across a wider area, letting users save time and money by covering bigger surfaces in fewer sweeps. 

Ease of use

Nothing could be easier than using this natural hardwood floor cleaner. As the name suggests, all you need to do is squirt some of the solution on the floor and mop it up to get your wood floors looking beautiful and clean again — no rinsing, film, or streaks. 

Pros:

• Great for large surfaces
• No wax
• Delightful smell

Cons:

• Only available in one size 

The Pledge Wood Floor Cleaner removes even the stickiest and most stubborn stains with just a few strokes. This, combined with the excellent price, convenient squirt bottle packaging, and the non-overwhelming scent, makes Pledge one of the best hardwood floor cleaners for larger surfaces. 

What It Can Do 

Pledge is a water-based cleaner that quickly and gently removes dirt, grime, and stains, leaving behind no streaks or residue. What it does leave behind is a refreshing lemon scent, which is natural and not overpowering at all. 

Versatility

Although Pledge is crafted as the best prefinished hardwood floor cleaner, this versatile solution can also be used on laminate and unwaxed floors, as well as other wood surfaces, including wood furniture and wood paneling. 

Packaging

Pledge’s wood floor cleaner is sold in a squirt bottle, but it’s available in a refill container as well, allowing you to cover more surfaces with the same bottle. 

Ease of use

There’s no need to dilute this phenomenal prefinished hardwood floor cleaner in water. To use it, simply squirt some of the liquid directly on the floor and clean the area thoroughly with a well-wrung mop. Floors will shine quickly and naturally.

Pros:

• Great for laminate floors too
• Ready to use 
• Amazing coupon deals

Cons:

• Not suitable for worn wood floors

Made in the USA by a family-owned company, Libman is one of the highest-rated and best floor cleaners for hardwood floors, cutting through grime and dirt quickly and easily.

What It Can Do 

As it’s formulated to be mixed in with water, this floor-cleaner is incredibly efficient in dissolving greasy stains, scuff marks, and built-up dirt. 

Not only is Libman soft and gentle on your floors, but it’s also good on the nose too. It has a nice and light citrus smell that will leave your home smelling fresh for days. 

Versatility

This Libman product can be used with your own mop (or bucket) or with the company’s hardwood floor cleaner mop for the best results. 

Packaging

Since it’s a concentrate, this floor-cleaner allows you to adjust the potency of the solution. It’s also great for your budget, as a bottle of 16 oz provides four gallons of this, arguably the best, real hardwood floor cleaner.  

Ease of use

Libman’s hardwood floor cleaner comes with a convenient measuring cup that lets you get the right dose of cleaning solution every time. The innovative cup design prevents spills, enabling a hassle- and mess-free cleaning experience.

Pros:

• Innovative packaging 
• Fast and efficient 
• Accurate dosing, no spills

Cons:

• Not ready for use 

Tired of the harsh, chemical smell of floor cleaners? Then give Orange Glo a try. This is a cleaner that brightens up your floors and the room with a fresh citrus smell.  

What It Can Do 

This cleaner removes dirt fast and dries even faster. You won’t find any film, residue, or streaks on your floors with Orange Glo, just glossy wood with an incredible lemon scent.  

If your floors are cleaned but still look a bit dull, use this product with the brand’s four-in-one Monthly Polish for the best hardwood floor cleaner and polisher combo.

Versatility

Orange Glo is safe to use on furniture, cabinets, laminate flooring, and any wood surface you can think of except for unfinished, waxed, and oiled wood. 

Packaging

Packed in a handy spray bottle, Orange Glo is perfect for quick touch-ups and everyday routine cleaning.  

Ease of use

Although the spray and wipe method is quite good at dissolving and removing dirt, using a microfiber mop to wipe up this floor cleaner will provide the easiest and most effective results. For a glossier finish on floors, try Orange Glo’s hardwood floor cleaner and polish — it might be more complicated to use, but it’s well worth the trouble.

Pros:

• No harsh, chemical smells
• Ready to use
• Great for real hardwood and laminate 

Cons:

• Hard to find 

In our search for the best wood floor cleaners, we evaluated dozens of brands and cleaning products and rated them based on performance and efficiency, safety and ingredient quality, as well as ease of use and value for money. 

Take a closer look at the criteria we used to rank the best hardwood floor cleaning solutions.

What It Can Do 

One of the first and most important aspects we looked at was the scope of the wood cleaner. We evaluated the best hardwood floor cleaner based on how effectively and quickly it removed greasy stains, built-up grime, and scuff marks. 

We considered how fast it dried and how many sweeps were needed to eliminate the really stubborn spots. Finally, we eliminated cleaners that required rinsing or damaged and dulled the finish, as well as those that left streaks and residue on the floors. 

Ingredients and Safety 

Safety is another crucial factor in choosing the best wood floor cleaner on the market. We value water-based cleaners since they are generally considered the safest for children.

We also tried to find the best hardwood floor cleaner for pets, so you will find some pet-friendly options among our reviews as well. 

Scent

Some floor cleaners have an overpowering chemical smell that could seep into the wood and linger in the house for days. Others have a fresh but overwhelming odor, especially for people sensitive to certain kinds of smells. 

To accommodate all tastes, we ranked those products with a neutral, mild scent higher.

Ease of Use

Cleaning hardwood floors doesn’t have to be a complicated procedure. This is why we gave priority to brands that are ready to use out of the box — no diluting or rinsing required. 

As we wanted to filter out only the best hardwood floor cleaners, our review includes only convenient and easily dispersible products that require minimal effort and get the best possible results. 

Packaging 

Hardwood floor cleaners generally come in three types of packaging: spray, squirt and refill bottles. All three have their advantages and drawbacks, depending on how frequently you use them, your floors’ size, and your personal preferences. 

Our list of the best-rated hardwood floor cleaners incorporates representatives of all three types of packaging so you can choose the best one for your requirements. 

Versatility 

Not all wood cleaners are suitable for different kinds of floors. Actually, finding a cleaner that is safe to use on any type of flooring, from engineered to solid, is a rare but valuable find. 

A versatile cleaning solution saves you time and money — you can use the same product on multiple surfaces (kitchen and bathroom tiles) and household items (cabinets, bookcases, etc.).  

For that reason, we ranked the more versatile products higher in our best hardwood floor cleaner reviews. We also gave higher ratings to cleaning solutions that could safely be used on laminate floors and other wood surfaces.

Price 

Hardwood floors cleaners usually cost between $8— $15, depending on quantity and packaging. We ensured that all the cleaners in our rankings fitted that price range, giving higher scores to brands that provided exceptional quality at a reasonable price. 

User Reviews

In the end, we considered customers’ accounts and their experience with the product. Was it effective? Did it perform as advertised? Was the smell pleasant and refreshing or harsh and industrial? We used the answers to complete our list.

Hardwood floors are the perfect finish to any home. They are durable, warm, and welcoming. Not to mention that they go with any style — from rustic chic to sleek and streamlined design. 

To keep them looking gorgeous, though, hardwood floors need to be cleaned regularly and treated with proper care and attention.

Our guide will provide you with insightful advice on how best to look after your floors and how to find the best-rated hardwood floor cleaner. 

Wood Floor Care 

What can you do to make sure your floors are clean and shiny? 

What follows are a few helpful tips. 

Take Basic Precautions 

These include leaving your shoes at the door, trimming your pet’s nails, and promptly cleaning up spills. Doing this will not only keep your floors glossy but save you a lot of trouble and cleaning in the future. 

Sweep, Dust, and Vacuum Regularly  

If you’re using a broom, choose one with soft bristles. If you’re going with a mop, keep in mind that the best hardwood floor cleaner mop should be treated with a dusting agent so it can pick up dust and dirt rather than disperse it. You can also use a disposable electrostatic cloth to quickly dust and freshen up wood floors.

Vacuuming once a week can also quickly and effectively get rid of dust and dirt. Take care, though, as vacuums can scratch the floors, especially the beater bar, so avoid using this extension.  

Deep Cleaning 

Use a lightly-damped mop for deep cleaning. Squirt or spray some of the cleaning solution on the floor and wipe in the wood grain direction. Microfiber mops are the most effective for a thorough cleaning, especially for households with pets. Microfiber mops go well with the best hardwood floor cleaners for cats’, dogs,’ and other pets’ hair. 

Never Overwet Hard Floors

When using a damp mop, be careful not to overwet the floor. Water could be wood’s most dangerous enemy, especially if moisture has been sitting on wood for a long period of time. 

Water’s effect on wood is one of the reasons why steam mops are only used on carpets and aren’t recommended for the best carpet and hardwood floor cleaner options. After you mop, use a dry and clean cloth to buff the floors. 

Stick to a Hardwood Floor Cleaner

Don’t use vinyl, tile floor cleaners, or surface cleaners as these could damage your wood floors. It’s best to use a hardwood floor cleaner specifically formulated for the job. 

Moreover, look for hardwood cleaning solutions that don’t have corrosive ingredients and acids. Avoid waxes and oils as they can make floors slippery and cause residue to build up quickly. 

The Vinegar Myth

You may have heard or read that the most effective and safest way to clean floors is to replace the use of a hardwood floor cleaner with a vinegar and water mix. Although this may seem like a readily available solution, experts recommend against it. 

Vinegar is useful, so much so that it’s been used in several of the best DIY hardwood floor cleaner recipes for decades. However, it’s also acidic and can dull the finish on the floors and even damage them over time. 

Concentration

Hardwood floor cleaners typically fall into two categories, depending on concentration:

1. Ready-to-use wood floor cleaners — these are applied straight out of the bottle. No diluting is necessary here since all the ingredients have been pre-mixed. Most hardwood floor cleaner reviews point out that these are the most convenient — setting up doesn’t take a lot of time or effort, making them perfect for quick clean-ups.
2. Wood floor cleaner concentrates — these contain a powerful cleaning fluid that needs to be watered-down before use. These cleaning solutions might take longer to prepare but allow you to adjust the product’s potency. You can also adjust the smell by adding more (or less) water. 

Packaging

The best hardwood floor cleaner products typically come in three types of packaging:

1. Spray bottles — As the name suggests, these cleaners come with a spray, i.e., a built-in trigger dispensing a fine mist of cleaning solution on the floor. Spray bottles are small and portable and can be used directly on the floor, making them best for spot cleaning or covering smaller surfaces.  
2. Squirt bottles — These cleaners dispense a larger amount of cleaning solution than spray bottles. This means that they’re great for both small and big surfaces but give you less control over how much of the solution is distributed. 
3. Refill bottles — These come in large quantities and can be poured into a spray bottle or used with a hardwood floor cleaner mop. These shouldn’t be poured directly onto floors —  it’s quite easy to pour more than you intended, resulting in damages and a smell that might stay for days. However, if you have a lot of surfaces to cover, refill bottles are the best and most affordable option. 

Wrapping Up

Taking care of hardwood floors isn’t the easiest task in the world, but it’s well worth the effort. Gorgeous hardwood floors will not only make your home look cozier and warmer, but they will significantly increase the value as well.

To find the best cleaning solution, follow the advice in our handy guide, and you, too, will have clean, well-maintained, and stunning hardwood floors in no time at all.