“Try not to spray on too much cleaner as too much water and moisture can damage your hardwood floors," Samson says. To find the best hardwood floor cleaners we researched a variety of picks, keeping in mind each pick’s scent and application method. In addition to Samson, we also consulted with Kathy Cohoon, an area representative of Two Maids & A Mop, for additional advice on choosing the right hardwood food cleaners. Our top pick, Murphy Original Formula Oil Soap, is a trusted brand that’s been used on hardwood floors for over 100 years. We chose it as our best hardwood floor cleaner because it’s effective, affordable, and has a fresh and clean scent. Here you’ll find our picks for the best hardwood floor cleaners. Keep in Mind: It’s scented and has to be diluted before use. This is a concentrated formula, which means a big bottle will last for a long time, and that will save you money and create less waste. To use, dilute ¼ cup of soap per one gallon of water before mopping. If you’re using a spray mop, you’ll need to calculate the percentage depending on the size of your mop’s water tank. This cleanser also works on many other surfaces in the home. Dilute it and use it to clean flooring materials like tile, linoleum, vinyl, and other hard flooring. You can even use this soap to clean cabinets, bookcases, and other wood furniture—and we’ve found a dab of undiluted oil soap can really smooth out a scratch on a piece of fine furniture. Murphy’s Original Formula Oil Soap hits every item on our list for a hardwood floor cleanser, including a pleasing scent, ingredients we trust, a reasonable price point, and a reputable brand name. Price at time of publish: $6 Scent: Citronella | Application: Dilute with water, wet mop onto floor Keep in Mind: It’s more expensive than some similar products. The Bona spray is Greenguard Gold certified, meaning it’s been rigorously tested for chemical emissions, making it a good choice for anyone with pets and kids who might spend a lot of time on the floor. It’s also Safer Choice certified, which means the ingredients used were deemed safe for both humans and the environment. Finally, this spray cleaner leaves floors shiny and without streaks and residue. The wax- and oil-free solution contains ingredients like water, citric acid, and hydrogen peroxide, and there’s no need to rinse after you mop, so you can just sit back and let it dry. Although it’s a bit more expensive than some other options, it’s offered in either a rosemary scent or unscented, so you can choose which works best for your space. Price at time of publish: $9 Scent: Rosemary or unscented | Application: Spray and dry mop Keep in Mind: It’s only safe to use only on finished and sealed surfaces. This is a complete cleaner that you don’t have to dilute—to use, just squirt the cleaner directly on your floor and get to work. Once you’re done mopping, your floor will dry to a nice shine in about 15 minutes, no rinsing required. Just keep in mind that the lemon-scented cleaner can only be used on finished and sealed surfaces. Price at time of publish: From $30 Scent: Lemon | Application: Squirt and dry mop Keep in Mind: The cleaner can be more labor-intensive to use compared to other cleaners. This wax is really all you need for restoring your worn out wood floors. The hard-finish wax blend has a multipurpose formula that deep-cleans hardwood floors and leaves them shiny and satiny. Paste waxes, like SC Johnson, are usually made from Carnauba wax. The wax itself is a naturally-derived wax extracted from Carnauba palm trees, and the wax forms on the tree’s leaves and protects them from heat and moisture. Before waxing, sweep or vacuum, then apply to floors with a mop or rag. Let the wax soak in and dry, then buff it to shine. You can use SC Johnson Paste Wax on other items like wooden furniture, leather, metal, cork, and vinyl, too. Price at time of publish: $28 Scent: Not listed | Application: Rub in, buff Keep in Mind: The cleaner is more expensive and smaller than some other similar options. The nozzle works as a shower-style spray that distributes just the right amount of solution across the floor, so you won’t have a big puddle of cleanser. Plus, there’s no rinsing or bucket required! The plant-based, biodegradable, and wax-free solution gets your floors sparkling clean with an all-natural blend of water, coconut oil, organic solvents, and baking soda. Of course, there’s the scent, which is a gentle almond that’s not as overpowering or cloying as many traditional home cleaning solutions. Though it’s on the pricier side in comparison to other cleaners, you’ll also be able to use it on laminate floors as well. Price at time of publish: $15 Scent: Almond | Application: Squirt on floor, dry mop Keep in Mind: It’s scented, so it depends on your preferences. For any concentrate that requires diluting, measuring is always part of the process. Libman’s cleaner makes that easier with a design that has a handle for easy carrying, and a measuring cup built into the cap. Just squeeze the bottle to fill the measuring cap with the recommended dose of cleaner and pour it directly into your bucket. Speaking of features to like, just one bottle of Libman’s makes four gallons of cleaner and can be used with your own mop (or bucket). The Libman concentrate is soft and gentle while cleaning your floors, but it’s worth noting that it has a citrus scent, so it depends on your preferences. Price at time of publish: $18 Scent: Citrus | Application: Dilute with water and mop Keep in Mind: It cannot be used on unsealed floors. Part of what makes this pick one of the best hardwood floor cleaners is the product doesn’t require a multi-step process. You apply the product directly to the floor with a microfiber mop and then let it dry. In about 30 minutes, your floors will develop a beautiful shine. Finally, Weiman’s floor polish is formulated to be safe for the whole family, with no harmful fumes. It is important to note that this polish and restorer is not for unsealed floors, however, so be mindful when you’re using it. Price at time of publish: $14 Scent: Pine, cherry | Application: Squeeze directly on floor, dry mop Keep in Mind: The solution needs to be diluted and may leave some streaks on glass. This cleaner is made in the U.S. and is formulated with renewable and biodegradable ingredients. Plus, it’s hypoallergenic, vegan, and certified cruelty-free. What’s notable about this formula is that while the ingredients are gentle, it still has the ability to remove dirt and grime from your floor. To use, you’ll need to first dilute the concentrate. Once diluted, this multi-purpose cleaner can be used in kitchens, bathrooms, on blinds, granite, glass and much more, in addition to your hardwood floors. The natural cleaner works very well on most wood, but can leave some streaks on glass. Another point in Puracy’s favor is the delicate Green tea and lime scent, which leaves your home smelling more like a spa visit, without that tart sting of some lemon-scented products. Price at time of publish: $15 Scent: Green tea and lime | Application: Dilute with water, spray, and wipe with dry cloth or mop Keep in Mind: It cannot be used on unfinished wood or unsealed tile. The cleaning solution has everything you’d want in a good hardwood floor spot cleaner— it cleans quickly, brings out the floor’s natural shine, doesn’t require a bucket or rinsing, and dries quickly. It’s one of the best hardwood floor cleaners to consider but keep in mind that it can’t be used on unfinished wood or unsealed tile. Price at time of publish: $30 Scent: Not listed | Application: Spray mop Keep in Mind: You’ll need more storage space for this option, as opposed to other cleaners. To use the mop, simply run the microfiber head under water, wring it out, and attach it to the mop base using the hook-and-loop fasteners. Once you’re done cleaning, the mop head is machine-washable and promises to last about one year, or 100 washes. You can also sanitize (and degrease) the cloth by boiling it in water for a few minutes, and then wringing it out to dry. The one thing the E-Cloth is not is a dust mop. While it will work on most floors, it’s not designed to pick up dust, so be sure to vacuum or sweep before using it. Plus, you’ll need a bit more storage space to keep this style at home as opposed to other options. Price at time of publish: $30 Scent: Not listed | Application: Add water to mop head and wet mop Keep in Mind: The batter life is 20 minutes. The cordless mop works fairly quickly and operates using an 18V lithium-ion battery. Just keep in mind that it’ll give you about 20 minutes of cleaning time per use, so it may not be ideal if you need to clean multiple rooms at home. The Bissell comes with two soft-touch pads, and two scrub pads (for tougher spots), that are machine-washable. The pads are eco-friendly as they can be reused, and if you launder them regularly, you won’t feel like you’re just pushing muck around on your hardwood floors. Price at time of publish: $155 Scent: Not listed | Application: Spray mop
What to Know About Hardwood Floor Cleaners Before Shopping
There are a few factors you may want to consider when looking for the best hardwood floor cleaner for your home, and we’ve looked at all of them in detail below. But note that which cleaner you choose is going to come down to individual preference, and we encourage you to consider what’s right for your home and family.
Ingredients
Knowing what’s in your cleaning products always helps you determine what’s best for your flooring. You’ll want to look for cleaners that aren’t corrosive, like water, weaker acids like citric acid, and weaker bases like sodium bicarbonate. These are known as surfactants, meaning surface active agents, that stir up activity on the surface you are cleaning to help trap dirt and remove it from the surface. Corrosive products will contain strong acids and bases, like nitric acid or sodium hydroxide, and these can strip the finish of surface-sealed floors. Some may also want water- and plant-based cleaners, but all will have some form of chemical cleaning agent.
Fragrance Type
The best (or worst) thing about cleaning the floors in your home is that your house will often smell of it for days. If you’re sensitive to odors, look for a scent-free or lightly scented cleaner that will dissipate more quickly. If you don’t mind a scent, however, you can find a variety of options, like citrus, pine, rosemary, and almond.
Concentration
Floor cleaners come, for the most part, in one of two types. There are complete cleaners that can be applied straight to the floor from the bottle. They’re usually in a spray bottle, and are a great option for spot cleaning. The other type is a concentrate formula that is a strong cleaning fluid you must dilute with water. “When it comes to using concentrated cleaners it is about quality, not quantity,” says Cohoon. “Concentrated cleaners use a more concentrated chemical compound and the user dilutes it with water so instead of using a capful of a certain cleaner you may only need a small spoonful.” While they take a little more time, it’s worth it for the cost savings as a little bit goes a long way. Plus, you can adjust the strength for dirtier jobs.
Application
How you get your cleaner on the floor is an important consideration as well, and most cleaners are available in spray or squirt bottles. The majority of complete cleaners (the non-concentrate kind) are found in spray bottles, which makes them easy to apply directly to floors. Concentrates are usually in squirt or pour bottles, so they can be poured into a bucket and diluted.
Your Questions, Answered
What is the best way to clean and shine hardwood floors?
One of the most important things to remember is you’re going to avoid scratches and dings on your floor by vacuuming or sweeping first, says Cohoon. “Make sure to vacuum or sweep away any debris so as to not nick or scratch floors,” Cohoon says. “Using a wood-specific liquid soap and warm water—or mix one part white vinegar with ten parts warm water —and a soft cloth, dip the cloth into the bucket and wring until damp.” The other key is to refresh your cleaning solution so you’re not pushing around grimey water. “Wipe down [the] floor surface without oversaturating the surface and be sure to refill your cleaning solution often as to not clean with dirty water,” Cohoon says. “Use a soft towel to dry the floor thoroughly as oversaturation or standing water can damage floor finishes.”
Is it OK to mop hardwood floors?
Yes, mopping is ok so long as you make sure the mop is not overly wet and using too much moisture on hardwood can damage and/or warp floors over time. Be mindful of how much oil or soap you use when cleaning and polishing hardwood, as excess residue can make surfaces slippery and damage finishes.
What should you not put on a hardwood floor?
Whatever you do, don’t clean hardwood like you would the rest of your floors. “Most of your favorite cleaning supplies you should not put on hardwood floors. This includes white vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda—also anything like oils, waxes, furniture cleaner, or anything with ammonia,” says Samson. Cohoon echoes this, and reminds to avoid bleach, saying, “To preserve the finish of the floor be sure to avoid bleach and any cleaning agents with bleach or brighteners. Be sure to also avoid abrasive cleaners and chemicals such as ammonia as its harshness will damage wood floors.”
Who We Are
Tanya Edwards is an award-winning writer and editor with bylines at Better Homes & Gardens and other publications. She never met a hardwood floor she didn’t see more life in with a little bit of oil soap, and for this story she consulted cleaning experts Jessica Samsom, director of national branding at The Maids, and Kathy Cohoon, an area representative of Two Maids & A Mop, for additional advice on choosing the right hardwood food cleaners.
