Our favorite floor cleaner is the Rejuvenate All Floors Cleaner because it’s powerful, easy to use, and suitable for a wide range of surfaces. Here are the best floor cleaners for every type of flooring. More good news: You don’t need to dilute the solution or re-clean floors with a final rinse. This uncomplicated floor cleaner will save you precious time, so you can move on to the next task on your to-do list. To use, apply Rejuvenate All Floors Cleaner directly to the floor, and then wipe or mop the surface with a microfiber towel or traditional mop. The result: clean and streak-free floors—stat. Just note: The retailer claims that one coat of Rejuvenate equals six coats of a standard cleaner. While that may give you more shine, some users say they notice a waxy buildup over time. Price at time of publish: $7 A nice bonus: Quick Shine’s cleaner doesn’t contain any alkalis or ammonia (instead, it’s powered by baking soda) and is made right here in the United States. Plus, it has been recognized by the EPA’s Safer Choice program as a friendlier option for those with children or pets. It’s also a good option for anyone with sensitivities or allergies since it doesn’t contain heavy fragrances or perfumes, either. Price at time of publish: $12 Best of all, Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner dries almost instantly, so you don’t have to wait to walk on your floors. This is key for preventing footprints and pawprints from tarnishing your freshly cleaned floors. And while some users report a slightly tacky finish, the formula is crafted to be residue- and slip-free. The product is also Greenguard Gold-certified, making it a smarter, safer choice for households with children and pets. Price at time of publish: $21 If there’s any downside, it’s that this product may cost you a little more in the long run since you’ll need to purchase brand-specific replacements for the liquid and the pads. The good news: These products are widely available online and in stores. Price at time of publish: $28 What’s more, the cleaning solution works long after you’ve put in the elbow grease, thanks to a special additive that’s designed to repel dirt and prevent it from attaching to the floor’s surface in the first place. This means your laminate floors will stay shiny and smooth for longer, requiring less frequent cleaning sessions. Price at time of publish: $15 If there is any downside, it’s that you’ll have to follow the manufacturer’s directions for dilution—a necessary step to ensure you don’t end up with an overpowering vinegar scent. Still, some find it hard to strike the perfect balance between cleaning power and scent, so you may have to exercise some trial and error. Price at time of publish: $12 There’s really no learning curve, either. Testers say the initial mop setup was straightforward and took less than 10 minutes. And once it was up and running, the steam cleaner was powerful enough to get an intense soy sauce stain off of tile flooring. It’s worth noting that this gadget is on the expensive side, but because of all the attachments it comes with, we feel the price is justified. Use the tool to steam mop floors, clean grout, steam upholstery, and more. Price at time of publish: $300 You don’t have to worry about maneuverability, either. The robot vacuum and mop examines the perimeters of your room prior to beginning, and then it expertly navigates your space—no bumping baseboards or furniture legs. Once the task is complete, the robot self-empties in vacuum mode. Unfortunately, you do have to manually clean the scrub brushes after mopping. Price at time of publish: $700 Also nice: Despite vague instructions, the mop sets up with relative ease. Plus, it comes with three washable microfiber pads that attach via Velcro, so you’ll always have an extra on hand. The downside? The mop takes a little bit longer than the others we tested to break down, so that may add a few minutes to the chore. Price at time of publish: $50 It’s easy to use, too. You simply spray it on your grout and scrub with the included brush. Then, rinse or mop to reveal cleaner, brighter grout. It doesn’t leave any residue and won’t strip color from colored grout, either. Price at time of publish: $29
Application
Application can vary widely among floor cleaners, with many products available as ready-to-use formulas and others requiring dilution. Buying floor cleaning concentrate (usually sold in a 1-gallon container) offers an economical option, but you’ll need to use a bucket or separate container to mix the formula with water. Then, you’ll also need to buy a mop to apply the cleaner to the floor. If you opt for something like a steam mop, you won’t need to buy additional supplies, but steam mops can be expensive. However, they are easy to use—fill the tank with water, allow it to heat up, and then mop your floors as you normally would.
Ingredients
The ingredients of a floor cleaner impact its effectiveness, and they also contribute to a product’s safety and eco-friendly factors. Homes with young children or pets may prioritize nontoxic floor cleaners like Aunt Fannie’s Vinegar Wash. If you’re concerned about the safety of your floor cleaner, look for options that have received outside certification, such as the EPA Safer Choice program. In addition, some floor cleaners come with a heavy fragrance or odor. If you’re sensitive to strong smells, consider an unscented floor cleaner or one derived from natural fragrances, like essential oils.
Floor Compatibility
It’s important to take stock of what types of floors you have in your home and purchase compatible cleaners. Some cleaners are not meant to be used on certain types of surfaces. For example, steam cleaners shouldn’t be used on unsealed hardwood floors, while vinegar-based and other acidic cleaners shouldn’t be used on tile. For convenience, you may want to select a multi-surface cleaner that can be used on most surfaces in your home. Always check the label to avoid a mishap.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This roundup was written by Brigitt Earley, who has written and edited hundreds of articles about cleaning products for various publications—including The Spruce—for nearly 15 years. She has personally tested a whole host of cleaning products, including some of the floor cleaners in this roundup. To curate this list, she reviewed top-rated products, read hundreds of product reviews, and spoke to Alicia Johnson, cleaning expert and owner of Cleaning Green LLC. Additional insight was provided by Katie Gibson, a representative for Lemon and Pine Cleaning Company. If the thought of your pet’s fur and paw pads coming in contact with freshly cleaned floors gives you pause, choose a nontoxic floor cleaner. There are also many natural cleaning products that rely on plant enzymes, vinegar, and other naturally derived ingredients for cleaning power (instead of chemicals). These can be a safe choice for pets as well, but be sure to carefully read the labels for each product before making a decision.
