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The Spruce / Chloe Jeong
A great floor cleaner makes short work of mopping up spills and messes while eradicating any bacteria or germs on your floor's surface. “It doesn’t matter whether you are looking after your home or your office, proper floor cleaning and care is essential for ensuring the health of people who use the space regularly,” says Alicia Johnson, cleaning expert and owner of Cleaning Green LLC. ”Not to mention, uncleanliness always damages the visual appeal of the place.” To help you find the right product for the job, we researched and tested dozens of floor cleaners, evaluating each on effectiveness, ease of use, and formula type.
Here are the best floor cleaners for every type of flooring.
Best Overall
Rejuvenate All Floors Cleaner
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Amazon
No bucket needed
Low VOC
Versatile
Some users experience buildup with frequent use
If you don’t like to stock multiple products (or don’t have the space to do so), the Rejuvenate All Floors Cleaner is for you. This ready-to-use formula can handle a variety of surfaces, from hardwood and laminate to tile and marble. Rejuvenate can do it all, which is why it earned our coveted top pick.
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
Type: Spray | Dimensions: 11.5 x 4.5 x 2 inches | Weight: 2.3 pounds | Amount: 32 fluid ounces | Scent: Lemon
Best Budget
Quick Shine Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner
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Amazon
Versatile
Affordable
Recognized as a safer choice for kids and pets
Unscented
Doesn’t contain shine booster
You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a cleaner that’s tough enough to tackle even the dirtiest floors. Quick Shine Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner is a budget-friendly option that dissolves dirt immediately upon contact—no soaking and waiting. It’s safe to use on all kinds of surfaces, including wood, tile, luxury vinyl, stone, and other common flooring surfaces, so this limits the number of cleaning products you’ll need to stock. It’s also a convenient ready-to-use formula that’s compatible with many spray mops, so your cleaning routine can be streamlined as well.
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
Type: Liquid | Dimensions: 11.7 x 5.9 x 3.3 inches | Weight: 4 pounds | Amount: 64 fluid ounces | Scent: Unscented
Best for Hardwood
Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner Refill
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Amazon
Recognized as a safer choice for kids and pets
Residue-free
Quick-drying
Some users say it leaves a tacky residue behind
Bona is well known for hardwood floor cleaners—and for good reason. This economy-sized bottle is filled with a grime-fighting formula that doesn't require any dilution. All you have to do is apply it directly to unwaxed, polyurethane-finished wood floors, then mop it up or use a soft microfiber cloth to hand-clean. The result is thoroughly cleaned and shining wood floors.
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
Type: Liquid | Dimensions: 11.88 x 7.49 x 4.37 inches | Weight: 8.73 pounds | Amount: 128 fluid ounces | Scent: Unscented
Best for Tile
Swiffer WetJet Starter Kit
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Amazon
Lightweight
Easy to attach and remove pads
Works on most hard floors
Different cleaning solutions available
Some parts feel flimsy
Need to apply pressure to tough stains
We’ve tested all kinds of tile cleaners in The Lab and at home, and our testers were undeniably impressed with the Swiffer WetJet Spray Mop, thanks to its simple, user-friendly design. There’s not much to figure out—you simply push a button to dispense a small stream of liquid and then run the lightweight mop across the floor. Our testers reported the mop cleaned both light and heavy stains and spills, and it was even capable of getting old, stuck-on bits of food off of the tile floor. For added convenience, when you’re done cleaning, simply toss the cleaning pad in the trash—there’s no need to wash any components.
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
Type: Mop | Dimensions: 18.9 x 6.02 x 4.53 inches | Weight: 3.23 pounds | Amount: 5 pads, 500 mL cleaning solution | Power Source: Manual
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The Spruce / Camryn Rabideau
Best for Laminate
Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner
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Amazon
Rinse-free formula
No dilution necessary
Works to repel dirt after cleaning
Intense scent
Laminate flooring shouldn’t be doused in cleaning solution, which is what makes this ready-to-use spray such a good option for the material. The rinse-free formula is not only safer for your floors, but it’s also more convenient for you, making it a win-win situation. Simply mist the product over your floors, then give them a quick wipe with a mop or a cleaning cloth. You’ll have thoroughly clean floors with zero sticky residue in no time.
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
Type: Spray | Dimensions: 10.5 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches | Weight: 1.13 ounces | Amount: 32 fluid ounces | Scent: Unscented
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Best Eco-Friendly
Aunt Fannie's Vinegar Floor Cleaner
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Amazon
Recognized as a safer choice for kids and pets
Minimal ingredients
Plant-based
Some find the vinegar scent overpowering
Requires dilution
If you are always on the hunt for safer, more eco-friendly cleaning products or if you’re in search of a gentle cleaner for more delicate types of flooring like linoleum, consider Aunt Fannie's Floor Cleaner Vinegar Wash. No matter your motivation for sourcing a greener cleaner, you’ll love this one, which is a vinegar wash concentrate. It uses the widely praised cleaning power of vinegar, plus essential oils and plant-based cleaning agents, to dissolve dirt and grime on all sealed floor surfaces.
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
Type: Liquid | Dimensions: 5.18 x 2.35 x 2.35 inches | Weight: 2 pounds | Amount: 32 fluid ounces | Scent: Eucalyptus
Best Steam Mop
Black+Decker 7-in-1 Steam-Mop With Steam-Glove Handheld Steamer
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Amazon
Can be used upright or as a handheld steamer
Steam glove accessory
Heats up quickly
No agitation tool
Expensive
If you want to explore the wonders of steam cleaning, opt for the BLACK+DECKER 7-in-1 Multipurpose Steam Cleaner. In the lab, our testers were blown away by this steam mop, mostly thanks to its versatility and performance. It comes with multiple attachments, and you can switch it from an upright to a handheld steamer in seconds. Plus, it heats up almost instantly, is easy to use, and tackles dirt and grime effortlessly.
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
Type: Steam cleaner | Dimensions: 25 x 12 x 7 inches | Weight: 6 pounds | Capacity: Not applicable | Power Source: Corded electric
Best Robot
ECOVACS Deebot N8 Pro+
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Amazon
Easy to set up
Powerful vacuum plus mop
Self-emptying base
Smart mapping
Brushes must be cleaned after mopping
Loud when emptying
In our lab and at home, our testers raved about the ECOVACS DEEBOT N8+ Robot Vacuum and Mop. They loved its powerful dual-action vacuuming and smart mopping capabilities. In our lab testing, it efficiently mopped up both coffee and syrup spills, leaving minimal residue in its wake—and with zero effort from the testers.
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
Type: Mop and vacuum | Dimensions: 19 x 19 x 15.5 inches | Weight: 28.1 pounds | Capacity: Not applicable | Power Source: Lithium ion battery
Best Mop
BOSHENG Mop and Bucket with Wringer Set
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Amazon
Microfiber pads perform well on a variety of surfaces and messes
Bucket wrings out head for you
Easy to navigate around obstacles
Vague instructions
Longer cleanup time
A mop may seem like a basic cleaning tool, but the right one can make a world of difference in your cleaning routine. The BOSHENG Mop is a prime example. The mop performs well on just about any type of floor surface, cleaning both dry and wet messes effortlessly. In our testing, it tackled fruit punch, barbecue sauce, damp soil, and dry paprika thoroughly and "without requiring too much effort." It also comes with a bucket that does the hardest work—wringing out the head—for you. Overall, it was such an efficient tool that our tests rated it a full five stars for effectiveness, maneuverability, and value.
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
Type: Mop | Dimensions: 15.4 x 9 x 7 inches | Weight: 3.89 pounds | Capacity: Not applicable | Power Source: Manual
Best for Grout
TECH 128 oz. Grout Cleaner
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Walmart
Good on all types of grout
Will not bleach colored grout
No chemical fumes
Fragrance-free
Requires a bit of scrubbing
May not be ideal for the heaviest floor dirt
Dirty grout can diminish the look of your floor but requires tons of elbow grease to sufficiently clean. But it doesn’t have to be a constant battle (even for those with kids and pets who constantly drag dirt inside!) if you have a dedicated grout cleaner like TECH. It’s extremely tough on dirt and expertly restores filthy grout to its former glory. Still, it’s 100 percent odorless and biodegradable, so you can feel good about using this product.
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
Type: Liquid | Dimensions: 11.8 x 6.3 x 6.3 inches | Weight: 9 pounds | Amount: 128 fluid ounces | Scent: Unscented
Our top pick for a floor cleaner is Rejuvenate All Floors Cleaner because it’s a ready-to-use formula that can tackle tough stains on a variety of surfaces. If you're looking to spend less, opt for Quick Shine Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner. This floor cleaner is recognized by the U.S. EPA Safer Choice program and is compatible with spray mops and most floor types, including wood, tile, and stone.
What to Look for in a Floor Cleaner
Floor Type
Start your search for floor cleaners by considering what type of flooring you have in your home. While many of the best floor cleaners are compatible with a wide range of floor types—such as vinyl, ceramic, and stone—this isn't true of all products. Make sure the product you purchase is safe to use on all of the flooring in your home. In addition, if you have floors that have particular cleaning requirements (like laminate floors that require minimal saturation), then you'll need to look for a compatible floor cleaning solution to avoid damaging your flooring.
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.
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How often should floors be mopped?
Floors in high-traffic areas should generally be mopped weekly. You can stretch the time between mopping sessions up to a month for lesser-used areas of the home, like a guest room. See our guide on how often to mop floors for more information.
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How do you clean a very dirty floor?
If your floor is exceptionally dirty, it’s a bit of a multi-step process, says Katie Gibson, a representative for Lemon and Pine Cleaning Company. “Vacuum the floor thoroughly and then fill a bucket with warm water and the appropriate cleaning solution,” Gibson explains. “Mop the floor and constantly rinse out your mop. At the end, if the water is extremely dirty, dump it out and fill the bucket again. Repeat this process until the water is clean.”
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What floor cleaners are safe for pets?
Many floor cleaning products are safe for pets when used according to the manufacturer's directions. It's worth noting that the ASPCA recommends letting floors dry before allowing pets to re-enter the room. Most floor cleaning formulas have low concentrations of harmful chemicals; however, no floor cleaner is pet-safe if it’s ingested in large quantities.
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.
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Why is my floor still dirty after I mop?
There are several reasons why floors may be dirty after mopping, but one of the most common is failing to vacuum or sweep before using a mop. Failing to do so can leave more dirt (including fine particles that are hard to see) on the floor's surface. The mop can't effectively lift dirt and other debris, so when the water evaporates from your mopping session, dirt is left behind. In addition, floor cleaning formulas are designed to attract dirt and oils. If you overly saturate floors with solution, rather than mopping it up as you clean, the solution left behind will dry into streaky areas that show the attracted dirt and oils.
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Are steam cleaners safe for hardwood floors?
Steam cleaners are very popular nowadays; however, steam cleaners aren’t suitable for cleaning every type of floor, says Alicia Johnson, cleaning expert and owner of Cleaning Green LLC. “Sealed hardwood floors are tough and can easily withstand the heat and moisture that comes from the head of a steam mop, but if your hardwood floors are unsealed, avoid using steam mops since the excessive heat and moisture from the mop can easily damage them.”
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.