The 8 Best Hardwood Floor Cleaners of 2020

Bona is the bonafide favorite of countless hardwood floor owners. With nearly 100 years in the business, they’re a trusted name when it comes to products that work well for hardwood floors. This water-based cleaner is simple and effective. You simply spray it on and mop up the dust, dirt and grime. No need to rinse. It’s Greenguard Gold certified too, meaning it’s safe to be used in homes with kids and pets.

Customers rave about this product and marvel over how good it makes their floors look. No streaks, no residue, just your floor’s natural beauty shining through.

No mop water needed here, with this hardwood floor cleaner from Bruce, maker of hardwood floors. You just spray it on, then mop it up. There’s no need for rinsing, and it won’t leave any residue. It works on both hardwood and laminate floors, but it's not recommended for waxed-finish floors. 

Customers say it works well and gets smudge spots out without having to repeatedly go over the floors. Reviewers remark on the fact that it leaves floors shiny, clean and is a good value. “I’ve cleaned houses for 10 years and have never used a product that performs and shines as well as this one,” one wrote.

While this floor cleaner from Zep is touted as a commercial product, plenty of customers use it in their own home to remove, spots, stains and scuff marks. It can be used on hardwood and laminate floors as well as baseboards, cabinet doors and crown molding. It’s not, however, recommended for use on oil-finished wood floors or floors that require waxing.

To use, you simply spray it and mop it. It works especially well in spray mops, such as a Swiffer. Customers say it smells good, makes floors bright and shiny and is a good value.

Like other products from Method, this hardwood floor cleaner is all about keeping you and your family safe while doing the job at hand. It’s plant-based and biodegradable, and the bottle is made from 100 percent recycled plastic. So it’s not only good for your wood, but good for the environment too. You simply squirt it on your floors and mop, no need to rinse. It can be used on sealed hardwood and laminate floors.

Customers say the rich, nutty almond scent is light and delicious, and that the cleaner doesn’t leave any kind of film or stickiness behind — just beautiful clean floors.

While some cleaners smell harsh and institutional, this everyday hardwood floor cleaner from Orange Glo has a nice citrusy scent. It will leave your home smelling sunshiny fresh, even on the gloomiest of days.

It’s easy to use (just spray and mop), and it can be used daily. It dries fast without leaving streaks, and it can also be used on wood furniture, cabinets, paneling and laminate floors. Customers say it’s a great everyday cleaner that works and smells great. Win, win. For an extra boost of shine, Orange Glo also makes a polish for hardwood floors.

When you have little ones crawling around on their hands and knees and playing all over your hardwood floors, you want to make sure the cleaning products you use are completely safe. This one from Babyganics is free from all of the scary stuff. That means no parabens, sulfates, phthalates, ammonia, bleach, phosphates, artificial fragrances or dyes, just gentle, plant-based ingredients that still work well and get your floors clean.

Not only safe for sealed hardwood floors, this cleaner can be used on tile, vinyl, even carpet. The only place you can’t use it is on any unsealed wood; the rest of your home’s floors are fair game. To use, just add it to water (just 1 ounces per half gallon of water) and mop. Most customers love this product and the fact that it doesn’t leave behind a scent. Some, however, have reported that it leaves a sticky residue, but others say that’s due to using too much of the product and that can be avoided by properly diluting it.

For more than 100 years, people have been using Murphy Oil Soap to clean wood floors for one simple reason: It works. It’s great for hardwood floors in particular, but can also be used on almost any other surface from tile and linoleum to furniture — anything but unsealed or unfinished wood.

Some complain that it may leave a build up and has an oily consistency, but most loyal customers like the fresh smell (“like fresh fruit with lots of vitamin,” one reviewer wrote) and the fact that it can clean pretty much anything.

When you want to clean a large area quickly, Pledge FloorCare Wood Squirt & Mop gets high marks for stepping up to the job. Unlike sprays or those you have to dilute, you just squirt it directly on the floor, then mop up the dirt and grime. The familiar scent of Pledge lemon is left behind.

Customers say it works great, and some use it to do double duty on their furniture as well. Some, however, report that it can be hard to find if you want to pick it up while you’re out at the grocery or another store.