The 10 Best Floor Cleaners of 2025, Tested and Approved

After years of testing floor cleaners both at home and in The Lab, we know that finding the right product is key to achieving professional-level cleaning. The best floor cleaners should easily tackle stubborn stains, leave no streaks or residue, and feature a non-abrasive formula that’s simple to use with minimal effort. Whether you’re cleaning tile, hardwood, or laminate, a top-tier floor cleaner should restore the shine without being too harsh.

To make things easier for you, we’ve tested 19 different sprays and concentrates over 16 hours in the lab. We applied various stains, such as tomato paste, red crayon, dirt, and dark soda, to our test floors and let them sit for an hour. After assessing the results, we handpicked our top 10 favorites.

We considered important factors like floor compatibility, ease of use, formula type, finish, and overall value. We also focused on whether any residue, stickiness, or streaks were left behind after cleaning.

Editor’s Note: This review was last updated in January 2025 to include fresh product recommendations for cleaner floors.

Plant-Based Daily Care for Hardwood and More

1. Quick Shine Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner

Quick Shine Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner topped our tests for its ease of use and effectiveness. The mist bottle provides even application without waste, and the cleaner removes tough stains, like tomato paste, with minimal effort. It dries quickly and leaves no residue behind, though some faint grout stains remained after a single use. The citrus scent is subtle, making it a great option for those sensitive to stronger smells. Plus, it’s U.S. EPA Safer Choice certified, free from harsh ingredients, and safe for kids and pets.

Effortless Cleaning for Shine and Protection

2. Bona Hardwood Floor Premium Spray Mop

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What We Like

• Large cleaning head to clean faster
• Reusable microfiber pad
• Refillable cleaner cartridge

What We Don’t Like

• Mop pole may be too long for some users

Cleaning becomes a breeze with Bona’s all-in-one microfiber spray mop system. Its oversized head allows for quick coverage, while the washable, reusable microfiber pad ensures an eco-friendly clean. The onboard cleaner cartridge is refillable with Bona formulas, reducing waste.

In our tests, the mop dispensed a fine, even spray across the floor. The long, rectangular head easily maneuvers into narrow spaces, and the soft, flexible corners flip up when cleaning along walls and baseboards, ensuring every speck is caught.

Bona offers deep-cleaning and dusting pads for added versatility. While the pole includes a second grip for easier scrubbing, it may be too long for shorter users and could fall over when stored unless hung from a hook.

Disinfect and Freshen with Lemon Breeze Scent

3. Lysol Multi-Surface Cleaner Spray

For an affordable, effective cleaner, Lysol Multi-Surface Cleaner is a great choice at under $5 per bottle. It kills 99.9% of germs, including COVID-19, and works well on dirt, grime, and stains like dark soda and red crayon. However, tougher stains, like tomato spills, may require extra effort. While suitable for many surfaces, avoid using it on oiled or unfinished floors. Dilute the product for general cleaning (¼ cup per gallon of water), and enjoy the fresh lemon and sunflower scent. Just be cautious around children and pets due to its strength.

Safe and Effective for Hardwood and Surfaces

4. Better Life Natural Floor Cleaner

For cleaning floor tiles, the Better Life Floor Cleaner is an excellent choice. Ideal for large surface areas, it can be applied directly onto the floor or used with a mop. During testing, we found that a little product goes a long way, providing a powerful clean when used with a damp mop.

For tougher messes, we recommend applying it directly to the floor and allowing it to soak for a couple of minutes before wiping. This versatile cleaner works on hardwood, tile, marble, laminate, vinyl, and more. It dries quickly and doesn’t require rinsing, but using too much can leave a sticky residue. We appreciated the fresh Citrus Mint scent left behind after cleaning. Plus, it’s made without harmful chemicals like petroleum solvents, chlorine, bleach, or sulfates.

Easy-to-Use Solution for Sparkling Floors

5. Black Diamond Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner

Our top choice for laminate floors is the Black Diamond Floor Cleaner, known for its excellent reputation. During our tests, we found it particularly effective at removing dirt and soda stains with minimal scrubbing required—whether on tile or wood surfaces. However, it struggled to remove crayon marks, even with extensive scrubbing and repeated application.

This water-based cleaner, made with gentle ingredients, is ideal for households with kids and pets. We also appreciate its convenient spray bottle design, which ensures even application and prevents waste. The scent is subtle, fresh, and clean, offering a pleasant alternative to the harsh chemical smells of other cleaners. Best used with a microfiber cloth or mop, we observed only a slight residue left behind after cleaning.

Convenient All-in-One Mopping System for Hardwood Floors

6. Swiffer WetJet Wood Mop Kit

Swiffer’s Good Housekeeping Seal-holding WetJet Wood Floor Mop is a battery-operated system that delivers a wood-safe cleaning solution at the press of a button. It features disposable, absorbent pads with a scrubby strip that effectively trap dirt and grime, ensuring it stays in the pad and doesn’t get redeposited.

In our tests, it scored perfectly for its ability to dispense liquid effortlessly onto hardwood floors. The convenience of disposable pads means no dirty mop to store or wash.

The mop’s built-in lights make it easy to clean under furniture, and the cleaner is safe for wood floors, drying quickly without streaks or residue. However, the cleaner bottle is not refillable and must be replaced over time.

Gentle, Streak-Free Cleaning for Your Floors

7. Bona Stone & Laminate Floor Cleaner

The Bona Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner Spray is a versatile, scent-free solution for various floor types. With two spray options, it easily handled stains like crayon, soda, and dirt during testing, leaving no residue. Floors dried quickly (under two minutes), and its pH-neutral formula ensures safety and protection from discoloration. Perfect for high-traffic areas!

Streak-Free Cleaning Solution for Hardwood Floors

8. Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner Spray

Hardwood floors require special care, and Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner stands out as our top pick for the job. In our testing, stains were easy to remove, with the red crayon being the most stubborn. Despite this, Bona outperformed other cleaners in our trials. The spray bottle design made application simple, and wiping up stains was smooth and hassle-free.

We also appreciate Bona’s eco-friendly approach. The spray bottle is made with 30% post-consumer recycled materials, and the cleaner is formulated with plant-based ingredients. It’s scent-free, making it an excellent choice for those with sensitivities. This water-based cleaner delivers results comparable to harsher, chemical-filled options without leaving behind residue, streaks, or strong odors. It’s a safe, effective, and environmentally friendly choice for maintaining hardwood floors.

Summer Citrus Scent for Sparkling, Fresh Floors

9. Mr. Clean Multi-Surface Cleaner

For a deep, effective clean, the Mr. Clean Summer Citrus Scent Antibacterial Multi-Surface Cleaner delivers impressive results. It removed stains with ease on tile, except for tomato paste, which required extra solution and effort. On wood, it tackled crayon smudges effectively, leaving surfaces stick-free, streak-free, and fresh-smelling after drying.

While the cleaner works well, the citrus scent can be overpowering during use, though it doesn’t linger afterward. Be sure to follow the bottle’s directions carefully, as dilution may be necessary for optimal results.

Powerful Cleaning with a Classic Pine Scent

10. Pine-Sol All Purpose Multi-Surface Cleaner

Pine-Sol All Purpose Multi-Surface Cleaner is an excellent choice for those seeking a concentrated cleaner that offers great value. With just ¼ cup of solution per gallon of water, a little goes a long way. This powerful disinfectant kills 99.9% of viruses, including COVID-19. During testing, we found it cleaned stains with ease, outperforming many other cleaners with less effort and leaving no residue behind. However, it’s important to note that this cleaner is not suitable for unfinished, unsealed, unpainted, waxed, oiled, or worn flooring.

Restore Shine and Clean Every Surface

11. Rejuvenate High Performance All-Floors Cleaner

For super sparkly floors, Rejuvenate All Floors Cleaner features shine booster technology. Like other cleaners on this list, it easily removed most stains, though red crayon required extra sprays and some stains remained. Allowing the solution to soak for a few minutes may help with tougher stains. The cleaner left no residue behind and dried within seconds. The premixed formula made cleaning easier, and the bottle was comfortable to hold with a smooth trigger action. While the spray nozzle only had one setting, it covered a large area. The cleaner has a slight industrial scent, similar to Windex or 409, but it dissipated quickly.

Powerful, Natural Cleaning Solution

12. Seventh Generation Lemongrass Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner

If you’re seeking an eco-friendly floor cleaner, the Seventh Generation Multi-Surface Cleaner Concentrate is our top choice. It effectively removed three out of four stains with no residue left behind. Since it’s a concentrated formula, we mixed three ounces of concentrate with 20 ounces of water in a spray bottle. We found that spraying the dirt spot five to six times and letting the solution soak for 10 seconds helped achieve a clean, streak-free floor and removed most stains. The fresh, floral scent was a pleasant change from the industrial smells of other cleaners. There are also multiple fragrance options, including Lemon and Morning Meadow for a soft perfumed finish, or Free & Clear for those with sensitivities.

How we test hardwood floor cleaners

To test hardwood floor cleaners, we assess their ability to tackle a sticky, dried-on gelatin mixture applied precisely to hardwood planks and their effectiveness in removing scuff marks made with a rubber shoe heel. We also evaluate ease of application and drying time.

The best cleaners are those specifically formulated for hard, surface-finished, or polyurethane-treated floors. These products are designed to dissolve dirt and grime without damaging the floor’s coating or dulling its shine.

In the Espy Reviews Cleaning Lab, we regularly test floor cleaning essentials like vacuum cleaners, mops, and robot vacuums. In our initial tests, we evaluated 24 wood floor cleaners using a consistent method, cleaning 216 stains and scuff marks from hardwood panels. We measured how well each product cleaned after an equal number of passes and the number of passes required to completely remove scuffs and stains. Additionally, we reviewed product labels for proper safety and precautionary information.

What to Look for When Shopping for the Best Hardwood Floor Cleaner

✔️ Type: Hardwood floor cleaners come in various forms, including sprays, concentrated liquids, and spray mops. In our Cleaning Lab tests, all wood floor cleaners removed at least some stains and scuffs, regardless of how they were dispensed. Sprays and spray mops stood out for convenience and topped our performance and ease-of-use evaluations, as they require no diluting and apply the cleaner directly to the floor.

✔️ Versatility: Some hardwood floor cleaners, like our best value pick—Murphy Oil Soap—also work as wood furniture cleaners. This makes them ideal for homes with an abundance of wood furniture, woodwork, and hardwood floors.

✔️ Scent: Since these cleaners are often used throughout the home, pick one with a fragrance you enjoy, as the scent will linger in your living spaces.

How to Keep Hardwood Floors Clean and Shiny

The best way to keep hardwood floors vibrant is by leaving your shoes at the door to reduce dirt and debris, vacuuming regularly with a straight suction vacuum (or with the rotating brush turned off to prevent scratches), promptly cleaning up spills, and keeping your pets’ nails trimmed to avoid scratches. When cleaning, use a light application of a recommended hardwood floor cleaner, working in small 3-foot sections to prevent overwetting. Ensure each section dries thoroughly before moving on, as excess moisture can damage the wood. For routine maintenance, clean in the direction of the planks, and for deeper cleaning, work both along and across the planks to remove dirt from crevices. Only damp-clean, when necessary, as over-cleaning can do more harm than good.

What should you not use to clean a wood floor?

You may have heard that vinegar is a good cleaner for hardwood floors, but we don’t recommend it. While vinegar may clean the surface, its acidity can dull the finish over time. Similarly, steam mops should never be used on hardwood floors, even if they’re sealed. The excessive water and humidity from steam can penetrate the wood, causing warping and damage. Solid wood flooring is particularly sensitive to humidity, water, and extreme temperature changes.

To protect your floors, also avoid abrasive cleaners, waxes, oils, furniture sprays, and products containing ammonia, as these can harm the finish and compromise the integrity of the wood.

About floor cleaners

With many options for floor cleaners available, consider which features are most important to you before making a purchase. Always review warranties and return policies to ensure a satisfactory buying experience.