The 12 best hardwood floor cleaners of 2024, per expert testing

There’s nothing quite like a solid, brushed hardwood floor. It gives your home a timeless look and, especially now, comes in different tone varieties to match your aesthetic.

They’re all home decor magazine-chic and all until — you have to clean them. And cleaning hardwood is no easy feat. You might be wondering what house cleaning products work the best on hardwood floors. Wipes? Mops? Steamers? Vacuum cleaners?

Luckily, we turned to the pros to provide streamlined (or should we say clean-lined) answers to everything there is to know about cleaning hardwood floors. Jump straight to our interview with Brian Sansoni, senior vice president at the American Cleaning Institute, for answers to all your questions.

If you’re reading to start shopping, read on for the Post Shopping team’s favorite wood cleaning products, and while you’re at it, check out our recommendations on the best places to buy rugs online and our review of the top vacuum cleaners.

Best overall: Swiffer WetJet Hardwood and Floor Spray Mop Cleaner Starter Kit

I’m a firm believe that everyone should have a Swiffer Wet Jet in their house. While some steer away from using mops, the Swiffer is specifically designed for effective use on all finished wood floors — and I can tell you it works. The absorptive strip grips dirt and grime, without leaving a speck behind. If you’re just touching up certain areas, a damp cloth and cleaner works fine. But, for handling a larger spill, a bigger mop like this one does come in handy. This starter kit includes a WetJet Spray Mop, six heavy-duty mop pad refills, four original mod pad refills, one bottle of cleaning solution, and four batteries.

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Best wipes: Pledge Wood Floor Cleaner Liquid, Shines Hardwood

I live in a household with a dog and a baby, so having wipes on hand for emergencies is essential. My go-to brand is Pledge, mostly because they come in convenient little packs to scatter around the house. But, I also love that this cleaning formula leaves behind a fresh-smelling lemon scent that can mask just about any unwanted odor. I’ve also found that these wipes leave a shine on floors without the waxy buildup associated with some thicket cleaners. Your home will look and smell brand new again.

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Best broom: kelamayi Upgrade Broom and Dustpan Set

There are plenty of brooms to choose from on the internet, but this Amazon option has every detail you can think of — an optional extension pole so you can tailor the height to your needs, a built-in scraper and comb for easy broom cleaning, and a clip-on feature to make the broom and dustpan stand upright and save space. I’ve used this broom on my hardwood floors for years, and it’s helped up perfectly. It may not be the best tool for sticky or wet messes, but dust stands no chance against the tough bristles on this compact, durable broom.

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Best natural: Weiman Hardwood Floor Cleaner

Another great choice for busy households — Weiman’s hardwood cleaner, which is expert-formulated with plant-based ingredients that are safe for pets and children to walk on (or crawl on) once dried. I’ve use this brand for heavier messes, and noticed that it quickly eliminates sticky grime with just a few scrubs and leaves behind a slight shine that lasts a long time (I’m talking days after a cleaning session). While the scent is described as a “fresh citrus,” I would say it veers on the milder side, which is ideal for those who are averse to strong smells. It’s effective, budget-friendly, and all-natural.

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Best for bugs: Murphy Concentrated Wood Cleaner

I was introduced to this wood cleaner back in college when my tiny studio apartment became a playground for pests of all kinds during the warm, summer months. Murphy’s concentrated wood cleaning solution not only brings life back into dry, cracking floors, but the citronella oil also works as a repellent to various insects — including spiders and mosquitos. Keep in mind that the smell is on the stronger side, and not everyone loves it. However, this dual-functioning agent is easy to use (a little goes a long way), making it a great staple to have around the house.

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Best smelling: Method Hardwood Floor Cleaner

I’ve always been a fan of Method’s sustainable cleaning products, and its Hardwood Floor Cleaner does not disappoint. I love that the bottle is refillable and made with 100% recycled plastic, in addition to being certified cruelty-free. The solution seems to repel dust and leaves behind very few streaks. While most wood cleaners have a citrus scent, this one is formulated with a unique, nutty, almond scent. After using this cleaner, guests will think you just took a tray of cookies out of the oven — I promise it smells that good. I only wish the smell lasted longer.

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More Post Picks

Best heavy-duty: Bissell CrossWave Floor Cleaner

For a top hardwood floor cleaning machine, look no further than the Bissell CrossWave Floor Cleaner. With more than 23,000 rave reviews on Amazon, it’ll vacuum and wash simultaneously, thanks to its dual-action multi-surface brush roll. Not only that, but it’s versatile to use on sealed wood floors, tile, laminate, linoleum, rubber floor mats, pressed wood floors and even area rugs. This product also boasts two-tank technology to ensure dirty water and dry debris are separate from clean water and formula.

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Best customer reviews: Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner

Clad with more than 24,000 positive reviews, the Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner is one of the most affordable hardwood cleaners that doesn’t compromise on quality. Specifically, it features a water-based cleaning formula that dries quickly, is residue-free and meets the U.S. EPA product standards for people, pets and the planet.

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Best for laminate: Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner

The Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner helps render your hardwood floor to be streak-free with its no-rinse hypoallergenic formula. What’s more, it works on all types of engineered flooring (like wood and laminate) and comes in a variety of size options, from one quart ($15) to four gallons ($110).

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Best for value: Aunt Fannie’s Hardwood Floor Cleaner

If you’re desiring that fresh lemon-scent to make your home smell like a newly minted oasis, then you’re in luck with Aunt Fannie’s Hardwood Floor Cleaner. Namely, this vinegar-free concentrate is plant-based, doesn’t have that chemical-y nature about it and is USA-made. Hello, sustainable cleaning product. Aside from hardwood, it’s also safe to use on solid, engineered, bamboo, manufactured and laminated flooring.

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Best for pets: Hoover Paws & Claws Hard Surface Floor Cleaner

Got pets? The Hoover Paws & Claws — we love the name, BTW — Hard Surface Floor Cleaner is what we recommend, much ado to its enzymatic cleaning ingredients that help break down pet messes and odors to leave your home as fresh as can be. This product is safe for use on hardwood floors, as well as vinyl, ceramic tile, laminate floors and area rugs. Using globally sourced ingredients, it’s also USA-made and safe to use around children and pets. In short, it’s a household staple.

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Best for restoring: Rejuvenate Professional Wood Floor Restorer & Polish

The Rejuvenate Professional Wood Floor Restorer & Polish has nearly 8,000 positive reviews on Amazon and is ideal for filling in scratches, restoring your hardwood to a glossy shine and protecting your coveted flooring. With a pour-on and mop design, you’ll have a years-lasting finish that is well worth the less-than-$30 price tag, too.

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Best affordable heavy-duty: Hoover FloorMate Deluxe Hard Floor Cleaner Machine

To keep on deck with you at all times, the Hoover FloorMate Deluxe Hard Floor Cleaner Machine receives our stamp of approval. Apt for hardwood, laminate, vinyl and tile flooring, its SpinScrub brushes will gently and safely scrub with its 120-volt power. Like the Bissell model, it also features two-tank technology and even a wash-dry mode, where its Selection Wash mode uses brushes to clean while suctioning up excess water, while its Dry Mode stops brushes from suctioning off the excess water and improves drying time.

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Tips for cleaning hardwood floors, according to an expert

“There are so many types of flooring material, including wood, vinyl, stone and ceramic tile,” Brian Sansoni, senior vice president at the American Cleaning Institute, told the New York Post. “The best way to determine how to clean your floors is to start by checking the information that comes from the flooring manufacturer.” Often, they will recommend a specific product. If not, read cleaning product labels carefully to match their recommendations with your type of flooring.

Ahead, Sansoni lists general guidelines to keep in mind as you embark on cleaning hardwood floors:

• Clean floors regularly: Soil leftover time is harder to remove.
• Make a clean sweep: Vacuum or sweep floors first to remove dirt, dust and crumbs. This helps prevent scratches. Loosen soils. When washing floors, the cleaning solution should remain on the floor just long enough to loosen the soil.
• Don’t use abrasive pads or cleansers that can scratch the floor: Always read and follow product label instructions.
• Buff it up: If you’re applying wax or polish, be sure the floor is clean and thoroughly dry first.

What types of mops can I use to clean hardwood floors?

Aside from liquid solutions, there are considerations to keep in mind when looking for a trusty mop to do the job with, according to Sansoni:

• String Mop (cotton or microfiber): This conventional mop works on most surfaces and is good at absorbing liquid. The top can often be laundered and reused.
• Flat Mop: These mops usually last longer than a string mop but can be more difficult to clean after use.
• Disposable Pad Mop: This is a lightweight mop that does not require cleaning, but each mop pad is single-use. It can be dry or wet.

“As a general rule, the hardwood flooring industry does not recommend using steam mops on wood floors of any type,” Sansoni adds. “The manufacturers have recommended cleaning practices and solutions, and using other products and machines will void your warranty.” As always, contact the manufacturer of your flooring to get their cleaning recommendations.

Sure, your best robot vacuum or tried-and-true cordless (read: our full Dyson review) can do the job just fine, but there are a few key elements to keep in mind when getting around to cleaning your hardwood floors.

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