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The 7 Best Floor Cleaners of 2024

Keep your floors shiny and clean with these top products

Rejuvenate All Floors Cleaner on a pink background

The Spruce / Lecia Landis

Whether it's cleaning spilled foods, wiping muddy footprints, or removing pet stains, keeping your floors clean makes your space look and feel so much better.

Such a thing could be said about any type of cleaning, but for our purposes here, we'll focus on the floors in your home. Are they made of hardwood, tile, vinyl, laminate, or something else entirely? In finding a floor cleaner that's really going to level up that surface, you want to make sure the cleaner you pick is compatible. A hardwood floor cleaner, for example, needs to be designed to not strip the finish and to dry quick, since hardwood shouldn't be exposed to excess moisture.

To bring you the right cleaner for your flooring, whatever it may be made of, we evaluated products from top brands such as Bona, Better Life, Rejuvenate, and Seventh Generation, based on the type of flooring they can be used on, and their ease of use, formula type, and overall value.

Warning

When trying out any new cleaner, we always recommend testing it in an inconspicuous area first to ensure it's really compatible with your floors. Additionally, always be sure to check your labels for more information on what surfaces a cleaner can and cannot be used on, as well as important safety guidelines for use and application. You should never mix cleaners, especially if they’re bleach-based. Mixing cleaners is incredibly hazardous.

Best Overall

Better Life Floor Cleaner

Better Life Naturally Dirt-Destroying Floor Cleaner

Amazon

The best floor cleaner needs to cut through grime and dirt that can collect even in the crevices of the floor. Better Life Floor Cleaner gets down into that deep dirt found on even the most intricate tile flooring, with the help of its plant-derived ingredients, specifically coconut and corn. Its formula also includes multiple essential oils, including peppermint, spearmint, orange, lemon, tangerine, and bergamot, so you're left with a clean and fresh scent that's very different from the more chemical-based scents of traditional cleaners.

Better Life Floor Cleaner works on bamboo floors, hardwood, marble, laminate, and vinyl, so this is quite a versatile product. It’s ready-to-use and does not need to be rinsed; all you need to do is squeeze it onto your floor, and wipe with a damp mop. Versatility and simple usage make this cleaner a clear winner in our eyes, but knowing the formula is free from parabens, synthetic fragrances, alcohol, dyes, and petroleum solvents gives it even more of a leg up.

Type: Liquid | Amount: 32 fluid ounces | Scent: Citrus, mint

Best Overall, Runner-Up

Rejuvenate All Floors Cleaner

Rejuvenate All Floors Cleaner

Amazon

For those that don’t want to clutter their cleaning cabinet with multiple products, a single, multi-purpose floor cleaner that can cover a multitude of surfaces may be just right. With its ability to clean all kinds of surfaces—tile, laminate, vinyl, hardwood and linoleum floors—Rejuvenate’s sheer versatility helped it earn its place on our list. (It was only edged out by Better Life since we're partial to its plant-based formula).

Like our best overall pick, no dilution or separate bucket is necessary. Rejuvenate can simply be sprayed on the floor and then wiped up with a microfiber mop. It's also pH-balanced and contains special boosters to remove waxy buildup and residue, which is a plus since other products can leave behind a residue.

Type: Liquid | Amount: 32 fluid ounces | Scent: Lemon

How often should a floor 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. For details on the best methods for mopping floors, take a peek at our guide on how often floors should be mopped.

Best Eco-Friendly

Seventh Generation Multi-Surface Cleaner Concentrate

Amazon Seventh Generation Multi-Surface Cleaner Concentrate, Lemon Chamomile Scent

Amazon

While this is more of an all-purpose cleaner, we think Seventh Generation Multi-Surface Cleaner Concentrate is great for cleaning floors and other surfaces within the home. This cleaner works well, thanks to its plant-based ingredients, including lemon peel, chamomile, and lemongrass leaf oils. Plus, you get treated to a lovely citrusy, floral scent when you clean.

Concentrates are perfect for those with limited storage space, as the bottle won't take up much room in a cabinet. When its mixed with water, this pick yields approximately 161 ounces of the brand's all-purpose cleaner, which equates to seven, 23-ounce bottles, too. This concentrate can be used for hard, non-porous surfaces, as well as oil-based and water-based painted wood.

Type: Liquid | Amount: 23.1 fluid ounces | Scent: Lemon chamomile

What's the best water temperature for diluting floor cleaner?

Consult the directions on your floor cleaner for specifics, but generally water that is warm to the touch is your best bet.

Best for Laminate

Black Diamond Stoneworks Laminate Floor Cleaner

Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner

Amazon

Laminate floors shouldn’t be saturated in cleaner, as doing so could cause the planks to swell. Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner comes in a spray bottle that allows you to expel the right amount of product to scrub your floor. This product does not require dilution or rinsing, so just spray what you need, mop it up, and go.

This biodegradable formula will clean engineered wood, laminate, and polyurethane-treated wood flooring. Featuring what it calls PS 3, a “triple-action poly shield," this cleaner won’t dry out or strip the finish of your floor. Just know that the scent may be strong for some.

Type: Liquid | Amount: 32 fluid ounces | Scent: Bamboo

Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner next to a cloth on a wood floor
The Spruce / Elizabeth Rago

Best for Hardwood

Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner Refill

Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner Refill

Amazon

Hardwood floors require special care and Bona specializes in this area, which is why we’ve selected this floor cleaner as our best hardwood floor cleaner. Thanks to its one-gallon packaging, Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner yields plenty of product for your cleaning needs. Requiring no dilution, the plant-based cleaner cuts through dirt and grime in a snap and contains no petroleum, formaldehyde, or ammonia. 

Simply spray your finished floor, then mop and buff. The manufacturer suggests using Bona's microfiber spray mop for best results—our editor can attest to how effective this process is. She uses the Bona microfiber mop (just not the spray mop version), along with a spray bottle version of this cleaner to clean her hardwood floors once a month. The process is seamless and doesn't lead to any sticky residue.

Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner is certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part of its Safer Choice initiative, as well, and is quick drying. In our experience, you just have to wait a few minutes after an application before walking on your floors again.

Type: Liquid | Amount: 128 fluid ounces | Scent: Unscented

Best Scented

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Multi-Surface Concentrate

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Multi-Surface Cleaner Concentrate

Amazon

As with other cleaners, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Every Day Multi-Surface Concentrate is not just for floors, but any surface that needs a good scrubbing. Safe to use on all non-porous surfaces, including tile and hardwood, you can use this on kitchen, bathroom, and other types of floors throughout your home. As this is a concentrate, it needs to be diluted in water to create a cleaning solution. For large jobs, such as mopping, the recommended ratio is one-quarter cup of concentrate to one gallon of warm water.

Cruelty-free and without phthalates, chlorine, or parabens, this plant-derived cleaner will please those who are a bit more eco-conscious. It's also available in a wide variety of scents. Mrs. Meyer’s does not currently offer unscented formulas, which is a downside for those who are sensitive to scents.

Type: Liquid | Amount: 32 fluid ounces | Scent: Basil, bluebell, geranium, honeysuckle, lavender, lemon verbena, peony, rosemary

Best Antibacterial

Lysol Multi-Surface Cleaner

Lysol Clean & Fresh Multi-Surface Cleaner

Amazon

As one of the go-to cleaning brands for decades, it's easy to reach for a Lysol product. Removing 99.9 percent of viruses and bacteria, including COVID-19 if used as directed, Lysol Clean & Fresh Multi-Surface Cleaner can be used on many hard, non-porous surfaces, yet it is not recommended to use on oiled, waxed, or unfinished floors.

Lysol provides several sets of instructions for this product’s usage, which are dependent on specific cleaning needs. For general floor mopping, you can dilute ¼-cup of cleaner into one gallon of warm water, and mop. If you think you need a more powerful round of disinfecting or sanitizing, a higher cleanser-to-water ratio or full-strength usage may be for you.

Just be sure to follow the recommended instructions carefully. While it is fragranced to smell like lemon and sunflower, some might not care for the scent since it can lean a bit more chemical-like.

Type: Liquid | Amount: 90 fluid ounces | Scent: Lemon, sunflower

Final Verdict

Better Life Floor Cleaner is our pick for the best overall floor cleaner because of its versatility. It can be used on several types of flooring surfaces, doesn’t require dilution, and has a plant-based formula. For cleaning hardwood floors, we recommend the Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner, as this brand is very reputable and knowledgable in the space, and the cleaner is easy to apply and use.

What to Look for in a Floor Cleaner

The Type of Floor the Cleaner Works With

Start your search for floor cleaners by considering which type of flooring you have in your home. While many of the best floor cleaners (like our best overall pick, the Better Life Floor Cleaner) are compatible with a wide range of floor types, 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 or hardwood floors that'll require minimal saturation), then make sure your chosen cleaner is designed to dry quickly and can be applied very carefully, either with a spray mop or spray bottle.

How to Apply the Floor Cleaner

Methods of application can vary among floor cleaners, with some products being ready-to-use and others requiring dilution in water, which will necessitate mixing the cleaner with water in a separate container or bucket. Sometimes, like with the Lysol Multi-Surface Cleaner, you can dilute based on your desired cleaning strength. Concentrated floor cleaners, like the Seventh Generation Cleaner Concentrate, can be a cost-effective choice, however you'll still need to mix them with water.

Depending on the type of cleaner you use, you can distribute the product throughout the floor by using a string or flat mop. Some cleaners also come in a spray bottle for easy and even application, or you can purchase one separately to use for cleaning your floors.

The Ingredients in the Cleaner's Formula

When looking for a floor cleaner, its ingredients can certainly impact how effective it is, as well as its eco-friendliness and its safety guidelines. If you're concerned about the ingredients and/or safety of certain products, you can look for those certified by external organizations, such as the Environment Protection Agency’s Safer Choice program, which gives special designations to products deemed to be safer for people and the planet.

As floor cleaners may have a heavy scent, if you are sensitive to fragrances, you can either search for one made with essential oils or an unscented formula. For our best hardwood floor cleaner, we give a thumbs up to Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner Refill. Bona’s unscented, plant-based cleaner cuts through dirt and grime and contains no petroleum, formaldehyde, or ammonia.

The Checkout Counter

If you're planning to clean your floors, these products might be helpful, too.

  1. Our favorite broom and dustpan set: From O-Cedar, this duo swept the competition when we tested 21 different brooms (pun intended). It features one of the few dustpans designed to be held in place by your foot.
  2. A set of microfiber cloths: From dusting to scrubbing, you'll find yourself constantly reaching for a microfiber cloth when cleaning. They're great for soaking up spills, wiping up countertops, and getting your baseboards to shine.
  3. A cleaning caddy: You're more likely to use your cleaning supplies when they're easy to store and carry. A cleaning caddy, like this one from Casabella, allows you to haul bottles, sponges, and so much more from room to room.

One More Thing

A good mopping technique is to begin at one end of the room and finish at the exit. Areas that may collect extra dirt, such as in front of sinks and kitchen appliances, may need more than one go.

Susan Stoeckl, maintenance specialist with AHF Products (Armstrong Flooring) recommends changing the cleaning solution and mop head as needed during your cleaning session. Dirty mops and cleaning solution can spread grime and germs across your floor, if your area is especially soiled. Most cleansers don’t have to be rinsed away. Rinsing your floor can be effective if the floor is left with streaks, or if there is a buildup of existing dirt or cleaner.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Katy Kostakis, a freelance writer for The Spruce with a focus in cleaning. In addition to her personal experience using a number of cleaning products, to compile this list, she read multiple third-party reviews left by consumers and researched dozens of products to find the best options for your home. She rated the products on their ease of use, formula type, and overall value, as well as their versatility.

Our Experts:

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Dangers of Mixing Bleach with CleanersWashington State Department of Health.