9 Best Cleaners to Bring Your Hardwood Floors Back to Life

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We updated this article in January 2023 to add a newly tested hardwood cleaner from Bona, a vacuum from Miele and a vacuum mop from ILIFE. We ensured all picks tested and vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab were available, in stock and correctly priced.

While there's nothing more beautiful than newly refinished hardwood, bring on the traffic, kids and pets and those pristine floors can look worn in no time. Fortunately, cleaning and caring for a wood floor is easier than you think. And with today's durable finishes and sealants, hardwood floors are pretty easy to clean. Regular vacuuming with a vacuum cleaner designed for hardwood floors is the best thing you can do to remove the fine, gritty, abrasive dust that can scratch the finish. And when wet cleaning is needed, it's important to use products, appliances and techniques that are safe for wood to protect the finish so it continues to resist wear and tear.

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, we regularly test all kinds of cleaning products for all types of flooring surfaces from carpet stain removers to the best mops, and wood floor cleaners are certainly an important part of the mix. When we test these cleaners, we evaluate how well they remove a sticky, dried-on gelatin mixture we precisely paint onto hardwood planks, how quickly and completely they remove the scuff marks we make with a rubber shoe heel and the ease of application and drying time. We’ve found that the best cleaners are those specifically formulated for use on hard, surface-finished or polyurethane-treated floors. These cleaners have ingredients to dissolve dirt and grime without damaging the coating or dulling the shine.

Our top picks:

Note: None of the cleaners or appliances we list here are recommended for floors treated with wax or other penetrating finishes.

After reading more details about our top wood floor cleaner picks, you'll find answers to your most pressing wood floor cleaning questions as well as a detailed walkthrough of how we test floor cleaners.

Hardwood Floor Cleaner Spray

Bona has a top-tier reputation when it comes to cleaning wood floors. It began as (and still is) a professional wood floor refinishing company, so they know how to safely clean wood. And in our testing, Bona's Hardwood Floor Cleaner cut through our sticky test soil and erased shoe scuffs faster than all the other products we tested. All you have to do is lightly mist a 3-foot square section of floor at a time and go over the area with a microfiber pad mop. Bona's formula evaporates quickly, so there's no need for extra dry buffing before you move on to clean the next section of the floor.

Oil Soap Original Wood Cleaner

Murphy’s Oil Soap is a time-tested wood cleaner that's been around for generations, and because it’s concentrated, it will last a long time, making it a great value. In our tests, this wood cleaner did a great job erasing scuff marks with just a few swipes. It also was impressive in removing sticky soil, though it did take a little more scrubbing to completely remove the residue. Murphy's needs to be diluted in water, so just be sure you use it with a well-wrung cloth or mop to keep from over-wetting the wood. And it's not just for wood floors. It can also clean wood cabinets, furniture and more.

Hardwood Floor Premium Spray Mop

Cleaning is a whole lot easier with Bona's all-in-one microfiber spray mop system. It has an oversized head to cover more ground quickly and it cleans floors with a washable, reusable microfiber pad. Its onboard cleaner cartridge is refillable with Bona formulas for less waste. In our tests, we found the mop dispenses a wide, fine spray evenly onto the floor. The long rectangular head maneuvers easily into narrow spaces, and the corners on each side are soft and flexible, so they flip up when you go along walls and baseboards to catch every speck. Bona offers deep-cleaning and even dusting pads that can also be used with this mop. While the pole has a second grip section to make scrubbing easier, it may be a little long for short users and may fall over in storage if not hung from a hook.

W100 Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner

This new category of cleaning appliance is taking the floor care industry by storm. Vacuum mops suck up dry debris and wet chunky messes, like spilled soup or cereal, and wash floors, too. In our recent test of 11 models, this one from ILIFE was the highest scorer in our performance tests. Because the suction on the W100 was so powerful, it was able to pick up water that wasn't in its direct path, making us comfortable recommending it for use on wood floors.

After cleaning with the ILIFE W100, we found cleaning the device to be simpler than on many of the others we tested because of how thoroughly the self-clean cycle removed debris from the brush roll and vacuum nozzle. A light wiping of the docking station and a quick rinse of the dirty water tank and filter were the only clean-up steps needed. An LED screen keeps you informed of everything that is going on with your device like battery power, cleaning mode and water tank levels, and voice alerts can inform you of the same.

Hard-Floor Cleaning Machine Formulation

If you already own or are in the market for one of the new vacuum mops, like our ILIFE pick, you'll need a separate cleaning formula to use in it. Most machine brands offer their own multi-purpose formulas designed to clean a variety of floor surfaces. But when it comes to cleaning wood floors, we like the idea of using a product specifically made for wood, so we were pleased when Bona launched its Hardwood Floor Cleaner Machine Formulation. When we put it to the test in our machines, we found it cleaned well, dried quickly, removed marks and left our floors streak-free. And the consumers on our test panel agreed, so much so that it earned a spot in our 2022 Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning & Organizing Awards. While Bona claims it's safe to use in most brands of vacuum mop, we recommend checking with your mop's manufacturer that using another brand of cleaner won't void your appliance's warranty.

Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner

The trigger style of Black Diamond's Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner made it easy to apply, and its clear directions made it one of our top-scoring products for ease of use. Plus, it can be used on finished hardwood and laminate floors. And because it’s in a spray bottle, spot cleaning is as easy as a spritz and a wipe, especially on scuff marks — it took only a few passes to remove them in our tests. Though you can certainly use Black Diamond with a mop to clean an entire floor, zapping spots and stains when you see them helps extend the time between deep cleanings and exposes your wood and laminate floors to less moisture overall. While the product now claims that its polymer ingredient helps repel future spots and stains, we did not test that attribute.

WetJet Wood Starter Kit

Swiffer's Good Housekeeping Seal-holding battery-operated WetJet Wood mop dispenses a wood-safe cleaning solution onto the floor at the press of a button. It uses disposable, absorbent textured pads with a scrubby strip to attack dirt and grime and keep it trapped in the pad rather than redepositing it back on your floors. In our tests, it received a perfect score for how easy it was to dispense onto our hardwood floor test panels. And, because the pads are disposable, there's no dirty, germy mop to store or pads to wash. Lights on the mop head make it easy to navigate under furniture, too. We reviewed test data supporting that the liquid cleaner is safe to use on wood, and in our tests, the floor dried quickly after mopping and without streaks or residue. Like the pads, however, the cleaner bottle is not refillable and will eventually need replacing.

Hardwood Concentrated Floor Cleaner

Whether you prefer cleaning your floors using a traditional mop and bucket or a newer spray mop, Libman's Freedom hardwood floor cleaning formula can do both. It's made to be mixed with water for use either in your own bucket or with Libman’s Freedom Dispensing Microfiber Mop. In our tests, it did a very good job of quickly dissolving our sticky soil and scuff marks, and because it can be diluted, a little goes a long way.

The bottle top has a handle for easy carrying and a built-in cup for mess-free measuring. Simply squeeze the bottle to fill the measuring cap with the recommended dose of cleaner and pour it directly into a bucket or the Freedom Mop canister. One little bottle makes 4 gallons of cleaner, and this innovative package prevents spills and eliminates the need for a separate measuring cup.

PowerPlus Hardwood Floor Deep Cleaner Spray

True to form, we're recommending another impressive product from the best-performing wood floor cleaner brand in our tests, Bona. This time it's the PowerPlus Deep Cleaner Spray designed for wood floors that haven't been wet cleaned in a while or are in need of deeper cleaning. This heavy-duty formula performed so well during testing that it earned an award in Good Housekeeping's 2021 Cleaning Awards. One of our Cleaning Lab experts who used it raved afterward, "My wood floors were so clean and shiny after using it that they looked like they had been refinished!"

Certified by the EPA's Safer Choice program, its oxygenated, fast-drying formula penetrates grime and heavy build-up. Plus, when it's time to re-purchase, you can buy this formula in a 128 oz. size to refill the spray bottle and reduce your plastic waste.

Omni-Glide Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Fluffy rollers are the newest way for vacuum cleaners to nab fine dust and hair from wood floors without damaging them. You'll find them as attachments to many vacuum cleaners or as a second roller in the floor nozzle alongside the more traditional type of brush. This Dyson Omni-Glide is the first stick vacuum we've seen with two soft rollers designed just for use on hard floors.

One of our Cleaning Lab experts tested this Dyson stick vacuum at home and said, "It's amazing for wood floors. It cleans in any direction and is just the perfect size for stair treads and the edges of the room around area rugs." The soft rollers pick up large debris and fine particles with ease, all without scratching wood floors. Plus, it's lightweight, can be converted to a handheld vacuum, includes a combination crevice tool/brush attachment and is rechargeable. The only hiccup is that it doesn't stand up on its own, but there is a wall-mountable charging bracket.

Boost CX1 Parquet Canister Vacuum

With its sleek, compact design, adjustable suction, maneuverability, portability and flexible hose, this canister vacuum impressed us on both form and function, helping it earn a spot in our round-up of the best canister vacuums. In our tests, it picked up dry oats from all of our test floors and carpets with no problem and showed no signs of pushing (or snowplowing) debris forward instead of sucking it up, a common complaint with other vacuum models.

Thanks to a universal floor head, there's no need to change attachments when going from low carpet to bare floors. But if you want to ensure your hardwood floors are getting the best treatment, this Miele model comes with a dedicated parquet floor brush attachment for even better performance on hardwood flooring. The notched bristles are soft on floors but also allow air to move through for better pick-up. The Boost CX1 is bagless but with a Hygiene AirClean filter that keeps even the smallest particles from escaping.

Compact C1 Turbo Team Bagged Canister Vacuum

While we haven't tested this model, we've tested other vacuums from Miele with the same attachments and features and found that they perform well. In fact, a similar model we tested was our experts' pick for the best overall canister vacuum! Miele models are consistently at the top of our lists for their ease of use, smooth gliding across floors and their performance in cleaning up all kinds of debris.

This canister vacuum can clean all types of hard floors, plus low and medium-pile carpets. The brush roll controls are easily located on the handle so you don't have to stop cleaning to reach down to the main body of the vacuum. It has a three-filter system to make sure that all of the dust cleaned from your floors isn't just redeposited into the air (and eventually back on the floor).

How we test wood floor cleaners

In the Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab, we’re continuously testing floor cleaning essentials like vacuum cleaners, mops, robot vacuums and steam mops. During our initial test, we tested 24 wood floor cleaners exactly the same way, cleaning 216 stains and scuff marks from wood flooring panels. We tested how well each product cleaned after an equal amount of passes and how many passes had to be made with each product to completely remove scuff marks and stains.

In addition to performance tests, we also analyzed the ease of application. All product labels were reviewed for proper safety and precautionary notices. Since then, we have continued to test new wood floor cleaning products as they become available, updating this story with the latest note-worthy wood floor cleaners.

The vacuum cleaners and vacuum mop on this list are models we tested in our Lab and with consumers at home. All have performed well cleaning carpets and bare floors and picking up different soils like dry debris and pet hair. They've also been deemed easy to use, maintain and store.

What to look for when shopping for the best wood floor cleaner

✔️ Product Type: Hardwood floor cleaners come in various forms like sprays, concentrated liquids and spray mops, not to mention all the different kinds of vacuums to choose from for picking up dust and debris. During our tests in the Cleaning Lab, we found that all of the wood floor cleaners we tested were able to remove at least some stains and scuffs regardless of how they are dispensed. The easiest, most convenient products to use are sprays and spray mops as they can be applied directly to hardwood floors and require no diluting, plus they topped our tests for performance and ease of use. For vacuums, look for soft rollers and special attachments designed to gently clean hardwood floors.

✔️ Versatility: Some wood floor cleaners also double as wood furniture cleaners, like our best value pick, Murphy Oil Soap, making it perfect for homes with lots of wood furniture, woodwork and hardwood floors.

✔️ Scent: You'll likely clean most (or all) of your home's rooms with these hardwood floor cleaners, so choose a product with a fragrance you enjoy enough to smell all throughout your home.

What is the best way to clean and care for hardwood floors?

The best way to maintain the vibrancy of your wood floors is to leave your shoes at the door, vacuum regularly to remove abrasive dirt and dust (with a straight suction vacuum or with the rotating brush turned off to prevent scratching), clean up spills promptly and keep your pets' nails trimmed.

When it’s time to clean your floors, use a light application of one of our recommended products and work in small 3-foot square sections to avoid over-wetting the floor. Make sure the area you’ve just cleaned dries promptly before moving on to the next section, as too much moisture sitting on wood for too long can be damaging. For quick touch-ups, clean in the direction of the wood planks. For deeper cleaning, clean both with and across the planks to nab dirt trapped in the crevices. Only damp-clean floors when they need it, depending on how much traffic they get. There’s no need to over-wash them; in fact, doing so can do more harm than good.

What should you not use on a wood floor?

You may have read that wood floors should only be cleaned with vinegar — we don’t recommend it. Vinegar may clean the surface, but it's acidic and can dull the finish over time. Steam mops should also never be used on hardwood floors, even sealed ones. Excessive water and humidity cause water to penetrate and warp the hardwood flooring. Solid wood flooring is easily affected by factors like humidity, water and extreme temperature changes. Abrasive cleaners, waxes, oils, furniture sprays and products containing ammonia should also be avoided to prevent damage to the finish and floor.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Carolyn Forte, the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab Executive Director, has a B.A. in Family & Consumer Sciences from Queens College, City University of New York, and is a consumer products expert. She has been testing, speaking and writing about appliances, textiles, cleaning products and more at Good Housekeeping for more than 40 years and has hardwood floors throughout her home and plenty of experience cleaning them.

Jodhaira Rodriguez joined the Good Housekeeping Institute in 2021. She tests and writes about home appliances, cleaning products and tips on cleaning. She holds a B.S. in forensic science from Hofstra University and previously worked in an environmental lab where she sharpened the analytical skills she applies in her testing of vacuums, dishwashers, detergents and more.

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