This Is the Best Cleaner for Hardwood Floors

If you have hardwood floors in your home, you know what a joy they can be. They’re timeless and beautiful, but even if you’ve banned shoes in the house, they can be tricky to clean. After all, you don’t want to ruin gorgeous wood with a too-harsh chemical, but you also don’t want to settle for a plain dust mop that does nothing to condition the floor itself.

So what perfect middle-ground cleaner is really the best for getting your floors looking shiny, conditioned and clean? To find out, our editors put seven of the most popular brands to the test to find out which made our floors look as good as new. Check out which brand was dubbed the best hardwood floor cleaner.

The Best Hardwood Floor Cleaner: Method Squirt + Mop Wood Floor Cleaner

via amazon.com

For really cleaning hardwood floors, Method’s easy-to-use wood floor cleaner is our pick. Testers squirted this formula across the floor and mopped it away to reveal a beautiful—but not slippery—shine. In terms of cleanup, Method removed dust and everyday grime easily with just one pass of a microfiber mop (one of our favorite cleaning tools).

We could truly see the difference in not only the clean but in the wood itself. Method left even our most neglected floors looking rich and conditioned. Bonus: This floor cleaner was slightly scented with almond—a welcome departure from the faux lemon scents of many other cleaning products.

We loved this product not only because it worked like a dream but also because it’s plant-based and nontoxic. That makes us feel good about using this product in our own homes around pets and children, both of whom spend a lot of time in contact with our floors.

$4.99 for a 25-ounce bottle; available at stores like Target nationwide.

More Great Products for Cleaning Your Hardwood Floors

via amazon.com

Murphy’s Oil Soap Squirt and Mop Wood Floor Cleaner

We also recommend Murphy’s Oil Soap’s easy-to-use squirt and mop formula. This product is 98-percent naturally derived which put our minds at ease when using it around kids and furry friends. After use, our floors looked exceptionally shiny and well conditioned. This cleaner did smell pretty heavily of citronella during use, but after wiping away, the scent dissipated quickly. Cracking a window during cleaning will help.

$9.29 for a 32-ounce bottle; available at retailers nationwide.

via amazon.com

Nuvera Hardwood Floor Cleaner

While not eco-friendly or naturally derived like our other favorites, we couldn’t deny the beautiful shine that Nuvera Hardwood Floor Cleaner gave our floors. The industrial-strength formula was great at cutting through tough cooking grime on dirtier kitchen floors. This is definitely a formula for areas that are prone to more mess.

$6.99 for a 32-ounce bottle; available at select retailers nationwide.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to cleaning and conditioning your floors, naturally derived products really are a great way to go. Two of our favorite options were eco-friendly and nontoxic—safe for the whole family. And these natural ingredients still get floors looking great. If you need a more aggressive clean, rely on Nuvera, but otherwise, we say opt for eco.

Another Cleaning Bonus

You’ll love to know that some of these cleaners do double duty. Murphy’s Oil Soap is safe for linoleum and tile, too, and Method’s product cleans all kinds of finished wood furniture. But why stop there? See our favorite cleaning tips in this video:

Be sure to check out our other Best Loved Brands to keep your house feeling clean and fresh (and to keep your pantry stocked with the very best, too!).

Note: Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.