We Tested 19 Bottles of Floor Cleaner—And These Are Our 10 Favorites (2024)

Our Top Picks

Out of all of our tests, the floor cleaner that came out on top was Quick Shine Multi Surface Floor Cleaner. Simply spraying the product as is, we loved the ease of use from this handy mist bottle that allows for even application without overusing the product. There’s no need to dilute this cleaner or wait for the product to soak in. The cleaner is powerful enough to remove tough floor stains—even a tomato paste smudge—with just a little extra elbow grease.

Two minutes after using it, we found that the floor looked clean and dry, and there was no residue left behind when we wiped over the floor. It’s worth noting that although the tile and hardwood cleaned up nicely with a single use, the grout still had a very faint stain from the dark soda and tomato paste.

While there is a vague scent of citrus, this cleaner had a pretty weak smell. If you’re someone who likes a strong-smelling cleaner to refresh your space, this may not be the best pick for you. For people with sensitivities, we think this is a great pick. It’s also recognized by the U.S. EPA Safer Choice Program, meaning it’s safe for kids and pets, and is free from harsh ingredients and dyes.

_{Bottle size: 24 ft. oz. l Scent: None l Surface compatibility: Hardwood, vinyl, tile, laminate}

To get the best value for money, consider the Lysol Multi-Surface Cleaner. At less than $5 per bottle, this is on the low end of our scale in terms of price versus other products tested. This cleaner is as effective at removing germs as it is cleaning dirt and grime. In fact, it kills 99.9 percent of viruses and bacteria, including COVID-19.

We found that the versatile cleaner worked very well for erasing dirt, dark soda, and red crayon, but the tomato spill took a little extra product and elbow grease to remove. The grout still had a slight stain from the dark soda after cleaning. You can use Lysol on many hard, non-porous surfaces, but it should be avoided on oiled, waxed, or unfinished floors as it can cause damage to the surfaces.

You’ll need to dilute this product, so be sure to follow the instructions carefully. For general mopping, dilute ¼ cup of cleaner into one gallon of warm water. For a more powerful clean, increase the solution-to-water ratio.

We found that the sparkling lemon and sunflower essence scent left a fresh and fruity smell without being too overpowering. Despite there only being one scent available, we found it to be both clean and refreshing. You’ll just need to be careful using Lysol around children and pets, because it can cause harm to those with sensitive skin.

_{Bottle size: 1.13 gal. l Scent: Sparkling lemon and sunflower l Surface compatibility: Hard, non-porous}

For cleaning floor tiles, we suggest using the Better Life Floor Cleaner. It’s a cleaner ideal for tackling large surface areas. You can squirt it directly onto the floor or use it on a mop. We used the cleaner with a damp mop and found that a little product went a long way and gave a powerful clean.

For a more thorough job, we would use this cleaner directly on the floor—and for tougher messes, leave it to soak for a couple of minutes before wiping away. Quick and easy to use, the cleaner works on hardwood, tile, marble, laminate, vinyl, and more.

It dries in an instant and doesn’t need to be rinsed, but it may leave a sticky residue if too much product is used. We liked the scent of the cleaner—Citrus Mint—which left a fresh odor after cleaning. Plus, the product is made with no petroleum solvents, chlorine, bleach, sodium lauryl, or sodium laureth sulfates.

_{Bottle size: 32 fl. oz. l Scent: Citrus mint l Surface compatibility: Hardwood, tile, marble, laminate, vinyl}

For laminate floors especially, our choice is the Black Diamond Floor Cleaner, which is known for having a great reputation. After testing with this cleaner, we found that the stains that came out the best were the dirt and the soda. Very little scrubbing was needed on either the tile or the wood. We did note, however, that the crayon did not come out—no matter how much it was scrubbed or product was applied.

As a water-based cleaner made with gentle ingredients, we also like that this cleaner is safe to use in households with kids and pets.We also love that this wood and laminate cleaner comes in a convenient spray bottle to ensure even distribution and that not too much solution is needed.

During our testing, we found that the cleaner scent was subtle and dissipated quickly, but was pleasant and didn’t smell as chemical as other cleaners. Instead, it smelled fresh and clean and was not overpowering or too strong. Best used on a microfiber cloth or mop, there was only a slight residue left behind after we cleaned our floors.

_{Bottle size: 32 fl. oz. l Scent: Scent-free l Surface compatibility: Wood, laminate}

Hardwood floors need extra special care, which is why we picked Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner as our best hardwood cleaner. During our testing, the stains were pretty easy to remove, with the red crayon being the toughest to get out. Still, this bottle was more effective than other cleaners we put through the same tests.We found the bottle easy to spray and wiping up any stain was a smooth and simple process.

The spray bottle is made from 30 percent post-consumer recycled materials and the cleaner is formulated with plant-based ingredients. It's also scent-free, meaning it’s a great pick for those with sensitivities.

The water-based cleaner works as effectively as stronger, chemical-filled cleaners. Plus, there is no residue, streaks, obnoxious odors, and it's safe for the environment.

_{Bottle size: 32 fl. oz. l Scent: Scent-free l Surface compatibility: Hardwood}

For a versatile, all-purpose cleaner that performs well on many different floor types, we think the Bona Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner Spray works wonders. There are two spray options so you can tailor the amount of product used depending on the size of the floor or the stain.Unlike many cleaners, there is no scent, which may be a pro for some.

During our testing, the crayon, dark soda, and dirt came out with a couple of squirts and one wipe. The tomato paste required an additional bit of cleaner and more aggressive wiping. There’s no need to rinse after using the cleaner and the floor was completely dry in less than two minutes, which is great when used in high-traffic areas. We also found that there was no residue left behind.The spray is made from a pH-neutral formula, meaning it will protect floors from any discoloration or harm.

_{Bottle size: 32 fl. oz. l Scent: Scent-free l Surface compatibility: Linoleum, stone, vinyl, laminate, luxury vinyl tile (LVT)}

To truly give your floors a deep clean, look no further than the Mr. Clean Summer Citrus Scent Antibacterial Multi Surface All Purpose Cleaner. True to its reputation, this cleaner took out stains like a champ. It cleaned our stains easily on tile with the exception of the tomato paste, which needed some extra solution and a little elbow grease. On the wood, it erased the crayon smudge, which overall was a harder substance to remove.

After drying, the area was completely stick-free, streak-free and clean smelling because the product scent didn't linger. When the cleaner was actually being used, the citrus scent was rather overpowering.It’s also important to pay special attention to the directions on the bottle, since dilution may be needed.

_{Bottle size: 40 fl. oz. l Scent: Summer citrus l Surface compatibility: Linoleum, stone, vinyl, laminate, luxury vinyl tile (LVT)}

Pine-Sol All Purpose Multi-Surface Cleaner is a wonderful option for those who prefer a concentrated solution. With a concentrated cleaner, a little product goes a long way which makes it great value. Just add ¼ cup of solution for each one gallon of water.

This solution is also a powerful disinfectant and is said to kill 99.9 percent of viruses, as well as COVID-19. We found that Pine-Sol has a powerful scent—and it did a better job of cleaning than many of the bottles we tried. We were impressed that it cleaned the same stains with relatively less effort and left behind no residue. Be aware that this cleaner is not suitable for use on unfinished, unsealed, unpainted, waxed, oiled, or worn flooring.

_{Bottle size: 24 fl. oz. l Scent: Original pine l Surface compatibility: Carpet, tiles, wood}

For super sparkly floors, the Rejuvenate All Floors Cleaner has shine booster technology. As with other cleaners on this list, it removed most of the stains with ease except for the red crayon. Extra sprays were required and some of the stains remained. It may be worth leaving the solution to soak in for a few minutes before wiping away for a deeper clean. When it comes to general product residue, there wasn’t any leftover and the product dried within seconds.

We felt that the premixed formula made it much easier to clean with. The bottle felt comfortable to hold and it was easy to move the trigger—the spray nozzle could be turned off, but it only had one level for spraying which covered a large area. Rejuvenate has a slight industrial scent, similar to Windex and 409 but not as strong. Still, we found the scent dissipated quickly after spraying.

_{Bottle size: 32 fl. oz. l Scent: Fresh scent l Surface compatibility: Laminate, tiles, vinyl, linoleum, and hardwood}

If you’re looking for an eco-friendly floor cleaner, the Seventh Generation Multi Surface Cleaner Concentrate is our top pick. It effectively removed three out of four of our stains and there was no residue left behind.

As it’s a concentrated formula, we needed to mix the Seventh Generation cleaner in a spray bottle. We mixed three ounces of concentrate with 20 ounces of water. Their cleaning process was to spray the dirt spot five to six times and then let the solution soak in for around 10 seconds. This proved to be an effective method to achieve a clean, streak-free floor that also removed (some) stains. The scent was fresh and floral, which was a pleasant change from the industrial smell that other floor cleaners may have. There are multiple fragrances available that will suit many preferences; the Lemon and Morning Meadow scents will give a soft perfumed finish, while the Free & Clear option is great for those with sensitivities.

_{Bottle size: 32 fl. oz. l Scent: Lemon chamomile, lemon, free & clear, morning meadow, sparking seaside l Surface compatibility: Laminate, tiles, vinyl, linoleum, and hardwood}

Final Verdict

Based on our testing, the best overall floor cleaner is the Quick Shine Multi Surface Floor Cleaner. Just as its name suggests, it’s quick to use and leaves perfectly polished floors. It's effective at removing stains and doesn’t leave behind any residue. We discovered there are plenty of other effective options on the market, too, including Lysol Multi-Surface Cleaner, which we rated as our best value pick, and Pine-Sol All Purpose Multi-Surface Cleaner, our best concentrate option.