- Even if most of your home has wall-to-wall carpeting, there are still floors that need more than just vacuuming. What are the best floor cleaners for different types for floors?
- We have reviewed and chosen the best floor cleaners for hardwood, laminate, vinyl, ceramic tile, and stone floors.
Taking care of hard surface floors is a never-ending job. Just think about what gets dropped and spilled on your floors and what comes into your home on the bottom of shoes. Sweeping or vacuuming can capture much of the loose dirt and hair, but eventually, some of the mess will stick and the floor is going to need to be cleaned with a mop and a good cleaner.
It would be great if there was just one product that could take care of every stain on every type of flooring. Some cleaners are interchangeable, but what's needed to clean the grout in ceramic tile floors isn't the same as what's needed to keep hardwoods gleaming.
I don't have any carpeting in my home except for area rugs, so I've learned to care for hardwood, ceramic tile, and stone floors to keep them looking as clean and fresh as possible, on a weekly basis. My previous home had laminate and vinyl flooring in addition to wall-to-wall carpeting, so I have tried many brands and types of floor cleaners.
Floor care doesn't have to be difficult if you have a good floor cleaner, the right type of mop, and do the task on a regular, routine schedule. Waiting until the floor is totally filthy will only make the job back-breaking; weekly care can be done in minutes.
Start by sweeping or vacuuming to remove loose soil and hair. If you don't, you'll just be swishing it around and often leaving it behind. Use a clean mop head or disposable pad to prevent soil from redepositing, and remember to allow plenty of time for the floor to dry before tracking in more dirt.
Take a minute to read the instructions on the back of the floor cleaner bottle. Some products go directly on the floor, while some need to be mixed with water; some require rinsing, but some don't. Following the directions can help you be more successful.
With the right tools and the right cleaners, you can have clean floors easily. Why should you trust me? I've been testing floor cleaners, vacuums, brooms, and mops for many years as a home economist for companies and publications. I'm always looking for the most effective, easiest to use, and the best value in products for myself and others.
Here are the best floor cleaners you can buy in 2019:
Keep scrolling to read more details about our top picks.
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