Best floor cleaner: The most effective products for hardwood, carpets, tiles and more
Keep your floors and hard surfaces spick, span and sparkling with our product round-up of the best floor cleaners
Cleaning the floors, carpets and hard surfaces in your home is a task that you can easily find yourself putting on the long finger. Having a steady supply of the best floor cleaners, however, can make this chore a lot easier to face.
Floors are one of the largest surfaces in our home and are put through a lot, from muddy workboots and pet paws to general spills and stains. Cleaning these areas isn’t just a time-consuming and strenuous affair, it can also be complicated by the different types of surface we have to clean, be it wood, carpets, tiles or synthetic flooring such as linoleum.
To help simplify things, our handy buying guide below will take you through the things you need to know when picking out the best floor cleaner for your needs. A little further down the page, you’ll find mini-reviews of our favourite picks for floor cleaning, singling out the best options for multi-purpose use, specific surfaces and niche tasks such as pet stains and scuffs.
Best floor cleaner: At a glance
- Best multipurpose floor cleaner: Flash All Purpose Surface Cleaner | £2.59
- Best hardwood floor cleaner: Osmo Wash and Care Floor Cleaner | £17
- Best floor cleaner for tiles: Dr. Beckmann Stone & Tile Floor Cleaner | £6
- Best carpet cleaner: Vanish Gold Oxi Action | £12
- Best eco-friendly cleaner: Ecover Hard Surfaces All-Purpose Cleaner | £3
How to choose the best floor cleaner for you
What products do I need to clean my floors?
This will depend on a few factors, including your floor type, whether you have mixed floor types and the delicateness of your surfaces.
For wood floors, tiles and similar, a multipurpose cleaner can save you time, money and mental energy, allowing you to whizz through the whole house with just a single product. However, if you want to keep your hardwood floors and stone in premium condition, then a product designed specifically to clean and care for these surfaces could be a worthwhile investment.
READ NEXT: The best upholstery cleaners for soft furnishings
For carpets, you’ll need a carpet cleaning solution or a stain remover suitable for fabrics. Handily, most carpet cleaners will also be suitable for other soft surfaces including your upholstery, curtains and rugs.
Another thing to consider is which products work best with the floor cleaning appliances you might already have. For example, a powder-based cleaner works well in conjunction with a vacuum cleaner, as these products can be laid over carpets and then vacuumed up.
How often should I clean my floors and how much cleaner will I need?
High-traffic areas in your home will be kept in tip-top shape with a weekly clean. How much cleaner you’ll need will depend on the surface area you’re trying to cover. Most products on this list are designed to be diluted in your mop bucket and will provide enough cleaning solution for upwards of 20 washes, although estimates vary.
If you’re dealing with very large surface areas, some companies also offer large refill bottles that are more economical than purchasing smaller bottles on a regular basis. If you’re regularly dealing with larger surfaces and tough stains, you might want to consider investing in or upgrading your floor cleaning appliances, too. Our roundups of the best vacuum cleaners, carpet cleaners and hard floor cleaners will help you find your perfect pick.
Are there eco-friendly options available?
Consumers have more options than ever when it comes to eco-friendly and gentler cleaning products. Nowadays, you can pick up high-performance products made from plant-based and biodegradable ingredients, as well as cleaners with recyclable or refillable packaging. These products are especially suited to those with delicate cohabitants such as pets, children and people with allergies, as they tend to be hypoallergenic and have less harsh odours and residues.
READ NEXT: Our roundup of mops that will keep your floor spotless
The best floor cleaner to buy in 2023
1. Flash Mandarin and Cedarwood All Purpose Cleaner: Best multisurface floor cleaner
Price when reviewed: £2.59 | Check price at Robert Dyas
This all-purpose cleaner from Flash is the best floor cleaner for those trying to get a lot done with a single product. Suitable for hard floors as well as bathroom and kitchen surfaces, its PH-neutral formula means it’s safe for use on delicate materials such as marble, ceramic, stone and certain wood flooring. Despite this, it’s still strong enough to cut through everyday grease and grime, including makeup spills and muddy shoes. When used in its diluted form it doesn’t need to be rinsed off either, which is a handy time-saver.
As well as cleaning, it also adds shine to surfaces and leaves behind a pleasant, fresh scent. It should be noted, however, that despite its all-purpose labelling, it’s not suitable for waxed or oiled wooden floors.
Key details – Size: 1L; Suitable for: All hard floors, kitchen and bathroom (excluding waxed or oiled wood)
2. Osmo Wash and Care Floor Cleaner: Best cleaner for wood floors
Price when reviewed: £17 | Check price at Amazon
Oiled and waxed wooden floors require delicate care, and even a multisurface cleaner might not be suitable. Instead, your best bet is to choose a product specifically designed for wood floors. Osmo Wash and Care is suitable for all types of wood floor, and not only cleans but also moisturises your wood surfaces, helping them to build up resistance to staining.
As well as waxed, oiled and varnished wooden floors, it’s suitable for stone, vinyl and tiled surfaces. Its formula is highly concentrated and can be diluted before use; Osmo estimates you can cover up to 1,000m² with a litre bottle.
Key details – Size: 1L; Suitable for: Wooden, varnished, stone, vinyl and tiled floors
3. Dr. Beckmann Stone and Tile Floor Cleaner: Best floor cleaner for tiles
Price when reviewed: £6 | Check price at Amazon
Both stone and ceramic tiles can be expensive and difficult to replace, so the last thing you want to do is to damage them while cleaning. Using a cleaner specifically designed for these surfaces will not only ensure they’re protected but also cleaned effectively. This Dr. Beckmann cleaner removes dirt and grime build-up from tile surfaces and grout, while also restoring the tiles’ original shine. For everyday use it’s recommended that you dilute the formula, before applying with a damp mop, cloth or sponge.
It’s worth noting this product isn’t suitable for other surface types, meaning you’ll have to buy another cleaner for any other flooring you might have. It should also be avoided by anyone with allergies, as it contains sensitising substances.
Key details – Size: 1L; Suitable for: Stone and tiled floors
4. Vanish Gold Oxi Action Carpet and Rugs: Best carpet cleaner
Price when reviewed: £12 | Check price at Robert Dyas
For those of you with large areas of carpet or rugs to clean, this powder-based cleaner from Vanish is one of the best options available. Working in conjunction with your vacuum cleaner, this sprinkle-on product effectively removes dirt, stains and hair from your fabric flooring, combining vacuuming and carpet cleaning into one simple task.
It also has some versatility, being suitable for spot-cleaning stains on upholstery, curtains and other plush surfaces. Added conditioners in the formula also help to soften your fabrics, while the fragrance leaves them smelling clean and fresh.
Key details – Size: 650g; Suitable for: Carpets, rugs and upholstery
5. Ecover Hard Surface All-Purpose Cleaner: Best eco-friendly floor cleaner
Price when reviewed: £3 | Check price at Big Green Smile
Suitable for all hard surfaces, Ecover’s all-purpose cleaner does a commendable job at tackling grease and grime, as well as restoring sparkle. What we like best about it, however, are its eco-credentials – its plant-based, biodegradable formula has a minimal impact on marine life and its packaging is fully recyclable. The natural ginger and lemongrass scent is also much preferable to the harsher, more unnatural fragrances that many commercial cleaners employ.
If you’d like to reduce waste and get a little more value for money, you can buy a 5L refill bottle too.
Key details – Size: 1L; Suitable for: Ceramic tiles, hard floors, parquet and kitchen or bathroom surfaces
6. Simple Solution Stain and Odour Remover for Dogs: Best carpet cleaner for pet owners
Price when reviewed: £8.50 | Check price at Amazon
Pet stains can be some of the most unpleasant to deal with, as well as being tricky to remove. This product helps to tackle those nasties, as it contains friendly bacteria and enzymes specifically designed to remove organic mess. It helps lift stains such as urine, faeces and vomit, while also eliminating lingering odours, rather than simply trying to cover them up with fragrance.
This bacteria-based formula also works to discourage repeated marking, reclaiming any territory your pet might have taken as their own. It also has uses beyond pet stains, as it’s effective on any water-safe surface, and deals with grass, wine and blood stains.
Key details – Size: 1L; Suitable for: Carpets, upholstery, bedding and clothing
7. JML Doktor Power Magic Eraser: Best cleaner for scuff marks
Price when reviewed: £14 (2pk) | Check price at Amazon
Scuffs are an unsightly and stubborn floor marking that can easily build up around furniture and high-traffic areas in your home. Few products tackle them specifically, which is why we recommend this handy cleaning tool from JML as an addition to your floor-cleaning products.
This cleaning and polishing sponge block is a non-abrasive scrubber that works on most surfaces and stains, though it excels at removing scuff marks, crayon stains and even burnt-on crust on pans. We also like that you can cut and shape this eraser to whatever dimensions you need, making it a perfect tool for reaching every nook and cranny in your home.
Key details – Size: 30.8×11.7×3.8cm; Suitable for: Tiles, bathroom surfaces, wood, paintwork, chrome and vinyl
8. HG Laminate Cleaner Shine Restorer: Best floor cleaner for laminate flooring
Price when reviewed: £10 | Check price at Amazon
While natural wood tends to get all the care and attention, laminate flooring deserves love too. This floor cleaner makes mopping your laminate floors a doddle; it’s simple to use and walkable as soon as it has dried.
Beyond that, it works a treat, giving your flooring a distinct, glossy shine and leaving behind a fresh fragrance. This product also has a highly concentrated formula, so after stocking up you’ll be able to keep your floors clean and sparkling for roughly twenty washes before repurchasing.
Key details – Size: 1L; Suitable for: Laminate floors
