What is the best soap for cleaning hardwood floors?

Author: Mckayla Thiel V  |  Last update: Sunday, October 26, 2025

Our Top Hardwood Floor Cleaner Picks
  • Best Spray: Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner.
  • Best Concentrate: Murphy Oil Soap Concentrated Wood Cleaner.
  • Best Natural: Aunt Fannie's Hardwood Floor Cleaner.
  • Best for Large Areas: Method Squirt + Mop Hardwood Floor Cleaner.
  • Best Multipurpose: Rejuvenate All-Floors Multipurpose Cleaner.

What is the best floor cleaner that doesn't leave residue?

Seventh Generation Multi-Surface Cleaner Concentrate

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.

What is the best homemade cleaning solution for hardwood floors?

Natural Wood Floor Cleaner
  • Combine 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1 teaspoon olive oil or other vegetable oil, and 1 cup of water in a spray bottle.
  • Add a few drops of essential oil of choice for a nice scent if desired
  • Shake well and spray on a cleaning cloth.
  • Rub lightly into floors to bring back shine and clean spots.

What detergent to use on wooden floors?

Gentle Cleaning Solutions:

For stubborn stains or sticky residues, opt for gentle cleaning solutions formulated specifically for wood floors (we recommend Bona or Enzyme Wizard). Avoid ammonia-based cleaners or abrasive scrubbing pads, as they can cause irreparable damage to the surface.

What is the best thing to wash hardwood floors with?

For a cleaning solution, you can mix a few drops of dish soap or castile soap with warm water in a bucket. Avoid using harsh detergents that will damage the floor's wood and dull its finish. You should also not use products like vinyl floor cleaner or tile cleaner.

Is Dawn Dish Soap Is Safe To Use On Hardwood Floors?

What is the best soap to use on wood floors?

Our Top Hardwood Floor Cleaner Picks
  • Best Spray: Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner.
  • Best Concentrate: Murphy Oil Soap Concentrated Wood Cleaner.
  • Best Natural: Aunt Fannie's Hardwood Floor Cleaner.
  • Best for Large Areas: Method Squirt + Mop Hardwood Floor Cleaner.
  • Best Multipurpose: Rejuvenate All-Floors Multipurpose Cleaner.

Is Murphy's oil soap good for hardwood floors?

With the vast array of cleaners available today, consumers need to be aware of how to properly use their products to avoid health hazards and damaging surfaces. Murphy® Oil Soap is one natural cleaner that's effective on hardwood floors and more when used as instructed.

Can you use vinegar and dawn to clean hardwood floors?

The ideal mixture typically involves a mild solution of diluted vinegar with just a few drops of Dawn. This blend ensures that the cleaning power is strong enough to clean the floors without leaving any harmful residues or damaging the wood.

How not to clean hardwood floors?

Let's go over a few cleaning mistakes to avoid, so you can keep your hardwood floors clean for years.
  1. Using Too Much Water. ...
  2. Choosing Harsh Cleaners. ...
  3. Skipping Regular Dusting. ...
  4. Using the Wrong Vacuum Attachment. ...
  5. Ignoring Spills. ...
  6. Applying Wax or Oil on Polyurethane Finishes. ...
  7. Forgetting Protective Pads for Furniture.

What do professionals clean floors with?

From traditional mops to advanced steam cleaners, professionals employ diverse tools for cleaning floors. These methods include: Mopping: Using string, sponge, or microfiber mops combined with specialized solutions. Steam Cleaning: Utilizing gas-powered or electric steam cleaners for deep sanitization.

Is pine sol good for hardwood floors?

You can use Pine-Sol® on wood floors, though it is not recommended for use on unfinished, unsealed, unpainted, waxed, oiled or worn wood.

Why do my wood floors never look clean?

Using the Wrong Cleaning Products

Harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaners can strip the finish and damage the wood, leaving your floors looking dirtier. Instead, opt for a hardwood floor cleaner specifically designed to clean and protect the wood. This will help maintain the floor's sheen while removing dirt and grime.

How to clean filthy hardwood floors?

Here's a simple guide:
  1. Start by sweeping or vacuuming off dust, dirt and debris. ...
  2. Treat dirt spots or loose debris using a dry mop and a concentrated cleaner. ...
  3. For stubborn stains, use a damp cloth, ensuring it's wrung out properly.
  4. For oiled flooring, use an oil-based treatment to keep it from drying out.

Can you mix Dawn and vinegar?

This match made in heaven has been a household staple for a long time and I make sure to keep it handy. To make the solution is simple and easy on the wallet! Pour equal parts of vinegar and Dawn into a spray bottle. Gently shake, then spray liberally onto the surface to be cleaned.

Is Mr. Clean safe for hardwood floors?

While you probably can use Mr. Clean for floors, Robin Murphy, the founder of the cleaning company ChirpChirp, doesn't recommend doing so specifically because the product is not formulated for hardwood floors in particular. She advises seeking out a floor-specific cleaning solution to use instead.

What is the best cleaner for hardwood floors?

Our Top Picks
  • Best Overall: Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner at Amazon $9. Jump to Review.
  • Best Multi-Surface: Quick Shine Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner at Amazon $9. Jump to Review.
  • Best Concentrated: Lysol Multi-Surface Cleaner at Amazon $6. Jump to Review.

Do you have to rinse floors after mopping with vinegar?

There's no need to rinse your vinegar-mopping solution from your floors. Keep in mind that your floors should be drying very quickly if you've wrung out your mop sufficiently.

Is it safe to use Dawn dish soap on wood floors?

In conclusion, while Dawn Dish Soap might be effective for dishes, it is best to avoid using it on hardwood floors. Instead, opt for cleaners specifically designed for wood flooring or gentle homemade solutions.

What is the best soap to mop hardwood floors with?

Murphy Oil Soap is a time-tested wood cleaner that's been around for generations. Our cleaning pros love the versatility — it not only tackles grime on hardwood floors, but can also clean wood cabinets, furniture and more.

Is Bona better than Murphy's oil?

Conclusion. So, the Murphy's Oil Soap vs Bona debate is over, and Bona wins. These are some of the best hardwood floor cleaners, but the flooring market is full of competitors. Their hardwood floor cleaner is said to be overall better by all the homeowners who have been using it for years.

When should you not use Murphy's oil soap?

For Water Based Finishes

Cleaners such as Pledge and Murphy's Oil Soap are not recommended because they leave a dull residue on the finish. Water based surfaces may be cleaned with a damp cloth or General Finishes Orange Oil.

How to make hardwood floors shine?

Daily: Dry mop floors with a microfiber dusting pad and mop. Clean spills immediately. Weekly: Clean deeper with a vacuum designed for wood floors or use a microfiber spray mop and cleaner formulated for hardwood floors. Monthly: Polish wood floors every 2-6 months for extra shine and protection.

Is fabuloso good for hardwood floors?

Is Fabuloso® Professional safe on wood? Yes, Fabuloso® Professional's formula works on all non porous hard surfaces.

Is it okay to mop hardwood floors with water?

Is wet mopping hardwood floors ok? It is never recommended to wet mop a hardwood floor. No matter what you've heard, read, or watched, true experts are not trying to sell you something. Easily maintain flooring with a safe for hardwood cleaner and microfiber mop.

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