The Best Kitchen Floor Cleaner

Buying Guide

Keeping your floors clean can be a struggle, especially if you have multiple flooring types within your home. You might have a combination of hardwood, vinyl and tile between your living room, bathroom, kitchen and other spaces, forcing you to switch up cleaners as you move from room to room. There are some cleaners that can work on multiple flooring types, but it’s important to make sure the product truly is safe, especially if you have sensitive natural hardwoods or marble.

There are also cleaners that work across multiple surfaces that include your floors. You can pour these cleaners into spray bottles for wiping down your countertops or use them to clean your sink. These might not be as efficient and safe on the specific type of flooring you have, so you’ll need to weigh the convenience of having a multipurpose solution against the confidence you get from a dedicated cleaner.

For light, daily cleanups, a flat mop with a disposable cloth will suffice, but your floors still need a regular thorough cleaning. For best results, use a solution and cloth mop that can scrub away layers of dirt. This will give your floors the shine you love while also making your surfaces so clean that you can’t wait to walk barefoot across them.

Water-based cleaning isn’t an option with any type of wood flooring, including laminate. You’ll need special cleaners and cloths to avoid scratching or warping the wood. There are some multipurpose solutions that promise to be safe for use on wood floors, but you’ll still need to avoid exposing your wood to excessive moisture.

Marble flooring can also be tricky. Acid can damage the sensitive surface, as can alkaline products, so you’ll need to find a pH-neutral detergent. If you have stubborn stains, you can carefully apply a small amount of baking soda to scrub the stain away, but baking soda is both alkaline and abrasive, so you can damage the marble if you aren’t careful.

• Traditional floor cleaners can be packed with chemicals that stay behind on surfaces. They also may release noxious fumes that are unpleasant and can irritate the airways. There are many cleaners available that use natural ingredients and scents to give you the experience you like without sacrificing cleaning power.
• Many cleaners are sold as a concentrated formula that you simply dilute in large quantities of water. One bottle can last a while, even if you clean frequently or have a large home to tidy up.
• You can purchase products that refresh old floors, restoring that long-lost shine. These products can dull over time at a much faster rate than your original floors dulled, so it’s best for use before a big event like a party.
• If the future of the environment is of concern to your family, you can find products that are labeled as biodegradable, which means they break down into nontoxic ingredients quickly. You can also find products that promise no animal testing in their formulation.
• Scents are an important factor with any household cleaner. Traditional cleaners were loaded with chemicals that could linger in the air in homes for hours, if not days. Today’s cleaners often use natural ingredients and products like essential oils to keep your home smelling pleasant after you clean.
• Vinegar has long been a go-to product for cutting through grime. It’s a natural alternative to traditional cleaners when you have stubborn stains on your floor. You can find products with vinegar that neutralize the odor so you get clean results without the vinegar aroma.