The 8 Best Laminate Floor Cleaners of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

By
Jeneva Aaron
Jeneva is the founder and CEO of thehousewire.com where she provides honest and objective reviews on home and cleaning products. She is a cleaning enthusiast. She got inspired to build her own cleaning blog when she realized how cleaning can make an impact on our lives and how a cleaner home can affect a person's mood.
Learn more about The Housewire’s Editorial Process
Updated June 28, 2023

Time to shine with these laminate floor cleaners

Time to shine with these laminate floor cleaners

Thehousewire is reader-supported. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Learn more about our process here

Best Laminate Floor Cleaners
Laminate flooring looks great, but it’s one of the types of floors that needs special care. Otherwise, moisture can damage it and ruin its appearance while also reducing its life.

It’s important to look after your laminate floors. You want them to last and to look good at the same time. But what cleaning products should you use?

Whether it’s an older floor or a newer one with a fiberboard core, we’ve got a laminate floor cleaner for you. It’s time to wave goodbye to stains and discover how to get that glossy luster back in your life.

Our Top Picks

The HouseWire earns a commission through the following independently chosen links at no additional cost to you.
Best Laminate Floor Cleaners of 2023
Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner: For Hardwood, Real, Natural & Engineered Flooring –Biodegradable Safe for Cleaning All Floors. Streak-Free, Easy To Use, Non-Toxic, No-Rinse!Best Overall

Black Diamond Stoneworks

Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner: For Hardwood, Real, Natural & Engineered Flooring –Biodegradable Safe for Cleaning All Floors. Streak-Free, Easy To Use, Non-Toxic, No-Rinse!

  • It smells nice.

  • No smearing.

Better Life Floor Cleaner - Liquid Multipurpose Cleaner for Wood, Tile, Laminate, Vinyl, Bamboo - Hardwood Floor Cleaner for Mopping - Citrus Mint 32ozBest Natural

Better Life Naturally

Better Life Floor Cleaner - Liquid Multipurpose Cleaner for Wood, Tile, Laminate, Vinyl, Bamboo - Hardwood Floor Cleaner for Mopping - Citrus Mint 32oz

  • Safe to use.

  • Cruelty-free product.

Rejuvenate High Performance All-Floors and Hardwood No Bucket Needed Floor Cleaner Powerful PH Balanced Shine with Shine Booster Technology Low VOC Best in Class Products 32ozBest for Older Floors

Rejuvenate Floor Cleaner

Rejuvenate High Performance All-Floors and Hardwood No Bucket Needed Floor Cleaner Powerful PH Balanced Shine with Shine Booster Technology Low VOC Best in Class Products 32oz

  • It dries quickly.

  • Floor stays shiny.

Nature’s Miracle Hard Floor Cleaner, Dual-Action Stain & Odor Remover, Protects Natural Floor Finishes, 24 ozBest for Pets

Nature’s Miracle

Nature’s Miracle Hard Floor Cleaner, Dual-Action Stain & Odor Remover, Protects Natural Floor Finishes, 24 oz

  • Great for spot cleaning.

  • Fast at removing odors.

Weiman Hardwood Cleaner for Finished Hardwood Floors, Engineered Floors, Laminate - Streak-Free Results, EPA Safer Choice Certified, 32 ozBest for Deep Cleaning

Weiman’s Hardwood Floor Cleaner

Weiman Hardwood Cleaner for Finished Hardwood Floors, Engineered Floors, Laminate - Streak-Free Results, EPA Safer Choice Certified, 32 oz

  • Quicker to dry.

  • Easy to use.

Quick Shine Multi Surface Floor Finish 64oz | Cleaner & Polish to use on Hardwood, Laminate, Luxury Vinyl Plank LVT, Tile & StoneBest for Shiny Floors

Quick Shine Floor Finish

Quick Shine Multi Surface Floor Finish 64oz | Cleaner & Polish to use on Hardwood, Laminate, Luxury Vinyl Plank LVT, Tile & Stone

  • Protects laminate floors.

  • Doesn’t leave streaks.

Shark NV356E Navigator Lift-Away Professional Upright Vacuum with Swivel Steering, HEPA Filter, XL Dust Cup, Pet Power, Dusting Brush, and Crevice Tool, Perfect for Pet Hair, White/SilverBest Vacuum

Shark Navigator Lift-Away

Shark NV356E Navigator Lift-Away Professional Upright Vacuum with Swivel Steering, HEPA Filter, XL Dust Cup, Pet Power, Dusting Brush, and Crevice Tool, Perfect for Pet Hair, White/Silver

  • Powerful suction.

  • Durable.

Swiffer WetJet Starter Kit, Includes: 1 Mop, 5 Pads, 1 Solution, BatteriesBest Mop

Swiffer WetJet Starter Kit

Swiffer WetJet Starter Kit, Includes: 1 Mop, 5 Pads, 1 Solution, Batteries

  • Easy to control.

  • Good Warranty.

Reviews

1. Best Overall : Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood & Laminate Cleaner

Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood & Laminate Cleaner
Pros
  • Cuts through muddy paw prints
  • It smells nice
  • No smearing or sticky residue
Cons
  • Not the best at removing water spots

When real life happens, you want a laminate floor cleaner that’s tough on stains while being gentle on your home.

This cleaner suits all kinds of wood and laminate floors, so you only need to buy one bottle for your whole home.

Plus, it tackles spills and tough stains but is still eco-friendly and biodegradable. You can use it around your pets and children knowing it’s a safe choice!

And thanks to the handy spray bottle, you can apply it straight to your floors and wipe them down. The streak-free formula means you don’t even have to rinse it off afterward. It doesn’t leave any residue, just shiny floors for super easy cleaning.

Technical Specs

Ingredient Biodegradable
Concentration Complete
Bottle Spray bottle
Usage Real wood and laminate floors
Mess Type All

2. Best Natural : Better Life Naturally Dirt-Destroying Floor Cleaner

Better Life Naturally Dirt-Destroying Floor Cleaner
4View on AmazonView on Walmart
Our Ratings
  • Design 5/5
  • Application 3/5
  • Performance 4/5
  • Scent 5/5
  • Drying 3/5

Read Full Review: Better Life Floor Cleaner Review

Pros
  • It’s leaping bunny certified as a cruelty-free product
  • Safe to use around pets
  • You don’t need to use a lot
Cons
  • It seems it can leave floors sticky if you don’t mix it with water

Nobody likes a chemical smell lingering in the air after cleaning laminate floors. So wouldn’t it be better to have a refreshing minty citrus aroma instead?

This Better Life floor cleaner uses 100% natural plant-based ingredients, so you can have shiny floors and a fresh-smelling home.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not tough on dirt. The corn and coconut cleaner makes light work of removing spills, stains, and dust. Just squirt some onto your floors, spread it around with a damp mop, and you’re done!

There’s no need to wipe it down after, so it’s a quicker way to keep your floor in top condition. And it’s not just limited to laminate. You can use it on most floors, including hardwood, marble, and tiles.

A true cleaning cupboard essential.

Better Life Floor Cleaner Scent

Technical Specs

Ingredient Natural
Concentration Complete
Bottle Squirt
Usage All hard floors
Mess Type Spills, stains, and dust

3. Best for Older Floors : Rejuvenate All Floor Restore and Polish

Rejuvenate All Floor Restore and Polish
4View on AmazonView on Walmart
Our Ratings
  • Bottle Information 4/5
  • Application 4/5
  • Scent 4/5
  • Drying Time 5/5

Read Full Review: Rejuvenate Floor Cleaner Review

Pros
  • Gives tired laminate a nice luster
  • It dries quickly
  • Your floor stays shiny for a long time
Cons

Are your old hardwood and laminate floors looking dull and tired? Then it’s time to give Rejuvenate a whirl!

You can use it to prep surfaces in need of a full restoration, or as an everyday floor cleaner to maintain their sparkle.

The versatile bottle works as a spray bottle, or you can clip it directly onto the Rejuvenate spray mop to make cleaning your floors even easier.

And the formula’s pH balanced, so it won’t damage your floors even with frequent use. Instead, it strips away any wax that’s built up and leaves them gleaming thanks to the shine booster technology.

This floor cleaner brings life back to older surfaces, whatever they’re made from.

Technical Specs

Ingredient Chemical
Concentration Complete
Bottle Spray
Usage All floors
Mess Type All

4. Best for Pets : Nature’s Miracle Hard Floor Cleaner

Nature’s Miracle Hard Floor Cleaner
Pros
  • It’s fast at removing odors
  • The spray bottle is great for spot cleaning
  • It cleans and leaves floors looking shiny
Cons
  • The cleaning solution doesn’t smell very nice

You love your pets, but they’re a nightmare for making floors messy. With muddy paws and the occasional ‘accident’, you need a floor cleaner that can keep up.

Nature’s Miracle is great for pet owners in several ways. Firstly, it tackles odors. And it really tackles them rather than just covering them up. So any urine that’s soaked into your laminate floor will disappear, leaving your home smelling fresher.

If that wasn’t enough, it penetrates deep into the surface of your flooring, picking up dirt and removing stains. Even mud that’s been there a while and dried on.

And since it’s a Bio-enzymatic cleaner, it protects the natural floor finish while still tackling mess. So you can enjoy those walkies without worrying about your floors getting trashed.

Technical Specs

Ingredient Chemical
Concentration Complete
Bottle Spray
Usage Sealed wood, linoleum, vinyl, concrete & ceramic tile
Mess Type Urine, fecal matter, grease, oil, fats, and other organic substrates.

5. Best for Deep Cleaning : Weiman’s Hardwood Floor Cleaner

Weiman’s Hardwood Floor Cleaner
Pros
  • Quicker to dry than regular wax
  • Hardwood floors keep their shine for longer
  • Easy to use with any kind of mop
Cons
  • It’s a more expensive option than some cleaning products

With 80 years of experience, Weiman knows a thing or two about keeping your floors in top condition.

This cleaning product doesn’t just clean laminate floors, it protects them too.

It lifts the dirt and grime that builds up over time, giving your wood floors a deep clean. And it uses micro-filling technology to fade any scratches and help to stop new ones from forming!

So it makes your floors look shiny while also extending their lifespan and protecting them from future damage.

Best of all, it uses natural ingredients instead of harsh chemicals. So you can give your floors a quick clean when your children and pets are around because it’s safe.

Technical Specs

Ingredient Plant-based
Concentration Complete
Bottle Squirt
Usage Any finished hardwood engineered hardwood, vinyl, and laminate floors
Mess Type Greasy messes, dirt, and grime

6. Best for Shiny Floors : Quick Shine Multi-Surface Floor Finish

Quick Shine Multi-Surface Floor Finish
3.5View on AmazonView on Walmart
Our Ratings
  • Bottle Information 3/5
  • Application 3/5
  • Scent 2.5/5
  • Drying Time 5/5

Read Full Review: Quick Shine Floor Finish Review

Pros
  • Laminate flooring stays cleaner after use
  • It dries well and doesn’t leave streaks
  • It seals the laminate floor and protects it
Cons
  • You have to clean your laminate floors before applying

Is there anything more satisfying than a seriously shiny floor? It makes the whole house feel brighter and fresher!

This cleaning product is the top pick for achieving a shiny finish. And with thousands of happy customers, it’s easy to see why.

The complete liquid cleaner is simple to apply straight onto clean floors and just needs a wipe around with a microfiber mop. And if one coat doesn’t leave them shiny enough, you can do several layers to get more of a gloss on your laminate flooring.

It also adds a protective finish, filling in fine scratches and scuff marks as you go. It’s perfect if your floor is starting to show signs of wear and tear.

And if that wasn’t enough, this floor cleaner has the Environmental Protection Agency seal of approval. So it’s a safer choice for you and your family.

Technical Specs

Ingredient Chemical
Concentration Complete
Bottle Squirt
Usage Hardwood, Laminate, LVT-Luxury Vinyl Tile, LVP-Luxury Vinyl Plank, Tile or Stone floors
Mess Type N/A

7. Best Vacuum for Laminate Floors : Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional Upright Vacuum

Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional Upright Vacuum
4View on AmazonView on Walmart
Our Ratings
  • Maneuverability 4.5/5
  • Performance 4.4/5
  • Maintenance 4/5
  • Capacity 3.5/5

Read Full Review: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Vacuum Review

Pros
  • The dirt canister is easy to empty
  • It’s well-constructed but not too heavy
  • Powerful suction
Cons
  • Pet hair gets caught in the canister

A vacuum cleaner is a great tool for keeping your hardwood and laminate flooring free from dust and dirt. And this Shark model is one of the best for the job.

First of all, it has a HEPA filter that is effective at trapping dust. Once it’s been sucked up, it stays locked inside and isn’t released back onto your freshly cleaned floors.

Then, you’ve got an option to turn the rotating brush bar off, which is important for a laminate floor cleaner. When it’s spinning, it can scratch the delicate surface of your laminate flooring, so you want to avoid this.

The lightweight 13.7-pound design means the Shark glides over hard flooring with ease. And the swivel steering makes it easy to move around furniture. So you can have your whole home cleaned in a flash!

Shark Navigator Lift Away On Surfaces

hark Navigator Lift Away on: vinyl, tile, hardwood floors and laminate.

Technical Specs

Ingredient N/A
Concentration N/A
Bottle N/A
Usage All floors
Mess Type All

8. Best Mop for Laminate Floors : Swiffer WetJet Starter Kit

Swiffer WetJet Starter Kit
4View on AmazonView on Walmart
Our Ratings
  • Design 3.5/5
  • Performance 4/5
  • Surfaces 4/5
  • Maneuverability 4.5/5

Read Full Review: Swiffer WetJet Floor Spray Mop Review

Pros
  • It’s easy to control the jet spray with the trigger
  • It glides across a laminate floor
  • The laminate floor cleaner leaves a beautiful shine
Cons
  • The disposable pads don’t last long

Clean floors are great, but you don’t always want to spend hours on them. And that’s where this Swiffer WetJet comes in!

The spray mop has a dual-nozzle sprayer so you can mop and sweep in one go. It saves you time seeing as you don’t have to sweep or dry mop first.

The sprayer dampens your floors with a fine mist, so there’s no standing water. And dirt is picked up and locked into the cleaning pad as you whizz your mop around. It even gets into the grout lines for an ultra clean finish.

This Swiffer WetJet kit comes with a bottle of floor cleaner and has everything you need for optimal results on your laminate flooring. It takes the time out of cleaning for quick results.

Swiffer WetJet Floor Spray Mop

What Our Tester Says

“The Swiffer Wet Jet has a simple, compact design. And the curving handle makes it feel comfortable to hold. […] I was impressed at how well it trapped dust on laminate, hardwood floors, and vinyl surfaces. It was also very efficient for scrubbing stains and marks on these surfaces. [But] I found tiles were the weakest area. The Swiffer WetJet left dirt in grout even when I was using extra pressure. […]That said, the overall cleaning results were very impressive. But, don’t expect flawless results on your tiles.” Meg Amy, Product Tester

Technical Specs

Ingredient N/A
Concentration N/A
Bottle N/A
Usage All floors
Mess Type All

What to Look For When Choosing a Laminate Floor Cleaner?

accordion_icon

Ingredients

There are two different types of floor cleaners to choose between: chemicals and natural.

Chemicals

Some laminate cleaners contain strong chemicals that could be linked to health issues, like asthma (1). And manufacturers aren’t required to list the ingredients on the bottle, so it’s often hard to know what you’re buying.

Even so, chemical floor cleaners are popular because they’re more efficient. So which should you buy?

Look out for a “Safer Choice” label, as these are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency as safer to use. If you don’t see this on the bottle, then wear gloves and a mask when using your laminate cleaner.

For example, this Bona floor cleaner is a “Safer Choice” product.

Natural

You can buy natural cleaners that use biological sources to make the cleaning chemicals. A lot of them use corn based surfactants instead of petroleum.

But this doesn’t necessarily make them safer than other cleaning products (2). And health impacts are similar to other chemical cleaners, so you still need to take care when using them.

This Bona floor cleaner is Green Card labeled.

accordion_icon

Concentration

You can buy hardwood and laminate floor cleaners with two types of concentrations that are used in different ways.

First, a concentrated cleaner should be mixed with water. It’s a bit more of a faff but you’ll often find it’s a cheaper option.
Or you can use a complete cleaning solution that’s ready to go. They tend to run out quicker, so you have to buy more and it can get expensive.

And some floor cleaners need more than one coat, so it’s worth checking how many applications are required first.

accordion_icon

Bottle

You can get different bottles for different kinds of applications. The size of the area you want to clean and what tools you want to clean it with will determine the best bottle for you.

  • Spray bottles have a nozzle, so you spray it straight onto the floor. It’s small and accurate, so it’s a good choice for spot cleaning. Like this Zep hardwood and laminate floor cleaner.
  • Next up, the squirt bottle. You simply pop a small amount onto your laminate floor and spread it around with a mop. You can use a traditional mop, but microfiber mops tend to do a better job.
  • Or finally, you can buy in bulk with a refill container. Then you can distribute it into a bottle, or put it straight into your spray mop. This Aunt Fannie’s Floor Cleaner comes as a large refill bottle.
accordion_icon

Usage

You’ll find some cleaning products are designed just for laminate floors, but others are multi-surface.

If you have a mixture of floor types, then a multi-surface product is best. You only need to buy one cleaner, so it’s cheaper and saves you from switching solutions for each room.

But if you have hardwood floors, make sure whatever you buy won’t damage them.

And a single-surface product will have the best effect on an engineered floor. So it’s worth weighing up your options.

What to Avoid

  • Products with wax or polish, as they leave a filmy, dull residue
  • Using a steam mop or anything else that needs excessive liquid
  • Bleach, ammonia, chlorinated cleaners, or any other harsh chemicals
  • Steel wool or scouring powder, and any other abrasive cleaners
  • “Mop-and-shine” products
  • Soap-based detergents or oil-based cleaners

Laminate Floor Cleaners Comparison Chart

ProductIngredientBottleUsageMess TypeOur Rating
Black Diamond StoneworksBiodegradableSpray bottleReal wood and laminate floorsAll(Testing Now)
Better Life Natural Floor CleanerNaturalSquirtAll hard floorsSpills, stains, and dust4
Rejuvenate All Floor Restore and PolishChemicalSprayAll floorsAll4
Nature’s Miracle Hard Floor CleanerChemicalSpraySealed wood, linoleum, vinyl, concrete & ceramic tileAll(Testing Now)
Weiman’s Hardwood Floor CleanerPlant-basedSquirtAny finished hardwood engineered hardwood, vinyl, and laminate floorsGreasy messes, dirt, and grime(Testing Now)
Quick Shine Luxury Floor FinishChemicalSquirtHardwood, Laminate, LVT-Luxury Vinyl Tile, LVP-Luxury Vinyl Plank, Tile or Stone floorsN/A3.5
Shark Navigator Lift-Away VacuumN/AN/AAll floorsAll4
Swiffer WetJet Starter KitN/AN/AAll floorsAll4
Jump to the Full Laminate Floor Cleaners Reviews

Tips to Keep Laminate Floors Clean

  • Vacuum, sweep, or mop regularly. It removes loose dirt and grime. But remember to turn the beater bar off if using a vacuum
  • Clean up any spills immediately. Even a quick spot clean will do.
  • It’s best to apply a cleaner to a microfiber cloth instead of straight onto the floor
  • The less water, the better! Too much moisture can cause your laminate to expand. So a damp mop is better than a wet one. And then use a soft cloth to dry the floor.
  • Liquid and steam can damage laminate, so avoid close or prolonged contact.

Related Topics


Laminate Floor Cleaners Comparison Chart

ProductIngredientBottleUsageMess TypeOur Rating
Black Diamond StoneworksBiodegradableSpray bottleReal wood and laminate floorsAll(Testing Now)
Better Life Natural Floor CleanerNaturalSquirtAll hard floorsSpills, stains, and dust4
Rejuvenate All Floor Restore and PolishChemicalSprayAll floorsAll4
Nature’s Miracle Hard Floor CleanerChemicalSpraySealed wood, linoleum, vinyl, concrete & ceramic tileAll(Testing Now)
Weiman’s Hardwood Floor CleanerPlant-basedSquirtAny finished hardwood engineered hardwood, vinyl, and laminate floorsGreasy messes, dirt, and grime(Testing Now)
Quick Shine Luxury Floor FinishChemicalSquirtHardwood, Laminate, LVT-Luxury Vinyl Tile, LVP-Luxury Vinyl Plank, Tile or Stone floorsN/A3.5
Shark Navigator Lift-Away VacuumN/AN/AAll floorsAll4
Swiffer WetJet Starter KitN/AN/AAll floorsAll4
Jump to the Full Laminate Floor Cleaners Reviews

Related Reading