The Best Laminate Floor Cleaner

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Murray
Published on
August 9th, 2019

Expert BioExpert Bio

Ben’s formal training and certifications in cleaning include the ASD (Advanced Structural Drying), AMRT (Applied Microbial Remediation Technician),
WRT (Water restoration technician), CCT (Carpet Cleaning technician), and bio hazard cleanup, as well as several other certifications from the IICRC. Ben has managed teams involved in cleaning projects around the United States. Ben’s passion for cleaning dates all the way back to keeping his rugby gear tidy while a young lad. Ben holds an undergraduate degree from Oxford, a Master’s degree from Oxford, and a mountain of hands on experience at the school of hard knocks.

The Cleaning Institute

Everyone wants nice, clean, shiny hard flooring, but finding the right tools to make this a reality can be more difficult than it should be. It seems that every option out there leaves behind unsightly streaks, creates grungy films, or otherwise just doesn’t get your floors as clean as you want them to be. The The Cleaning Institute team understands your struggles and is here to help you. We have 35 years of experience (and counting!) with finding the best of the best cleaning products on the market. Here you’ll find our latest reviews of laminate floor cleaners.

Testing Categories

Application – We created this category to test how easy a product was to apply. Some products needed to be sprayed and allowed to sit for a period, while others were more like dry mopping solutions and required a bit of extra effort to work. Ease of use is always a big factor in our reviews, and this was no exception here.

Odor – When it comes to odors on cleaning products, there’s a fine line between “tolerable” and “unbearable.” We checked each product to make sure their scents lay on the “tolerable” side of the spectrum—if they had a scent at all, which wasn’t a bad thing, either.

Effectiveness – You don’t want a floor cleaner that dulls your floors or leaves behind messy, gunky streaks. Therefore, we tested our cleaners to make sure all they left behind was a clean, shiny floor.

Top Pick

Bona Stone, Tile
& Laminate
Floor Cleaner

Bona has designed this water-based floor cleaner to be eco-friendly, won’t leave behind residue, and is guaranteed to dry quickly. Best of all, it works on a wide range of surfaces.

Price Check

Most notable upside: When it comes to flawlessly cleaning tile flooring, this product is one of the most effective solutions available. It’s especially useful for cleaning marble and laminate surfaces, and it is so effective that you really only need to apply it a couple of times per week at most, even on flooring that sees a lot of foot traffic. It restores shine, doesn’t streak, and is incredibly quick-drying. You won’t have to worry about any strange odors or residue being left behind once you’re done cleaning either. For best results, spray and work the product in with a mop.

Biggest downsides: While this product can technically be used on hardwood, you run the risk of stripping the finish away. Some reviewers wound up with dull, streaked tiles after usage, and others encountered stickiness. This floor cleaner does not play nicely with Saltillo tiles, and can cause the surface to dull.

5/5
Strength
5/5
Application
4/5
Drying Time

Honorable Mention

Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner:
For Hardwood, Real, Natural &
Engineered Flooring

The Black Diamond wood and laminate floor cleaner is ideal for getting rid of minor stains and scuffs and is easy to apply. Spray a little, wipe it up, and enjoy sparkling results!

Price Check

While there may be an issue with rotten batches, overall this product is incredibly efficient at cleaning laminate and wood floors with little to no streaking and fast drying action.

Most notable upside: This product is a great investment for caring for laminate and wood flooring. It can clean your floors and leave no streaks behind. Should you find streaks along your floors anyway, you can easily re-apply the product and buff them right out. A little bit of Black Diamond floor cleaner can clean quite a wide surface area; just two cups’ worth of product can clean a 20-by-30-foot room with ease. Additionally, because this cleaner is liquid-based, it can very easily reach into those difficult to clean nooks and crannies of your floors and wash away the dust and dirt. This product also dries quickly, which can be ideal if you’re cleaning an area that regularly sees a lot of traffic. It’s also pet-safe, so you won’t have to worry about the health of your furry friends after cleaning your floors.

Biggest downsides: Unfortunately, this product does have a powerful odor about it that you may find unpleasant. Recent reviews report a rotten, mildew-like odor, which suggests the strong possibility of a bad batch being released for sale. Some reviewers found that this cleaner also dulled their wood floors and can also create film over time.

4/5
Application
2/5
Odor
4/5
Effectiveness

Green Pick

Better Life Naturally
Dirt-Destroying
Floor Cleaner

Better Life’s floor cleaner boasts powerful cleaning capabilities, as well as a refreshing citrus and mint scent. This product is meant to work on laminate, hardwood, vinyl, and many other floor types.

Price Check

If you’re looking for an all-natural floor cleaner, this product may be an effective solution. It smells great and is easy to use, despite its tendency to streak.

Most notable upside: We (and other reviewers) absolutely love the way this product smells! If you like citrus scents, this product may be a good match for you in that category alone; it also lingers throughout your home for added pleasantness. Furthermore, the scent comes from essential oils and is less likely to upset allergies. This product is also incredibly easy to apply; spritz it onto your flooring and wipe it away to enjoy shiny, clean floors. It’s also quick-drying for an added bonus.

Biggest downsides: The scent of this product won’t be for everyone - beware if you don’t like citrus smells in general. There seems to be some degree of soap incorporated into the formula, and as a result, some reviewers found it left behind a sticky film after use. You may want to add water to this product before cleaning with it to avoid streaks.

4/5
Application
4/5
Odor
3/5
Effectiveness

All Our Picks

Tips for Effective Laminate Floor Cleaning

There are many ways to go about making your laminate floors spotless, as well as how to use cleaner to get the job done. The first is to avoid cleaners with pine scents. This most often points to soap being used within the cleaner’s formula to some degree which, in turn, can lead to a sticky, gross film you’ll have to spend extra time scrubbing off. Second, don’t use cleaners with shining agents in them; these can create a wax-line film that will stick stubbornly to your floors.

If you have a high chair in your home or a pet whose bowls are on your laminate floors, be sure to place mats underneath to catch accidental spills. Finally, when you do encounter spills, wipe them up as soon as possible to avoid staining.

A Note About Safety and Storage

Storing laminate floor cleaners is no different from storing other cleaning products within your home. Always make sure they are closed tightly before putting them away to prevent spills and leaks. You’ll want to stow them in a cool, dry cabinet that is either out of the reach of pets and children, or locked entirely to keep them out.

Best Cleaning Practices For Laminate Floors

Laminated floors should be treated with special care when cleaning. It can easily get ruined when the wrong type of cleaning solution or appliance is used on it. There are challenges to keeping it sparkling clean all the time. While there is no special skill necessary to keep it pristine, consistency can do wonders in prolonging the life span of your floors.

How To Clean Laminate Floors

As with all other cleaning regimens, prevention is better than cure. Do not wait for splotches of liquid to settle on the laminate floors before wiping it dry. Restrain the liquid from further spreading to avoid damage to a larger surface area. Keep your sponges, absorbent cloths and mops at hand to keep you ready of any spillage (e.g. pet urine, milk, water, etc.). If the spill stained the laminate floor, immediately treat it with mild soap and hot water.

Regularly sweep floors. Incorporate it in your daily routine or exercise so it never feels like a chore but self-care instead. Opt for a natural bristle broom than a plastic standard brush. Standard brushes do not catch on very fine dust as a natural bristle broom would. Also plastic brushes have stiff straw-like bristles that can be too harsh for laminate floors and can cause scratches. Sweep towards the same direction the boards were laid down. This way you can also get through the cracks and lift dirt in between.

Although sweeping daily is suggested it can still leave a lackluster surface. Wet washing should be done at least once every month. Mop with hot water because cold water can leave streaks. Use a damp mop. Any excess water dripping on the surface can leave spot marks if left to absorb through the floor. Do not add any cleaning solution for the first mopping.

Do a thorough mopping with dilute multi-purpose cleaning solutions, mild detergent, or baby shampoo. Avoid using scented and dyed detergents as this can leave streak marks. Mops should be damp and not soggy to avoid leaving puddles behind. Start from the center of the room to avoid stepping on the mopped areas.

Wipe dry with a microfiber cloth if the floor is still too wet after you have finished cleaning up the other side of the room. If it is moist, let it air dry.

How To Remove Stains From Laminate Floors

Wine, soda, crayon marks, and ink stains can be removed simply with a mildly damp fiber cloth. Dampen the cloth any of the following: a little detergent, mineral spirits, and ink remover. Wipe with water and dry with a microfiber cloth.
Blood can be difficult to remove if not dealt with immediately. Spray the spot with window cleaner. Immediately wipe with a damp microfiber cloth with warm water.

Nail polish, shoe polish and tar can be removed the same way you would on your nails. Use nail polish remover or acetone to spot clean. Wipe with water and dry with a microfiber cloth.

Put a cold pack over the area of concern until the grease freezes. Chip off frozen grease with a plastic knife.

Heel and scuff marks can be removed using regular white pencil erasers. Take note that colored erasers may stain just the same, so use white all the time.

Chewing gum is definitely a challenge to get out of laminate floors especially if it falls between the cracks. Try to harden the gum with an ice pack. When it gets hard, scrape with a plastic knife while carefully avoiding scratching the floor. Do not use metal knives as they will surely scratch the floor.

Extra Pieces of Advice

Put rubber foam on the soles of the legs of furniture and frequently shuffle them to avoid permanent markings on the floor.

Using laminate floor cleaners that guarantee a shiny surface can leave a waxy substance that may cause accidental slipping. On the other hand, scented formulas such as the pine scent can leave a dull soapy coat making the floor look dated.

Do not apply furniture polish on laminate floors. This will only streak to oblivion and will look bad.

As advised above, sweep your laminate floors every day. However, if you have a robot vacuum, that should work well, too.

Mop floors once a month but do not use steam mops at any instance. This will warp each board and cause cracks to reveal.

These are only a few of the ways and means to ensure a squeaky clean laminate floor. Laminate floor cleaners are common in the market but several of them work differently. The variety includes eco-friendly, pet-friendly, high shine, and restorer options. Eco-friendly formulas are also good options for those with health concerns. These are formulated to have a minimal scent so they are in no way offensive to the olfactory senses. Pet-friendly formulas are good for cleaning and removing odors from accidental animal urine and manure. High shine formulas are sometimes too good to be true because wax only stays on top of the surface and never gets absorbed anyway but you can always try for yourself. The restorer formulas, as the name suggests, promises redemption of a dull laminate floor. It dries quickly claims to remove scratches.

The Best Laminate Floor Cleaner

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Murray

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

Bona Stone, Tile
& Laminate
Floor Cleaner

Strength

Application

Drying Time

Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner:
For Hardwood, Real, Natural &
Engineered Flooring

Application

Odor

Effectiveness

Better Life Naturally
Dirt-Destroying
Floor Cleaner

Application

Odor

Effectiveness

All Our Picks

Bona Stone, Tile
& Laminate
Floor Cleaner

Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner:
For Hardwood, Real, Natural &
Engineered Flooring

Better Life Naturally
Dirt-Destroying
Floor Cleaner

Tips for Effective Laminate Floor Cleaning

A Note About Safety and Storage

Best Cleaning Practices For Laminate Floors

How To Clean Laminate Floors

How To Remove Stains From Laminate Floors

Extra Pieces of Advice

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

The Best Laminate Floor Cleaner

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Murray

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

Bona Stone, Tile & Laminate Floor Cleaner

Strength

Application

Drying Time

Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner: For Hardwood, Real, Natural &Engineered Flooring

Application

Odor

Effectiveness

Better Life Naturally Dirt-Destroying Floor Cleaner

Application

Odor

Effectiveness

All Our Picks

Bona Stone, Tile & Laminate Floor Cleaner

Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner: For Hardwood, Real, Natural &Engineered Flooring

Better Life Naturally Dirt-Destroying Floor Cleaner

Tips for Effective Laminate Floor Cleaning

A Note About Safety and Storage

Best Cleaning Practices For Laminate Floors

How To Clean Laminate Floors

How To Remove Stains From Laminate Floors

Extra Pieces of Advice

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Bona Stone, Tile
& Laminate
Floor Cleaner

Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner:
For Hardwood, Real, Natural &
Engineered Flooring

Better Life Naturally
Dirt-Destroying
Floor Cleaner

Bona Stone, Tile
& Laminate
Floor Cleaner

Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner:
For Hardwood, Real, Natural &
Engineered Flooring

Better Life Naturally
Dirt-Destroying
Floor Cleaner