Cleaning Showdown: We Tried 5 Methods to Clean Hardwood Floors — And the Winner Is Ridiculously Simple
Of all the pretty details about our new house, one of the best features is the oak flooring. I’ve lived in homes with hardwood before, but never hardwood this pretty. Suffice to say, I’ve been extra dedicated to finding the best ways to keep my wood flooring shiny and clean. A big part of my floor-cleaning routine is in my kitchen, where the oak is prone to plenty of messes and spills.
If you, too, have hardwood floors, then you probably already know how important maintenance is — that you can’t necessarily use the same products and techniques you would on, say, linoleum or tile flooring. That’s precisely why I set out to pinpoint the absolute best method for cleaning hardwood floors!
In my research, I came across five popular and seemingly effective methods, including several spray-on products, a couple of DIY techniques, and one dedicated hardwood mop. Then I tested each method on my own kitchen floor. I’m happy to report that one stood out above the rest. Let’s find out which one came out on top!
How I Tested Methods to Clean Hardwood Floors
To test the best wood floor cleaning methods, I first made sure to sweep dust, crumbs, and other debris off my galley kitchen floors. Then, I dedicated a section of my floor to each of the five cleaners and tried each method in its designated area, giving me a total of five sections to clean.
To know which method worked the fastest, I set a timer for each one until I started to see results. I then estimated how long each method would take to clean my entire kitchen, multiplying it by five. For all cleaners but the Swiffer WetJet, I used a microfiber mop.
The ratings: I rated my results on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best and 1 being the worst method overall. I also took notes on what I liked and disliked about each technique, including the process and results. Last, I considered the cost of the product, the overall ease of using the technique, and how long each method took me to complete.
Note: Be sure to always check your manufacturer’s instructions before cleaning your hardwood floors. Spot test if you are unsure.
Wood Floor Cleaning Method: Vinegar
- Estimated cleaning time: 7 minutes, 30 seconds
- Rating: 2 / 5
The method: Good ol’ vinegar has long been touted for its cleaning power. It can be one of the most effective and most inexpensive ways to cut through grease, lift stains, remove limescale, and more. So, I could easily see why this simple and inexpensive DIY method might be popular as a floor cleaner.
For this method, you mix 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar with a gallon of lukewarm water in a bucket. To save time (and to avoid carrying a heavy load), I decided to try making my cleaning solution directly in a spray bottle with 1 part vinegar and 16 parts water. Because I was cleaning just a portion of my floor, I thought this might be a good way to go. Then, I sprayed it on a clean microfiber mop. I wiped the dedicated section, re-spraying the mop as needed.
How it went: Hands-down, this was my least favorite method. It was easy to make in a spray bottle, which was a plus, and the vinegar did a decent job cleaning the floor. But I had to re-spray the microfiber more than once to lift stuck-on grime.
In the end, I sprayed it directly on the floor to make it easier. The floors were clean enough, but not shiny when I was done. I was not impressed. Also, the vinegar didn’t smell that great, but I didn’t notice a strong after-smell either. Verdict? Save your white vinegar for other cleaning jobs.
Wood Floor Cleaning Method: Castile Soap and Essential Oil
- Estimated cleaning time: 8 minutes
- Rating: 2 / 5
The method: Castile soap is another solid, but gentle choice for cleaning around the house, making it useful for cleaning slick oven hoods, greasy pots and pans, hard-to-clean oily spills — and really pretty much everything else!
To get started, I filled a bucket with 1/4 cup castile soap, a few drops of lemon essential oil (but you can use whatever you prefer), and one gallon of warm water. Then I dipped my microfiber mop with the solution and cleaned my floor. You can also make this in a spray bottle, too, if you have just a few spots to clean. To do that, just fill a spray bottle with three drops of castile soap, five drops of lemon essential oil, and two cups of warm tap water.
How it went: The castile soap, essential oil, and water mixture definitely cleaned the floor effectively, even lifting sticky residue from the wood. But this technique also required more elbow grease than some of the other methods. If you prefer a DIY cleaner and don’t mind moistening the mop several times, this one is definitely effective.
Wood Floor Cleaning Method: Murphy Oil Soap
- Estimated cleaning time: 10 minutes
- Rating: 3 / 5
The method: I followed the instructions on the Murphy’s product label, diluting 1/4 cup of the product in a gallon of warm water. Then I dipped the microfiber mop in the bucket and wiped the floor.
How it went: This is the method used regularly to clean my floors, so I knew it would be effective. Of all of the techniques I tried, this one most easily deep cleaned my floors, restoring their shine and even removing sticky residue without much effort.
So, why then isn’t this old-school method the winner? While Murphy and a mop made my floors look awesome, it also took way more time than other methods because I had to fill the bucket. It also was a bit harder to control how much liquid I used on my floor when I dipped the microfiber mop in the solution. Compared to the other methods, I ended up spending more time making sure I spread the cleaner around the floor.
Wood Floor Cleaning Method: Method Squirt + Mop Wood Floor Cleaner
- Estimated cleaning time: 6 minutes
- Rating: 4 / 5
The method: I followed the instructions on the label of Method Squirt + Mop Wood
Floor Cleaner, squirting a thin layer onto the floor and then wiping with my microfiber
mop.
How it went: The whole process was extremely satisfying. I loved how easy it was to squirt the mixture on the floor — definitely more efficient than filling a bucket and dipping a mop into it.
The cleaner was the perfect texture, just heavy and thick enough to clean grime from the floor. Plus, this stuff smells amazing! My only critique is that while the cleaner made the floors shiny and removed the layer of surface grime, it wasn’t super powerful at wiping away stuck-on gunk.
Wood Floor Cleaning Method: Swiffer WetJet Hardwood Floor Cleaner
- Estimated cleaning time: 5 minutes
- Rating: 4.5 / 5
The method: I followed the instructions that came with my Swiffer WetJet Hardwood
Floor Cleaner. First, I affixed a clean cloth to the mop head, then I turned on the WetJet
and cleaned the floor.
How it went: All factors considered, the Swiffer WetJet was the clear winner of all of the hardwood floor cleaning techniques I tried. I loved that I didn’t have to spray anything on
the mop or dip it in a solution. Instead, I just pressed a button and wiped away. The battery-operated mop releases just the right amount of cleaning solution to get the job done, leaving the floors clean and polished-looking.
So why subtract half a point? I had to scrub pretty hard to get a bit of sticky residue from
the floor, so I wouldn’t use this method to deep clean. The other issue is the environmental aspect. You can definitely use a reusable cloth instead of the accompanying disposable one, but you’re still going through plastic containers when replacing the cleaning solution. But, despite that, the WetJet sure does make the job easy! (I plan to find other ways to planet-proof my cleaning routine to make up for this one.)
Overall, if you’re looking for a convenient and effective solution that gets the job done quickly at a reasonable price, then the Swiffer WetJet is definitely worth a try. I’ll be keeping mine around for sure!
How do you clean your hardwood floors? Tell us your tips and tricks, plus your favorite products you love to use in the comments below.
This post originally ran on Kitchn. See it there: We Tried 5 Methods to Clean a Hardwood Floor — And the Winner Is Ridiculously Simple