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The best hard floor cleaners
Finding the best hard floor cleaner for your home means you’ll always be prepared for tricky spillages, rather than endlessly alternating between a vacuum cleaner and mop.
“Hard floor cleaners are used to make cleaning laminate, hardwood, tile and stone easier and more efficient,” says Nigel Bearman, director of cleaning company Daily Poppins. “They are particularly effective at removing grime and dirt from these surfaces. They can also be great at cleaning up sticky messes, such as spillages of juices, fizzy drinks, wine, food residue and pet accidents.”
I’ve tested the best hard floor cleaners on the market below, with detailed reviews, followed by answers to frequently asked questions. Here’s a quick look at five of our favourites:
The best hard floor cleaners: At a glance
What are hard floor cleaners and how do they work?
Your vacuum can deal with household dust, but not unsightly or sticky stains. Hard floor cleaners, on the other hand, can suck dust up in a similar fashion to your vacuum cleaner, while simultaneously making easy work of these tricky spots.
“Hard floor cleaners are effective for various cleaning tasks, including removing dirt and grime, tackling stains, cleaning up sticky residue and controlling pet odours,” says decluttering and organising expert Nicola Lewis, otherwise known as This Girl Can Organise. “They are great at clearing up food spills, coffee stains or pet accidents in one easy clean.”
The only downside is that some are not as effective at lifting dust as conventional vacuum cleaners (read on to find out which ones) and also tend to be heavier because of the additional weight of a water tank.
How to choose the best hard floor cleaner
“Hard floor cleaners should work on all sealed floors, including tiles, vinyl and hardwood flooring. While most are versatile, it’s important to check the product label for specific compatibility with your floor,” says cleaning expert Lewis. While wet floor cleaners should not be used on soft surfaces like carpet, some models are fitted with gliders to allow for fabric surfaces, which is particularly handy if you have rugs on a wooden floor.
If you have pets, consider one that calls for the addition of detergent as this will also remove odours. Finally, think about the size of the room you’re cleaning. If you want to cover a big space or manoeuvre around obstacles like kitchen islands, then a cordless model will serve you well. Make sure you pick one with a decent battery-life, Lewis adds: “The cleaning power of a hard floor cleaner is also important. Does the model have different hydration settings for example? If it does, you can trust it’s going to get those tougher stains as well as fresh, wet spills.”
