Why Choosing the Best Tile Floor Cleaner Matters
Some tile floor cleaners leave your floor with a sticky residue, and others don’t properly disinfect the surfaces in your home. Ineffective cleaning solutions cause streaking, make your tiles look dull, and can harm the surface of your tile. But finding the right product doesn’t have to be that hard with this handy guide to the best tile floor cleaners.
Editor’s note: Check out our article on the world’s worst tiling jobs we’ve seen.
Top Tile Floor Cleaners: Reviews and Features
What should you look for in a good tile floor cleaner? You want one that offers a streak-free clean, an anti-bacterial formula, and a fast drying time. Take a look at the key features of the seven best cleaners for tile floors and see which one will work best for you.
Bona Hard Surface Floor Cleaner
Key Features
- pH-neutral cleaner
- Nontoxic, nonflammable, degreasing formula
- Safe for hard-surface floors like stone, no-wax sealed tile, laminate, and luxury vinyl (LVT)
- Safer Choice Certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Pricing
- $11.99 for a 64-ounce bottle; $19.97 per gallon
Whether you have stone, tile, laminate, vinyl, or marble floors, Bona Stone Floor Cleaner is a great choice for hard surfaces. This tile floor cleaner won’t dull your floor’s shine and is safe for people, floors, and the environment.
Bona has been a trusted leader in floor cleaning products for over a century. They prioritize environmentally friendly and sustainable business practices. They’ve also earned the Climate Pledge Friendly certification through Amazon by changing their product sizes and weights to reduce their carbon footprint.
Bona comes in various sizes—including concentrates. Mix in a bottle and mist a 4’ x 6’ section of floor, then lightly wipe back and forth with your mop in the sprayed area. It requires no rinsing and your floor dries within minutes.
Black Diamond Stoneworks Marble & Tile Floor Cleaner
Key Features
- Safe for marble, travertine, granite, slate, ceramic, and porcelain tile
- Eco-friendly and biodegradable, safe for pets and children
- No rinsing required
- Concentrated cleaner that saves you money
Pricing
- $19.98 for a 32-ounce bottle; $39.98 per gallon
For a spot-free shine on tile floors, Black Diamond’s Marble and Tile Floor Cleaner is formulated to clean your floors deep so you can feel confident they’re as clean as they look. It’s formulated without harsh or abrasive chemicals, so it’s safe for all types of floors, and it won’t harm pets, children, or the environment. It’s a Climate Pledge Friendly product available in various sizes, so you can reduce packaging by buying in bulk.
Black Diamond is a gentle but tough cleaner that works on deep stains. Simply add 2 to 4 ounces per gallon of water and use it to mop your floor with a regular mop for a streak-free shine. It’s safe to use on all your tiled kitchen and bath surfaces and countertops, making it the only cleaner you’ll need.
Hoover Renewal Tile and Grout Floor Cleaner Solution
Key Features
- Powerful cleaning solution that revitalizes tile and grout
- Fresh citrus scent tackles deep stains
- Safely cleans all sealed hard surfaces, laminate, hardwood, and vinyl floors
- Made for use in all Hoover Hard Floor Cleaners
Pricing
- $19.99 for a 64-ounce bottle
Hoover has been in the floor cleaning business since 1908, and they have a complete lineup of floor cleaners for every type of floor imaginable. The Hoover Renewal Tile and Grout Floor Cleaner Solution is a versatile product. You can use it in any hard floor cleaning machine. Safe for use on all sealed hard surfaces, it does great work on tiled and hardwood floors. You can even spot clean area rugs with it.
This product has no streaking, haze, or residue, and it works great on pet messes. It’s a concentrated formula, so each bottle cleans twice as much. The enzymatic cleaning ingredients work great on tough, everyday grime and scum buildup, and it leaves your kitchen, entryways, and bathrooms smelling fresh for up to a week.
Zep Neutral pH Floor Cleaner Concentrate
Key Features
- Cleans and restores your floor’s shine
- Safe for marble, granite, vinyl, tile, and stone floors
- Concentrated formula only takes one ounce per gallon of water
- Step 4 of the Zep 4-step Floor Maintenance System
Pricing
- $12.98 per gallon
The importance of a neutral pH floor cleaner can’t be overstated. When cleaning products are too alkaline, like bleach and baking soda, or too acidic, like citrus cleaners and vinegar, they can damage the finish of your floor. Zep Neutral pH Floor Cleaner protects your floors from damage caused by an imbalance in pH levels so that they will last longer.
At just $12.98 per gallon of concentrate, this is one of the least expensive floor cleaners out there. This product is step 4 of the 4-step Zep Floor Maintenance System, which is an industrial-type solution used to restore your floors to their original luster. Step 1 in the Zep Floor Cleaning Kit is a stripper that removes acrylic finishes and residue, Step 2 is a stain-resistant sealer that gives your floor a clear gloss, and Step 3 is a floor polish that reduces scuff marks and slips. They can be applied manually with a mop or any floor-cleaning machine.
Rejuvenate Stone, Tile, & Laminate Floor Cleaner (Refill)
Key Features
- Fast-drying formula
- Covers 2,000 sq. ft.
- Streak-free—doesn’t leave any film or residue
- pH-neutral formula
Pricing
- $22.98 per gallon
This cleaning solution is part of the Rejuvenate Click n Clean Floor Cleaning System, which is compatible with the Rejuvenate Multi-Surface Spray Mop. This unscented spray restores the original color of your grout and works on laminate, hardwoods, and tile floors.
Rejuvenate floor cleaner is a urethane-based formula that cleans and protects. Most tile floor cleaners are made to restore shine, but this one will enhance the natural sheen of your floor and bring back the original luster. It’s the best floor cleaner for tiles, specifically made for plank floor tiles. Even though you might think your wood-grained vinyl floors are clean, you’ll be amazed at the difference this cleaning solution makes.
Best Natural Tile and Hard Floor Cleaner – Method Squirt + Mop
Key Features
- Biodegradable formula made with plant-based ingredients
- Except for the lid, the bottle is made of 100% recycled plastic
- Choose from Ginger Yuzu, Lemon Ginger, and Spearmint Sage scents
- Hypoallergenic, cruelty-free
Pricing
- $5.68 for a 25-ounce bottle
Method Squirt + Mop Hard Floor Cleaner stands out as an ecologically friendly choice with its biodegradable plant-based formula and recycled packaging. It’s made to clean linoleum, vinyl, laminate, and tile floors, but it’s safe for all surfaces, so it can be used anywhere in your house.
The no-wax formula doesn’t leave residue, and the bottle has an ergonomically shaped nozzle spray to cover your floors easily as you mop. This product is pet friendly, doesn’t need to be diluted, and all of the scents smell delicious.
OdoBan No-Rinse Neutral pH Floor Cleaner
Key Features
- Made with natural surfactants and has no dyes or phosphorus
- Neutral pH formula that’s safe for pets
- Safe for all the hard surfaces in your home, including countertops, sinks, and toilets
- Use with a mop or in a spray bottle
Pricing
- $7.98 per gallon or $15.96 for a 2-pack
Priced considerably lower than other cleaners, OdoBan No-Rinse Neutral pH Floor Cleaner is made with naturally-derived surfactants, meaning it’s just as good for the environment as it is for your wallet. It works great on all types of sealed hard surfaces, including wood floors.
Mix one ounce of this concentrate per gallon of water for a cleaning solution that deodorizes and restores shine to your floor. With a neutral pH and a slight citrus scent, it’s specially formulated to get rid of tough odors from pets, and it’s also safe to use around children. You can also use it on your countertops, toilets, and sinks.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Tile Floor Cleaners
There are several factors to consider when choosing the right tile floor cleaner for your home. For many, their primary concerns will be compatibility with the type of tile they have and how effective the cleaner is, but for others, finding a cleaner safe for pets and children is more important.
Tile Type and Compatibility
There are many different types of tile, and they are all made with durability in mind, but it doesn’t take long for the wrong kind of cleaner to damage your floor. To select the best cleaner for tile floors, look for a formula designed for your floor type.
Most floor cleaners for hard surfaces will work well on any type of tile floor. Still, you should avoid cleaners with abrasive grit or acidic ingredients because they will damage the surface of your tile and can even deteriorate the grout.
Cleaning Efficiency and Effectiveness
You want a product that makes it easy to clean. Many brands offer multipurpose cleaners that are effective at handling most cleaning problems. You’ll also see some brands with a lineup of products designed for every purpose under the sun. That’s because some messes require a different cleaning solution.
To find the most effective and efficient floor cleaners, find the one designed for your purpose. If stains are a problem, look for a floor cleaner that tackles tough staining. If pet odors are a problem, find one that works for that.
Safety and Environmental Considerations
It’s more common than ever for people to make purchasing decisions based on environmental considerations. Choose products with biodegradable formulas and eco-friendly packaging if that’s important to you. Amazon’s Climate Pledge is a great place to start.
People with pets and small children have an important decision to make because finding the right floor cleaner can impact the health of their loved ones. Children spend a lot of time at floor level, so using a safe, gentle cleanser is important if you have little ones running around. Look for the Safer Choice certification from the EPA to guide you.
Residue-Free and Streak-Free Cleaning
Many floor cleaners cause streaking and leave filmy residues, and it can be frustrating trying to find one that lives up to its promises. Choose one of the best floor cleaners for tile on this list, and make sure you’re using the proper floor-cleaning equipment. Avoid using excess water and too much cleaning solution for best results, and work on a small section at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tile Floor Cleaning
How often should I clean my tile floors?
You should sweep your tile floors at least twice weekly to remove dirt and debris. Use the best cleaner for tile floors and mop weekly in your bathroom and every other week in the rest of your house. Invest in an industrial-type steam cleaner for tiled floors, and deep clean your grout every few months.
Can I use vinegar as a tile floor cleaner?
Vinegar is a powerful cleaner, but it’s not recommended for tile floors. Not only does the acid in vinegar eat away at the grout, but it can also ruin the finish of your tile. Choose a tile floor cleaner with a neutral pH for the best results and long-lasting tile floors.
Are tile floor cleaners safe for pets and children?
Not all tile floor cleaners are safe for pets and children. Since young children spend a lot of time playing and crawling on the floor, using nontoxic floor cleaners is important when you have little ones in your house.
Should I dilute the cleaner with water?
Most floor cleaners are concentrated. Read the instructions before use to determine what the recommended ratio of floor cleaner to water is. Usually, you only need one or two liquid ounces per gallon of water.
Can I use a scrub brush or sponge with the cleaner?
The best choice for floor tile cleaning is a microfiber mop. If you use a scrub brush or sponge, you’ll use too much water, and cleaning tile floors with excess water can damage your floor and cause mold problems. Start by vacuuming up loose dirt, then clean one section of the floor at a time using as little water as possible.
