Hard Floor Cleaners 101: Choose the Best Tools for Spotless Floors

When it comes to maintaining spotless, gleaming hardwood floors, using the right hard floor cleaner can make all the difference, helping you preserve the look and longevity of your surfaces. Read today’s article and learn what to clean hardwood floors with, as well as a step-by-step on how to do it properly!

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A hard floor cleaner is an appliance you can use to sanitise hardwood floors. It uses hot steam to penetrate and loosen up dirt and grime, and often comes with attachments that make it easier to clean those tricky nooks and crannies.

As for why you need one, the answer is easy: a good hard floor cleaner will make your life a lot easier. Without it, removing stuck-on grime and grease would require more effort. With a steam mop, you can easily reach deep into the crevices of the flooring – no harsh chemicals involved.

These appliances are also eco-friendly and safe for your family and furry friends (again, no harsh chemicals).

Here’s the best way to keep hard floors clean in just four steps:

1. Clear the area by removing furniture and rugs.

2. Vacuum the floor to remove loose dirt and dust. Alternatively, you can use a broom, but ensure it has soft bristles to avoid scratching the floor.

3. Use a hard floor steam cleaner to sanitise the area. Be careful not to soak the floor, but slightly dampen it instead.

4. Dry the floor using a clean, dry microfibre cloth or mop.

Other types of flooring may require specific processes: 

How to clean tiles: Start by sweeping the floor and then steam mop it using a mild tile cleaner. Clean the grout using a brush and, for the best results, finish by buffing everything with a soft cloth.

How to clean linoleum floors: Mix mild dish soap and warm water and use it to mop the floor. Like hardwood, you don’t want to get linoleum flooring too wet, and you should finish by drying it thoroughly, or you risk leaving water spots.

How to clean laminate floors: Laminate flooring can look like hardwood without actually being hardwood. The cleaning process is similar – just be sure to use laminate-safe cleaner and immediately dry the floor after mopping.

How to clean vinyl flooring: Vinyl floors are typically low-maintenance. A mix of water and mild dish soap should be enough to sanitise them. Avoid using aggressive chemicals, as they may damage the vinyl.

Now that you’re across the how-to, it’s time to answer the big question: what is the best hard floor cleaner for your home? We’ve got three strong contenders:

Bissell Steam Mop 

Lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, this Bissell hard floor cleaner sanitises and cleans your sealed hard floors without the need for harsh chemicals – only water. The hot steam makes it easy to loosen and lift dirt and grime, and with the adjustable settings, you know you’re using just the right amount of steam for the type of flooring you’re cleaning. With Bissel, clean, sanitised floors are one simple steam away.

Shark Steam & Scrub Mop

Perfect for all types of floor – from tiles to marble, hardwood, and stone – Shark’s hardwood floor mop scrubs and sanitises at the same time, cleaning with the power of steam. It provides 99% sanitisation with no chemical residue and conveniently removes dirt, dust and residue stuck on your sealed hard floors, saving you time and effort.

Bissell SpinWave Cordless

Another of Bissell’s best mops for hardwood floors, the SpinWave Cordless is a powerful and easy-to-use mop that provides hassle-free cleaning with power spin pads. The swivel steering allows you to easily clean and manoeuvre in tight spaces and the mopping system allows you to apply optimal wetness to thoroughly clean hard floor surfaces.

Here are a few extra tips to help keep those hardwood floors looking as sharp as the day they were installed:

• Regularly sweep and spot clean spills as soon as they happen – the #1 rule for keeping your home as clean as possible.

• Use cleaning solutions specifically designed for hardwood floors. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive ingredients (like ammonia), as these may damage the wood.

• Protect high-traffic areas (think doorways and hallways) with rugs or mats.

• Avoid wearing shoes inside to prevent them from scratching or denting the floor.

• Polish the floor every 2 to 4 months to protect the finish from everyday wear and tear. Use a wood-safe product.

Ultimately, investing in a high-quality steam mop for hardwood floors is key to achieving consistent results. Explore our collection and find the hard floor cleaner for you.