If you have hardwood floors throughout your house, what a luxury! They’re beautiful, classic, and often antique. But they require a lot of care, including polishing them every few months to maintain a glossy look and prevent damage.
With dozens of options available on the market, it can be hard to find the best option. We’ve done the research for you, so you don’t have to. After investigating real customer reviews, product formulas, and expert advice, we put together a list of the 10 best hardwood floor polishes.
Check out our choices that will make your hardwood floors look as good as new.
- Natural & safer choice
- Makes floor more durable
- Fills in minor scratches
- Cozy almond scent
- Works on floors & furniture
- Made with plant-based oils
- Adds a protective coating
- Moisturizes wood so it doesn't dry out
- Gets rid of watermarks
- Cleans, polishes and protects
- Fresh mint scent
- Long-lasting shine
- Adds protective layer
- Fills in micro scratches
- Includes antimicrobial protection
- Good for engineered hardwood and real hardwood
- Dries within one hour
- Shines, polishes, & protects
- Fills in & coats scratches
- Adds UV protection
- Only takes one coating
- Blends out blemishes & scratches
- Easy wipe-on & wipe-off
- Doesn’t remove existing finish
- 4-in-1 solution that cleans, polishes, protects and revitalizes
- Dries in less than 15 minutes
- Safe for pets
- Budget-friendly option
- Revamps floors so they look new
- Protects floors from scratches and stains
Product Reviews
We’ve spent hours researching customer reviews, expert advice as well as the products themselves. With this information, we bring to you the list of the 10 best hardwood floor polishes on the market.
Check them out!
Quick Shine Hardwood Floor Polish
Best Natural Hardwood Floor Polish
The Quick Shine hardwood floor polish is formulated with plant-based carnauba. It’s free from aluminum, fragrance, phthalate, ammonia, and other toxic chemicals. The EPA approved it as a safer choice product, so if you’d prefer a more natural option for a wood floor polish — this is our recommendation.
The Quick Shine polish brings back the richness of color and the original beauty of your hardwood floors. Whether they’re new or vintage, make them more durable with this polish. It adds a protective layer, fills in minor scratches, and evens out the floor’s texture.
Once applied with a floor mop in even strokes, it dries to a high gloss in only 30 minutes. After that, it’s totally safe for your kids and pets to run back into the room.
Pros
- Natural and safer EPA choice.
- Brightens and restores the natural colors.
- It makes the floor more durable, even in heavy-traffic areas.
- Fills in minor scratches.
- One bottle covers 1200 square feet.
- Provides protection against UV rays.
Cons
- More expensive option compared to other products.
- Leaves a low luster shine despite the promise of a rich glow.
Product Specs
Versatility | Floors only |
Toxicity | Natural option |
Wood Floor Type | Sealed hardwood only |
Ease of Use | Easy to apply — use slightly damp floor mop in even strokes |
Size | 64 ounces |
Our Ratings
Method Wood Polish, Almond
Best Scent
If you want a polished and scented finish, check out the Method Wood Polish in almond scent. It leaves a rich, nutty smell behind, which is quite cozy! It’s not overly sweet and doesn’t linger for too long.
Customers love this unique scent choice, stating that it smells like a cake or pastry. Yum.
This polish works well on floors, wood furniture, and cabinets, too. It uses plant-based oils and polishers to give wood a streak-free shine.
It comes in a handy spray bottle — made from recycled and recyclable plastic — so you can apply it easily. Bring out the inner beauty of your hardwood floors with the Method Wood Polish.
Pros
- Cozy almond scent that customers love.
- Works on floors, furniture, and cabinets.
- Made with plant-based oils and polishers.
- Handy spray bottle made from 100 percent recycled plastic.
- Product never tested on animals.
- Provides a fantastic shine for a plant-based product.
Cons
- Bottles are prone to leaking.
Product Specs
Versatility | Floors, cabinets, and furniture |
Toxicity | Skin irritant |
Wood Floor Type | Finished wood only |
Ease of Use | Very easy — spray and wipe with a soft cloth |
Size | 14 ounces (pack of six) |
Our Ratings
Howard Products Wood Polish & Conditioner
Best Polish for Pets
If you have pets, you’ll be familiar with how their running around can scratch your hardwood floors. You’ll probably need to polish the floors more often, but with a safe product for pets. That’s where Howard Products wood polish & conditioner comes in.
You should keep your pet out of the room while applying this product. Avoid inhaling vapors and fumes, too. But once the scent has been ventilated — it’s safe for your dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, whatever, to come back into the room!
This is also a good idea for pet owners because you can use it on furniture, too. If your pup jumps up and scratches your kitchen cabinets or wooden doors, this product will restore and polish the wood.
Pros
- For all wooden furniture and finished floors.
- Adds a protective coating and soft luster.
- Moisturizes wood, so it doesn’t dry or deteriorate.
- Gets rid of watermarks and heat rings.
- Brings out the natural beauty of the wood.
- Safe for old and new furniture.
Cons
- Doesn’t leave a super shiny, glossy finish.
- Doesn’t fill in scratches.
Product Specs
Versatility | Anything with a wood finish |
Toxicity | Harmful if inhaled |
Wood Floor Type | Any finished or unfinished wood |
Ease of Use | Easy to apply with a soft cloth |
Size | 16 ounces |
Our Ratings
Mop & Glo Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner
Best Multipurpose Hardwood Floor Polish
It’s likely that hardwood isn’t the only type of flooring in your house. If you’re looking for a multipurpose hardwood floor polish, we recommend the Mop & Glo multi-surface floor cleaner.
It cleans, shines, and protects hardwood, vinyl, marble, linoleum, ceramic, no-wax, and tile floors. So your entire house can be cleaned, polished, and protected from water and scratch marks.
It has the concentration of three household cleaning products in one. It then polishes your floors so they glisten in the light.
Lastly, it protects your floors from everyday damage like furniture, pet, and shoe scratches. Your floors will also be safe from food and drink spills and plant leakage.
You won’t smell ammonia or bleach when applying this product, either. In fact, it even leaves behind a fresh mint scent so that your house smells super clean!
Pros
- Cleans, polishes, and protects floors.
- Compatible with hardwood, vinyl, marble, ceramic, and other floor types.
- It leaves behind a fresh mint scent.
- Long-lasting shine that locks in after only 20 minutes.
- Super simple one-step process.
- Protects floors from pet scratches.
Cons
- Contains methoxydiglycol, an unsafe chemical (1).
- Might leave a streaky finish.
Product Specs
Versatility | Hardwood, vinyl, marble, ceramic, linoleum, no-wax, and tile floors |
Toxicity | Contains methoxydiglycol, an unsafe chemical |
Wood Floor Type | Any |
Ease of Use | Easily apply with a damp cloth, mop, or sponge, then rinse |
Size | 32 ounces |
Our Ratings
Bona Hardwood Floor Polish
Best High Gloss Polish
Some people like a more matte polish — others like a high gloss. If that’s you, then the Bona Hardwood Floor Polish is something to reach for.
When you polish wood floors with this product, prepare yourself for a dramatic transformation. This will shine up your floors like no man’s business. It also adds a protective layer after filling in scratches. If dull floors are your problem, this is the solution.
One bottle covers 500 square feet of flooring. You can use it on unwaxed, unoiled, or polyurethane-finished wood floors. This product is also certified by Greenguard, meaning it has low indoor chemical emissions, making it a safer choice for you and your family.
Pros
- Long-lasting, high gloss finish.
- Adds a protective layer against heavy football.
- Fills in micro scratches for an even appearance.
- Greenguard-certified as it has low indoor chemical emissions.
- Includes antimicrobial protection against bacteria and mildew.
- One bottle covers up to 500 square feet.
Cons
- Builds up if you use it too frequently.
- Might leave a slippery finish.
Product Specs
Versatility | Floors only |
Toxicity | Greenguard Certified |
Wood Floor Type | Unwaxed, unoiled, polyurethane-finished wood floors |
Ease of Use | A bit time-consuming. Work in small sections with a damp microfibre mop |
Size | 32 ounces |
Our Ratings
Rejuvenate Professional Wood Floor Restorer
Best for Engineered Hardwood
If you have engineered hardwood, you can still polish those floors! Use the Rejuvenate Professional wood floor restorer on engineered hardwood as well as real wood and hardwood floors.
All it takes is one application and one hour of your time to achieve a glossy finish to your floors.
This product polishes floors, restores glossy shines and protects the floor. So if you have a lot of foot traffic on your floors, this is a great choice. It will protect the floors from further damage between applications.
Enjoy this non-toxic, polyurethane-based formula that covers up to 525 square feet per bottle.
Pros
- Good for engineered hardwood and real hardwood.
- Dries within one hour.
- Shines, polishes and protects floors.
- Non-toxic formula.
- Doesn’t leave behind a waxy residue.
Cons
- Slippery for about six hours after application.
- Doesn’t fill in scratches, despite claims.
- Not suitable for tile, vinyl, stone, laminate, or other flooring.
Product Specs
Versatility | Floors only |
Toxicity | Non-toxic |
Wood Floor Type | Sealed wood, hardwood, and engineered hardwood |
Ease of Use | Easily apply with a microfiber mop going with the grain |
Size | 32 ounces |
Our Ratings
Rejuvenate Shine Refresher Hardwood Polish
Best for Scratches
Unfortunately, hardwood floors scratch easily, whether that’s from moving furniture, energetic pets, or even vacuuming. The Rejuvenate Shine Refresher hardwood polish is our top pick for polishing those scratches away.
It’s designed to instantly remove scratches on hardwood floors, as well as linoleum, tile, vinyl, and other floor types. It does this by filling in the scratches, then coating them with a protective layer. Finally, it seals the floors and protects them against UV rays that can fade hardwood.
Make sure that you let it dry completely before walking across as normal. Otherwise, you can create new scratches in the protective layer. If this occurs, you can sand the floor back, vacuum, use a wood floor cleaner, and reapply the product.
Pros
- Fills in and coats scratches.
- Compatible with many floor types.
- Adds UV protection.
- Non-toxic and covers 1400 square feet.
- It only takes one coat.
- Provides a long-lasting shine.
Cons
- Difficult product to use and distribute evenly.
- The protective finish can scratch if walked over before fully dry.
Product Specs
Versatility | Floors only |
Toxicity | Non-toxic |
Wood Floor Type | Slate, cement, cork, hardwood, laminate, stone, ceramic tile, vinyl, linoleum, terrazzo |
Ease of Use | Finicky and tedious to apply |
Size | 32 ounces |
Our Ratings
Howard Products RF6016 Restor-A-Finish
Best Polish for Dark Floors
The Howard Products Restor-A-Finish is a top choice if you have dark floors! It comes in a range of colors. The options for dark floors include dark walnut, cherry, golden oak, neutral, walnut and mahogany.
This product polishes floors but also blends out minor scratches, blemishes, and abrasions. So your floors will look a million times better than before!
It’s straightforward to use. Just wipe it on and off with a microfiber cloth. It restores your floors but does not remove the existing finish, so you can keep them ultra-protected.
With this polish, you can maintain the antiqueness of your floors or other wood furniture. But also say goodbye to heat rings, water damage, sun fade, oxidation, and smoke damage.
We recommend wearing a protective mask and gloves while using this product. Once applied, leave the ventilated room until the fumes disperse. Don’t let pets or kids around this product while in use.
Pros
- Multiple color options for dark wood.
- Blends out minor blemishes and scratches.
- Easy wipe-on, wipe-off application.
- Doesn’t remove the existing finish.
- Removes heat rings, sun fade, smoke damage, and other imperfections.
Cons
- The effect doesn’t last too long.
- Strong smell and fumes — you must leave the room afterward.
Product Specs
Versatility | Anything with a wood finish |
Toxicity | Harmful if inhaled but safe once dried |
Wood Floor Type | Any, as long as it’s been previously finished |
Ease of Use | Wipe-on, wipe-off |
Size | 16 ounces |
Our Ratings
Orange Glo Hardwood Floor 4-in-1
Best Hardwood Floor Polish and Cleaner
We think a 4-in-1 floor product is a ‘yes, please!’ The Orange Glo Hardwood floor is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a hardwood floor polish and cleaner.
Multitask with this product. It cleans your floors, polishes them, protects and revitalizes. You don’t need to do four long steps anymore — this product does the hard work for you.
The product instructions recommend using this monthly to keep your floors in tip-top condition. However, some customers only use it every few months. Keep an eye on your floors to see when they require a top-up.
This product cleans away dirt and grime. Then it fills in scratches, and builds up a water-protective layer before leaving a long-lasting shine.
Caution
Pros
- 4-in-1 solution that cleans, polishes, protects, and revalitises floors.
- Dries in less than 15 minutes.
- Safe for pets (wait until floors are dry before letting them back in the room).
- Brings out the natural beauty of your wood floors.
- Great for homes with lots of foot traffic.
Cons
- Easy to get residue build-up if used too frequently.
- Not very shiny.
Product Specs
Versatility | Hardwood floors only |
Toxicity | Harmful if swallowed, safe once dried |
Wood Floor Type | Polyurethane-sealed hardwood floors |
Ease of Use | Easily applied with a damp mop — air dries |
Size | 24 ounces |
Our Ratings
Pledge Floor Gloss Liquid
Best Budget Polish
On a budget but still, want polished floors? No problem. The Pledge Floor Gloss Liquid costs less than other options and is an amazing product.
Your floors will look brand new again when you use this polish. You can use it on sealed wood, laminate, and no-wax floors. Do not use this on unsealed surfaces.
It leaves a glossy protective finish. So those areas where you have high traffic in your home are protected. Scuff marks, scratches, and dirt won’t settle here anymore.
If shiny floors are what you’re after, this is a quality choice. It delivers a glossy finish on floors. But customers are also using this for cosplay costumes, scale models, and wood furniture.
Pros
- Budget-friendly option.
- Revamps floors so they look as good as new.
- Works for laminate floors, too.
- Protects floors from scratches and stains.
- Leaves a glossy finish behind.
Cons
- Off-putting smell.
- Not recommended for dark floors.
Product Specs
Versatility | Floors, furniture, and crafts |
Toxicity | Recommended to keep away from children and pets |
Wood Floor Type | Sealed wood, laminate, and no-wax floors |
Ease of Use | Easy. Apply, wait then spread evenly with a cloth |
Size | 27 ounces |
Our Ratings
Product | Best | Versatility | Wood Floor Type | Ease of Use |
---|---|---|---|---|
Quick Shine Hardwood Floor Polish | Natural Hardwood Floor Polish | Floors only | Sealed hardwood | Easy |
Method Wood Polish, Almond | Scent | Floors, cabinets & furniture | Finished wood | Easy |
Howard Products Polish & Conditioner | Polish for Pets | Anything with a wood finish | All types | Easy |
Mop & Glo Multi-Surface Cleaner | Multipurpose Hardwood Floor Polish | Hardwood, vinyl, marble, ceramic, linoleum, no-wax & tile | All types | Easy |
Bona Hardwood Floor Polish | High Gloss Polish | Floors only | Unwaxed, unoiled, polyurethane finished | Tedious |
Rejuvenate Pro Wood Floor Restorer | For Engineered Hardwood | Floors only | Sealed, hardwood & engineered hardwood | Easy |
Rejuvenate Shine Refresher | For Scratches | Floors only | Slate, cement, cork, hardwood, laminate, stone, ceramic tile, vinyl, linoleum, terrazzo | Tedious |
Howard Products Restor-A-Finish | Polish for Dark Floors | Anything with a wood finish | Finished wood | Easy |
Orange Glo Hardwood Floor 4-in-1 | Hardwood Floor Polish and Cleaner | Hardwood floors only | Polyurethane sealed hardwood | Easy |
Pledge Floor Gloss Liquid | Budget Polish | Floors, furniture & crafts | Sealed wood, laminate, & no-wax floors | Easy |
Should You Polish Your Hardwood Floor?
It’s crucial to polish your hardwood floor regularly. Here’s why:
- Beauty: It makes the floors look shiny and more beautiful.
- Repair: It fills in or treats scratches and scuff marks.
- Protect: It protects your floors against damage from pets, vacuums, and over-cleaning.
- Restore: It restores the protective finishing layer.
Key Features to Look For
There are important factors to consider when shopping for your hardwood floor polish. Keeping these elements in mind will help you find the best polish for you.