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10 Best Hardwood Floor Polishes of 2024

Updated
Polish and revamp your old hardwood floors with these exceptional products.

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.

Our Top Picks

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Best Natural Hardwood Floor Polish: Quick Shine Hardwood Floor Polish
  • Natural & safer choice
  • Makes floor more durable
  • Fills in minor scratches
Best Scent : Method Wood Polish, Almond
  • Cozy almond scent
  • Works on floors & furniture
  • Made with plant-based oils
Best Polish for Pets: Howard Products Wood Polish & Conditioner
  • Adds a protective coating
  • Moisturizes wood so it doesn't dry out
  • Gets rid of watermarks
Best Multipurpose Hardwood Floor Polish: Mop & Glo Multi-Surface Cleaner
  • Cleans, polishes and protects
  • Fresh mint scent
  • Long-lasting shine
Best High Gloss Polish : Bona Hardwood Floor Polish
  • Adds protective layer
  • Fills in micro scratches
  • Includes antimicrobial protection
Best for Engineered Hardwood: Rejuvenate Pro Wood Floor Restorer
  • Good for engineered hardwood and real hardwood
  • Dries within one hour
  • Shines, polishes, & protects
Best for Scratches: Rejuvenate Shine Refresher
  • Fills in & coats scratches
  • Adds UV protection
  • Only takes one coating
Best Polish for Dark Floors: Howard Products Restor-A-Finish
  • Blends out blemishes & scratches
  • Easy wipe-on & wipe-off
  • Doesn’t remove existing finish
Best Hardwood Floor Polish and Cleaner: Orange Glo Hardwood Floor 4-in-1
  • 4-in-1 solution that cleans, polishes, protects and revitalizes
  • Dries in less than 15 minutes
  • Safe for pets
Best Budget Polish: Pledge Floor Gloss Liquid
  • 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

Finish Quality
4 / 5
Durability
4.5 / 5
Application Method
4.5 / 5
Drying Time
4.5 / 5
Total Rating
4.25 / 5

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

Finish Quality
4 / 5
Durability
3.5 / 5
Application Method
5 / 5
Drying Time
4 / 5
Total Rating
4 / 5

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

Finish Quality
3.5 / 5
Durability
4 / 5
Application Method
4 / 5
Drying Time
4 / 5
Total Rating
3.75 / 5

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

Finish Quality
4.5 / 5
Durability
4.5 / 5
Application Method
4.5 / 5
Drying Time
4 / 5
Total Rating
4.25 / 5

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

Finish Quality
5 / 5
Durability
4 / 5
Application Method
3.5 / 5
Drying Time
4 / 5
Total Rating
4 / 5

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

Finish Quality
4.5 / 5
Durability
4 / 5
Application Method
4.5 / 5
Drying Time
4 / 5
Total Rating
4.25 / 5

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

Finish Quality
4.5 / 5
Durability
4 / 5
Application Method
3.5 / 5
Drying Time
4 / 5
Total Rating
4 / 5

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

Finish Quality
4.5 / 5
Durability
3.5 / 5
Application Method
4.5 / 5
Drying Time
4 / 5
Total Rating
4 / 5

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

Keep away from children. It contains solvent plasticizers and wax emulsions and is harmful if swallowed.

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

Finish Quality
4 / 5
Durability
4 / 5
Application Method
4.5 / 5
Drying Time
4.5 / 5
Total Rating
4.25 / 5

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

Finish Quality
4.5 / 5
Durability
4 / 5
Application Method
4 / 5
Drying Time
4 / 5
Total Rating
4 / 5

Product Comparison Chart

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.

Versatility

Can the wood floor polish be used on other floor types, such as laminate, vinyl, or tile? Can it do more than just polish? Perhaps it also functions as a wood floor cleaner and fills in scratches.

Check the power of a hardwood floor polish before you buy it. It might come in handy for other tasks, too.

Concentration

The higher the concentration, the larger an area the floor polish can cover. If you have ample rooms or a big home, you’ll want something highly concentrated, so you get more for your money.

Toxicity

Hardwood floor polishes are sometimes formulated with polyurethane, a toxic chemical (2). It can cause respiratory distress. Therefore, we wouldn’t recommend this product, particularly if you have children or pets.

There are many products without polyurethane on the market. In this guide, we’ll tell you the toxicity level of each product.

But if you want to go green completely, you can actually make your own hardwood floor polish with water, olive oil, vinegar, and lemongrass essential oil. However, it might not be as effective as the products we are recommending.

Wood Floor Type

Always check if the wood floor polish will work on your wood floors. There are a few different kinds of wood floors, such as engineered, sealed, unsealed, solid wood, reclaimed wood, and more. Read the product description to make sure it will suit your floor type.

Ease of Use

If you’re up for a challenge, go wild with choosing a polish! But many of us just want something simple and straightforward to use.

Read the bottle instructions to learn how to use the polish. Make sure you have the tools to go with it so you can use the polish properly. We’ll let you know how to apply each product so you can decide which is best for you.


FAQs

What’s the Best Way To Care for Hardwood Floors?

  • Daily: Sweep your floors. This removes surface dirt and dust, which can stain and scratch your floor.
  • Weekly: Vacuum the floors. You shouldn’t do this every day because of the strong suction but thoroughly vacuum hardwood floors every week.
  • Monthly: Mop. Hardwood floors can’t handle a lot of water, so keep this to a minimum. Don’t soak the floors either; do a light mop.
  • Deep cleaning: You don’t need to deep clean hardwood floors often. We recommend once a month or whenever the floors are looking particularly dirty or dull.

Natural Deep Clean

There are many natural methods for deep cleaning hardwood floors. One is simply mixing vinegar and water together in a spray bottle, spritzing your floors, and mopping as you go.

How Do I Make My Hardwood Floors Shine?

One of the best hardwood floor polishes can make your floors shine! But between these applications, also follow these tips:

  • Wipe up spills immediately.
  • Sweep daily.
  • Damp-mop infrequently with a wood floor cleaner.
  • Buff dry with a microfiber cloth, so the floors aren’t streaky.

Why Does My Hardwood Floor Look Cloudy?

Cloudy hardwood floors are never pleasant to look at. Here are some reasons why your floors might look cloudy or hazy:

  • Incorrect polish application: You didn’t apply your wood floor polish properly. Always follow manufacturer instructions to a tee, and be patient.
  • Walking over polish: You walked across the floors before they were fully dry.
  • Wrong cleaning products: You didn’t use quality cleaning products. You might have picked a product that did more harm than good to your floors. That’s why we’re here to help.
  • Wrong polish: You didn’t use the right product for your floors. For example, don’t use oil-based products on polyurethane-sealed wood. They can penetrate and damage your floors.
  • Waxing: You waxed the floors even though they didn’t need to be waxed. This can result in buildup, which can look cloudy.
  • Moisture: You used too much moisture. Avoid wet mops — use damp mops instead, and infrequently.

How Do You Remove Dull Film From Hardwood Floors?

If you do have this dull film or cloudy finish, it’s possible to get rid of it.

First, you could try steam cleaning. Make sure to only use this method for sealed floors, though.

Steam cleaning is a chemical-free way to remove the haze or film from hardwood floors. We recommend going quickly so that steam doesn’t build up in areas of the floor for too long.

You could also try cleaning with distilled white vinegar.

Mix one cup of vinegar with one gallon of hot water. Using a cloth, gently rub the hardwood floors in circular motions to remove the dull film. Once finished, go over the floor with a clean damp cloth to remove vinegar residue.

Lastly, wipe the floor dry with a cloth. Make sure the floor is completely dry before using the room again.

What Should You Not Put on a Hardwood Floor?

Don’t use products that contain silicone, ammonia, or undiluted vinegar. Also, avoid citrus juice, tung oil, or excess water. They all eat away at the floor’s surface, ruining the finish.

Is Murphy Oil Good for Hardwood Floors?

Murphy Oil Soap is good for hardwood floors. It is suitable for most wooden surfaces, protects the wood fibers against wear and tear, and helps to restore the finish.


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About the Author

Beth McCallum

Beth McCallum is a freelance writer & book blogger with a degree in creative writing, journalism, and English literature. Beth firmly believes that a tidy house is a tidy mind. She is always looking for new ways to sustainably clean and tidy her house, that's kind on the environment but effective in the house, too!