Quality wood is a valuable investment that should be cherished and passed down through generations rather than tossed away when imperfections appear. If your wooden pieces need sprucing up, a good cleaner can make all the difference.
But which product is right for you? I’ve done in-depth research into customer reviews and expert advice, and gathered seven of the best wood cleaners you can find. Try these trustworthy cleaners to bring life, shine, and color back to your wooden furniture, floors, and fixtures.
Whether you’re looking for something that cleans and polishes, a cleaner wipe, or something hypoallergenic, you should find something life-changing on this list!
- Removes dust without a waxy finish
- Includes a Scratch Cover layer to protect wood
- Lemon and almond scents available
- Cleans, polishes, and protects wood
- Safe to use around kids and pets
- Provides a good buff and shine
- Lovely natural orange fragrance
- Cleans and moisturizes wooden surfaces
- Natural cleaning power of orange oil
- Cleans and dusts, remove grease, grime
- 98% naturally derived ingredients
- Soft wipes don’t damage wooden surfaces
- 100% natural, biodegradable ingredients
- Never tested on animals
- Made in carbon-neutral factories
- Naturally citrus-scented
- Sustainable and biodegradable
- Suitable for both wooden and tile floors
- Streak-free finish for beautiful floors
- Non-toxic and biodegradable formula
- Neutral pH is gentle on hardwood floors
Review Methodology: At Oh So Spotless, we diligently analyze and assess various wood cleaners to provide you with the most reliable information. Our hands-on experience, research, and data-driven evaluations ensure that we thoroughly examine each product’s performance, design choices, and user experience. We compare and rank wood cleaners based on key decision-making factors, such as cleaning power, versatility, safety, and ease of use. Our team of professionals delivers first-hand evidence and quantitative measurements to identify the best wood cleaners in the market. By reviewing our findings, you can trust the results and make an informed decision when choosing the ideal wood cleaner for your needs.
The Best Wood Cleaners of 2024
After searching the wood cleaning market, I found seven wood cleaners worth recommending. This list is based on research into expert advice, my own experience, and genuine customer reviews. I also studied dozens of products, analyzing each cleaner’s type, formula, purpose, and price point. With that in mind, it’s time to transform your most beloved wooden pieces with these brilliant soaps.
Old English Furniture Polish Spray
Best Aerosol Wood Cleaner
This is one of the most popular wood cleaners available and definitely a top choice for many people who want an aerosol product.
For over 100 years, customers have loved and trusted Old English to ensure that wooden furniture looks as good as new. This cleaner will spruce up your dirty wooden surfaces while giving them a beautiful polish and Scratch Cover. This protects them between cleans and preserves natural beauty.
It also leaves your furniture dust-free, thanks to this protective layer. As a result, it’s easier than ever to quickly wipe away dust, fingerprints, food, and liquid, as well as other daily stains.
Customers also love the unique lemon and almond scent offerings.
This cleaner is one of the most versatile options. It’s suitable for basically all types of wood, including birch, oak, hickory, pine, maple, and more. You can even use it on antiques!
Put this to the test on cabinets, chairs, tables, desks, and other furniture. It’s even suitable for floors, though it may take longer than Old English’s dedicated floor cleaners.
Pros
- Handy aerosol bottle, which is easy to use.
- Includes a Scratch Cover layer to protect wood.
- Busts away dust without leaving a waxy finish.
- Lemon and almond scents available.
- Shines and conditions the wood.
- Prevents drying and cracking.
Cons
- Made with synthetic ingredients such as C13-14 Isoparaffin, propane, and more.
- Some found it left a dull finish.
Product Specs
| Type | Aerosol |
| Eco-Friendly | No |
| Budget | $$$ |
| Purpose | Cleans, polishes and protects all wooden surfaces |
| Amount | 37.5 ounces |
Our Ratings
User Experience
Better Life Natural Wood Polish
Best Wood Cleaner and Polish
Give your home’s wooden furniture and surfaces a lovely clean and polish with this plant-derived formula.
With the beautiful cinnamon and lavender scent, your home will have a refreshing quality. Yes, in terms of fragrance, but also in terms of your wood’s appearance. This cleaner removes dust, dirt, smudges, fingerprints, and other marks.
The oil blend then moisturizes and polishes the wood. It even gives it a protected layer to ensure less harm is done to the wood between cleans.
You can use this on wood furniture, antique wood, veneers, cabinets, paneling, and engineered wood. The formula is free from VOCs, petroleum, and alkylphenol surfactants. So it shouldn’t irritate you or anyone in the family while you use it.
Just Note
Pros
- Cleans, polishes, and protects wood.
- Safe to use around kids and pets.
- Natural cinnamon and lavender scent.
- Provides a good buff and shine.
- Leaves a shine when used properly.
- Eco-friendly formula.
Cons
- Oily finish may not work for tables or other such surfaces.
- Some customers found it left a streaky finish.
- Expensive price point.
Product Specs
| Type | Spray |
| Eco-Friendly | Yes |
| Budget | $$$ |
| Purpose | Cleans and polishes wood surfaces (not floors) |
| Amount | 32 ounces |
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
Touch of Oranges Wood Cleaner and Restorer
Most Versatile
If you want a one-stop product for the wooden surfaces in your home, this is it.
Touch Of Oranges wood cleaner and restorer is suitable for all wooden surfaces. This includes floors, cabinets, furniture, antiques, and more.
I love how this provides a deep clean so that you can wipe away grease, grime, and dirt.
But it also uses a moisturizing blend of orange oil and other ingredients to provide moisture to your wooden surfaces. No more drying or cracking. All without the waxy buildup that some other wood cleaners leave behind.
That’s not all — you can also use this for dusting your wooden surfaces. It can even hide minor scratches. Overall, your wooden surfaces will look so much better than before.
Pros
- Lovely natural orange fragrance.
- Cleans and moisturizes wooden surfaces.
- Restores the natural tones, colors, and textures of your wooden surfaces.
- Uses the natural cleaning power of orange oil.
- Removes grease and grime.
- No wax buildup.
Cons
- Vague ingredient list, so you can’t be sure of all it contains.
- May leave behind a residue.
Product Specs
| Type | Liquid |
| Eco-Friendly | No |
| Budget | $$ |
| Purpose | Cleans, polishes and protects all wooden surfaces |
| Amount | 128 ounces |
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
Murphy Oil Soft Wood Cleaner Wipes
Best Wood Cleaning Wipes
Wood cleaning wipes are handy to have nearby, especially for quick spills and cleanups. These Murphy cleaner wipes ticked a lot of boxes for us while we did our research.
For starters, they contain 98 percent naturally-derived ingredients, so they’re safer and more eco-friendly than many other wood wipes on the market. The wipes contain water, Lauramidopropyldimethylamine, and other naturally derived ingredients.
Just be cautious if anyone in the family does have allergies, as it contains fragrance and preservatives, and it’s not specified if these are natural.
I appreciate that these wipes fit on any Swiffer mop. So, while you can use these wipes by hand, you can also attach them to the end of your mop for a quick and easy cleaning of your floors.
Overall, these wipes can be used to clean and dust wooden surfaces. This includes floors, wooden furniture, paneling, cabinets, and more.
Pros
- Cleans and dusts, removing grease, grime, and more.
- 98% naturally derived ingredients.
- Soft wipes don’t damage wooden surfaces.
- Can be used by hand or on the end of any Swiffer mop.
- Suitable for painted and finished wood.
Cons
- High price per wipe when you break down the cost.
- Rip easily when used on Swiffer mops.
- Not enough moisture for larger areas; they dry quickly.
Product Specs
| Type | Wipes |
| Eco-Friendly | Somewhat |
| Budget | $$$ |
| Purpose | Cleans and dust wooden surfaces |
| Amount | 36 wipes |
Our Ratings
First-Hand Impression
Ecos Furniture Polish and Cleaner
Best for Wooden Furniture
Give your wooden furniture the makeover it deserves with this cleaner and polish from ECOS.
This product cleans your wooden furniture with plant-powered ingredients to remove grease, grime, oil, and dirt. It then polishes it, leaving behind a natural shine that enhances the furniture’s original beauty.
Coming in a handy spray bottle, this is super easy to use. Simply spray it onto the wooden furniture a few times before immediately wiping it with a soft, clean cloth. Just be sure not to use it on floors, as this can leave a slippery finish.
Made with the power of olive oil and oranges, this provides a beautiful finish using super-safe ingredients. Safe for you, the home, and your family.
Pros
- 100 percent natural, biodegradable ingredients.
- Cleans and protects wood while leaving a shiny polish.
- Never tested on animals.
- Made in carbon-neutral factories.
- Removes grease, grime, and oil.
Cons
- Bottles are prone to leaking.
- If you don’t wipe immediately and thoroughly, it can leave a dull finish.
Product Specs
| Type | Spray |
| Eco-Friendly | Yes |
| Budget | $$ |
| Purpose | Cleans, polishes, and protects wood furniture |
| Amount | 44 ounces |
Our Ratings
User Experience
Attitude Nature + Hypoallergenic Surface Cleaner
Best Hypoallergenic Wood Cleaner
I know how hard it can be to find the right cleaning products when someone in the family has allergies. Thankfully, this Attitude Nature+ surface cleaner ticks all the right boxes, ensuring a hypoallergenic and safe formula.
All Attitude products are dermatologically tested through extensive safety tests to ensure they’re safe for sensitive skin. So now you can enjoy super clean wooden surfaces without an allergy attack.
This lovely citrus-scented cleaner is made from plant and mineral-based ingredients to leave behind a streak-free finish on your wooden surfaces. The active ingredient is saponin, which is a natural cleanser.
It’s totally biodegradable, and the packaging is recyclable, making this a sustainable choice.
I also love that it’s a versatile product. It’s suitable for both wood and tile flooring, so you can spruce up a few rooms of your home with this cleaner.
Pros
- Naturally citrus-scented — no synthetic fragrances.
- Sustainable and biodegradable, made from plant-based ingredients.
- Hypoallergenic, so it’s safe for sensitive skin.
- Suitable for both wooden and tile floors.
- Low cost per fluid ounce.
- Recyclable packaging.
Cons
- May leave a streaky and tacky finish.
- Not all customers like the smell.
Product Specs
| Type | Liquid |
| Eco-Friendly | Yes |
| Budget | $ |
| Purpose | Wooden and tile floors, cleans only |
| Amount | 35.2 ounces |
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
Jaws Hardwood Floor Cleaner Bottle
Best Eco-Friendly Wood Cleaner
There’s no need to waste plastic and harm the environment anymore. With this super eco-friendly wood cleaner, you can reduce your carbon footprint while giving your wooden pieces a total makeover.
This bottle is compatible with these awesome refill pods. So when you finish the wood cleaner, you don’t need to throw out the bottle. Instead, simply order more refill pods and dissolve in water. As a result, you cut down on tons of plastic waste.
As well as being eco-friendly in terms of packaging, this is also a biodegradable formula. The safe but effective ingredients are kind to you, the environment, and, of course, your floors. Thanks to the pH-neutral formula, you don’t need to worry about damage.
Speaking of floors, this is fantastic for hardwood floors, leaving them clean, streak-free, and shiny. But it is also suitable for laminate and tile and wooden furniture such as cabinets, shelves, and tables.
Pros
- Streak-free finish for beautiful floors and furniture.
- Non-toxic and biodegradable formula with eco-friendly packaging.
- Neutral pH is gentle on hardwood floors.
- Budget-friendly and cost-effective over time.
- Works on marble, linoleum, stone, and other materials.
- EPA Safer Choice certified.
Cons
- Not suitable for unsealed wood.
- Works on some flooring materials better than others.
Product Specs
| Type | Spray with refill pods |
| Eco-Friendly | Yes |
| Budget | $ |
| Purpose | Wooden floors and furniture, plus tile and laminate. Cleans only. |
| Amount | 27 ounces |
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
| Product | Best | Type | Eco-Friendly | Budget | Suitable for | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old English Furniture Polish Spray | Aerosol Wood Cleaner | Aerosol | No | $$$ | All wooden surfaces | 37.5 ounces |
| Better Life Natural Wood Polish | Wood Cleaner and Polish | Spray | Yes | $$$ | Wood surfaces (not floors) | 32 ounces |
| Touch of Oranges Wood Cleaner and Restorer | Versatile | Liquid | No | $$ | All wooden surfaces | 128 ounces |
| Murphy Oil Soft Wood Cleaner Wipes | Wood Cleaning Wipes | Wipes | Somewhat | $$$ | Wooden surfaces | 36 wipes |
| Ecos Furniture Polish and Cleaner | For Wooden Furniture | Spray | Yes | $$ | Wood furniture | 44 ounces |
| Attitude Nature + Hypoallergenic Surface Cleaner | Hypoallergenic Wood Cleaner | Liquid | Yes | $ | Wooden and tile floors | 35.2 ounces |
| Jaws Hardwood Floor Cleaner Bottle | Eco-Friendly Wood Cleaner | Spray with refill pods | Yes | $ | Wooden floors, furniture, tile, laminate | 27 ounces |
How To Choose the Best Wood Cleaners
Before you go and grab the first wood cleaner you see, it’s important to tick a few boxes. You should consider the type, the ingredients, your budget, and more when shopping for wooden cleaners. This will ensure you make the wisest decision.
Type
You’ll find a variety of wood cleaner types. This includes:
- Sprays.
- Liquids.
- Pastes.
- Aerosol.
- Wipes, etc.
Consider what is going to be the most practical for you. Typically, sprays are a top choice because you can easily apply the solution to every wooden fixture.
Aerosol is also very popular but may irritate your breathing since it spreads throughout the air. Wipes are handy for quick cleaning.
Eco-Friendly
There are lots of eco-friendly and natural wood cleaners on the market. If you want something green, you’re in luck.
Always check the ingredient list to see if the product is eco-friendly or derived from natural sources. If it’s biodegradable, that’s a good sign it will be kind to the environment and safe to use around the whole family.
I’ll give you a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer to whether each product is eco-friendly.
Budget
The best way to check the value of a wood cleaner is to look at the cost per fluid ounce or per wipe. The lower this is, the more you’re getting for your money.
Thankfully, wood cleaners come in a range of prices, starting at around $5 and going up to about $45. The average price of a wood cleaner is about $12.
Versatility
Be sure to consider the purpose of the wood cleaner and how versatile it is. Is it for furniture, floors, both, or something else?
What kind of wood does it work on? Will it only clean? Or can it possibly polish, moisturize, fill in scratches, and more?
FAQs About Wood Cleaners
How Do You Sanitize Wood?
So you want to kill germs and bacteria on your wooden furniture. Here’s an effective method:
- Mix and shake: Mix two cups of water, one cup of white vinegar, and five drops of dish soap into a spray bottle. Shake well to combine.
- Spray and wipe: Spray onto the wooden surface and wipe thoroughly with a clean, soft cloth.
- Dry: Wipe after with a dry cloth.
The vinegar can disinfect the wood, while the dish soap clings to germs and bacteria and removes them. Just be sure to wash your cloth in hot water afterward.
How Do You Clean Dirty Wooden Furniture?
Any of my recommendations will work wonders at cleaning grease, grime, and dirt from your wooden furniture. If you want a DIY method, the above recipe is also a fantastic daily cleaner for wood.
How Do You Clean Wood Naturally?
Here is a natural way to clean wood:
- Mix: Mix one cup of water with three tablespoons of distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle.
- Shake: Shake to combine.
- Spray: Spray onto the wooden surface.
- Wipe: Wipe well with a soft cloth.
- Dry: Dry thoroughly.
If you want to polish wooden furniture, try this:
- Mix: Mix one cup of extra virgin olive oil and ½ cup of lemon juice together in a bowl.
- Rub: Dip in a microfiber cloth and rub a small amount into your wooden surface using circular motions.
- Repeat: Repeat until the wood is polished.
- Leave it: Do not rinse or wipe dry.
Can You Clean Wood With an All-Purpose Cleaner?
Usually not. All-purpose cleaners are safe on most materials, including metal, plastic, marble, stone, and tile, but do not use on wood unless the manufacturer explicitly states that it’s safe.
What Is the Difference Between Murphy’s Oil Soap and Murphy’s Wood Cleaner?
There are some notable differences between Murphy’s Oil Soap and Murphy’s Wood Cleaner. Both have the same formula of ninety-eight percent natural ingredients and two percent synthetic.
But Murphy’s Oil Soap is a multi-surface cleaner made for various surfaces, including wood. However, Murphy’s Wood Cleaner is the better choice for wood surfaces. It contains ingredients that will protect, restore, and clean wood. If you have wooden surfaces and want to use a Murphy’s product, I highly suggest choosing the wood cleaner over the oil soap.
How Do You Restore Old Wood Furniture Without Stripping?
The best way to restore old wood furniture without stripping is to clean it with mineral spirits, remove blemishes and paint splashes, and repair dents and scratches with epoxy resin.
