Stiftung Warentest puts floor cleaners to the test
26.4.2023
Translation: machine translated
Caring for parquet or laminate flooring is sometimes like a science. But no matter how much it gets out of hand, it starts with the right cleaner. A test shows which ones are recommended.
Not a good start to the day: the other day, I stepped unerringly into cat vomit with my bare foot on my first step out of bed. The meowing creator of the mess was of course not aware of any guilt - and left the clean-up work to me. So instead of coffee at the table, the morning began with cleaning rags on the floor.
Even if you don't have animal flatmates, you will probably clean your home regularly (hopefully). The Stiftung Warentest has now investigated which cleaners you can rely on for your laminate or parquet care.
The ranking
A total of 16 products were tested. Five parquet and seven laminate cleaners, plus three soft soaps and one all-purpose cleaner. The grades: from good to sufficient
First place among both the laminate and parquet cleaners was awarded a score of 1.6: These were the products from Dm Denkmit Parquet Care and Rossmann Domol Laminate & Cork Floor Care.
Poliboy Pure Kraft Konzentrat (2.9) and Denkmit Laminat- und Korkpflege (3.1) also occupy the top places for laminate. For parquet, it is Emsal Parkett (2.2) and Sofix Bodenprofi (2.6). It is striking that the parquet product from the Emsal brand performed significantly better than the laminate linoleum (3.4).
Cleaning products
Quantity discount
CHF6.20 per piece for 3 units CHF6.90/1l
Emsal Laminate floor cleaner
The only product tested with the grade "sufficient" (3.7) was the parquet & laminate cleaner from Rewe. Contrary to what the name suggests, this is not the "best choice". In contrast, all three soft soaps landed in the midfield: Goldseife Holste (2.7), Dr Weber's die Grüne Seife and Dr Weber's die Schmierseife (both 3.0).
The test
Three experts checked each of the products tested several times. All cleaning products were added to five litres of water in the dose recommended by the manufacturer. The requirements were varied, because a good floor cleaner is a multitasking talent: it should remove dirt effectively, dry quickly and streak-free, and also impregnate and maintain. All of this was scrutinised during the test. Aspects such as material protection and environmental friendliness were also included in the assessment.
Weak points
Six out of seven laminate cleaners left whitish streaks after wiping - exactly what you wouldn't expect after cleaning. The products from Dm, Emsal and Kaufland in particular require polishing after-cleaning.
In addition, you should always read the instructions on the packaging and bottles before use, as the products are not necessarily suitable for all floors. Pronto cleaner and Frosch universal cleaner, for example, should not be used on unsealed wooden floors. This also applies in particular to the soft soaps: The test also revealed that the "Dr. Weber's" products severely alter and discolour varnished cork.
And what else?
Also not insignificant for you: Six of the 16 products tested contained ingredients that can pollute the environment or water. These included Rewe Beste Wahl with an increased amount of a preservative called sodium pyrithione. A questionable stabiliser, on the other hand, is found in Dr. Weber's soft soaps and can carry pollutants into drinking water via waste water. In addition, small plastic particles are contained in the parquet products from Edeka, Emsal and Sofix.
By the way: microplastics are only subject to declaration if they are five millimetres or larger.
Cover picture: Maike Jensen
Cat lady and coffee lover from up north. Always on the lookout for «News and Trends».
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