Laminate flooring contains those tiny grooves right there on the surface. Therefore, cleaning them with the help of traditional techniques can be very challenging.
You can go for a natural cleaning solution to clean your laminate floors without any streaks. You can apply it to your floor with the help of a spray bottle, and using a microfiber mop dry your floor straight away.
You have to do this to make sure you don't leave any footprints left behind. And if you are looking for sparkling floors, you will have to repeat this process every other week.
In this guide, we'll find out how to clean the laminate floor without streaking, so keep reading.
What Is the Best Way To Clean Laminate Floors Without Streaking?
This method of streak-free cleaning requires making a streak-free product. Use distilled water while making a DIY floor cleaner.
Tap water is not the right option. It will add impurities and deposits to your solution, going on the top of the floor. With distilled water, it also becomes possible to store your key for a few weeks.
Making the cleaning solution
Creating your vinegar solution
You need to choose white vinegar for this process because it's streak-free. Mix it in distilled water to make a 50-50 solution within your spray bottle. And before you use it, shake this bottle to mix the fluid.
You can add a couple of drops of any essential oil like lemon or something else. Again, this is a solution that you can conveniently store for several days.
It won't lose the cleaning power that it has during this period. You can also use apple cider vinegar, but white vinegar (distilled) is a much better option.
As vinegar is a natural cleaning, it won't leave any residue. It won't leave any streaks compared to those commercial cleaners. However, premixed cleaners are available at most of those home stores as well.
Making a tea-based solution
You can also boil a cup of black tea using a single tea bag and a cup of water. Just wait for this to cool down and then put it into a spray bottle for use. You can shake it before using it and use it immediately. You cannot store this solution for long.
Making baby shampoo solution
You can fill your spray bottle up with warm distilled water and add a tablespoon of baby shampoo to it. Now, shake this warm water bottle to activate the shampoo in the water, and bubbles start to fill the bottle up.
Now you can use this solution directly on your laminate floor. Baby shampoo is mild and gentle, and you can use it on most surfaces that include laminate.
A solution of baking soda
Before you begin with the cleaning, you need to focus on the floor. Attend any of those stains if there are any on your floor. Next, you can make a paste of baking soda mixed with distilled and warm water. Apply it on the affected area for any food-based marks.
Now allow it to sit there for a few minutes and then wipe it away with a water-dampened piece of cloth.
Alcohol for the tougher stains
If you have any tougher stains, then baking soda is not going to work on them. Instead, you will have to use alcohol but only in a small quantity. Just use a couple of drops directly on the outer surface.
Use a cotton ball for rubbing alcohol on it, and the stains will start to diminish.
But keep in mind that you shouldn't allow alcohol for too long on the surface. Otherwise, the protective coating on the laminate will peel off. It can give an appearance of streaking and dullness as well.
If you don't want to rub alcohol on it, you can use an acetone-based nail polish remover. But rubbing alcohol is the better option.
Performing the Cleaning Process
Doing spot testing
Before the cleaning process on your laminate flooring, test it on non-observable areas.
You are doing this to see for any side effects. If there are no negative signs, you can apply the solution to the affected area. However, if the area gets affected, you need alternate cleaning solutions for your laminate flooring.
Vacuuming for removing debris and dirt
When using a vacuum with a bare floor setting, make sure the bender bar is not directly on your laminate surface. Then, start following the grain and do a couple or even more vacuum passes throughout the room.
You can use other attachments to cover those crevices and corners. If you vacuum beforehand, it will minimize any loose dirt and debris movement.
Positioning yourself and face one wall
Stand with your spray bottle/microfiber mop facing one of the walls in your room back facing the room with laminate flooring. It will allow you to spray in front of you as you walk backward. Otherwise, you may end up leaving footprints or any other marks on your laminate flooring. In addition, doing so will prevent you from stepping on a freshly sprayed solution.
Applying the cleaner
Now it's time to apply the floor cleaner. You can do that by spraying some of the solutions on the microfiber pad. But, first, you can try spraying directly on the floor and keep the sprays mild.
You need to make the floor damp and not soaking in the solution. Any excessive solution on your floor might cause warping or streaking.
Mopping with even and smooth movements
Once you have applied the floor cleaning solution, you need to run your mop pad over those wet areas but keep your strokes straight across the floor. Again, only apply even and well-controlled pressure.
If you are not cautious in your effort here, you might end up streaking the floor. You can stop and look around the floor to see if any streaks are developing not every few minutes. Just make sure that you are not missing any of those wet areas to get your floors without streaks.
Drying it straight away
Right after applying the floor cleaning solution, start with the drying process. Then, you can walk back and use your microfiber cloth to wipe moisture from the floor.
Moving through your room this way will reduce any footprints. But remember to keep buffing them out as you proceed. It will leave a pristine laminate surface behind and floors without streaks.
Using fresh pads
If you are going with the microfiber mops, only use clean pads to dry the floor. If you don't do it, you will apply any layer of grime and dirt on your now-clean surface.
You need to place your pdfs into the washer to clean them and wash them on a delicate cycle. After that, just run them underwater and let them dry.
Don't use any laundry sheets when drying those cleaning pads or clothes. Any chemical from the sheet might get onto the pads, and this might cause streaks on your laminate floor.
Why Is My Laminate Floor Streaky?
Here are some of the reasons why you have streaks on your laminate floor.
Excessive water
Of course, you are going to need water to clean your dirty laminate wood floors. But you don't need a lot of water for this purpose. Using too much water will seep into cracks between the planks and cause streaks or swelling. Therefore, use a small quantity of water.
Going for the wrong cleaner
Natural cleaners are suitable options for your laminate floor. Going for those harsh chemicals is a big no and is similar to some of those commercial cleaners. Stick to any ammonia-free cleaner because ammonia is not friendly to your laminate floor.
Potted plants
They can also cause damage to your laminate floor because they have moisture in them. If you don't move a potted plant from its place, it will begin to mage the surface underneath. Make sure not to overfill the pots and prevent any leakages as well.
Improper vacuuming
Improper vacuuming can damage your laminate floor even more than dirt or grime does.
Just make sure that your vacuum's brush roll is off, or it will scratch your floor. Also, you can use a microfiber dust mop and leave bristle brooms, or they will scratch your laminate floor.
Pet food particles
If any of those pet food particles stay on your laminate floor, then streaks will start to develop. Therefore, it would be good to use a pad or a dish underneath the pet food dish.
Moving furniture
Another widespread form of laminate floor damage is furniture scratching. We tend to drag around furniture on laminate floors, and they become scratched over time. You need to go for those furniture pads at the bottom where the furniture gets in contact with the floor.
Excessive sunlight
If a section of your floor is exposed to sunlight more than others, streaks will focus on the exposed area. Therefore, it is good to use closed blinds or curtains most of the day.
How Do You Steam Clean Laminate Floors Without Streaking?
When cleaning laminate first, you need to keep in mind never to use any steam cleaners or wet mops to clean laminate flooring.
If you do so, your laminate floor will get damaged beyond any repairs. So instead, you always have to go for damp cloth and control those spills as soon as they happen.
If you allow any of those liquids to stay on your floor, they will have a negative impact and will damage your floor. So instead, you should go for an acetone-based nail polish remover with a clean white cloth for any tough spots like paint, oil, lipstick, marker, or ink.
Also, make sure that you sweep, vacuum, and dust your laminate floor regularly using a hard floor attachment. Don't go for the beater bar, or it will dull your floor.
You can also periodically clean the floor with various cleaners. For example, choose specifically designed cleaners for laminate floors. Or you can always go for multiple natural cleaners as well.
Another thing that you need to keep in mind is never to wash your laminate floors or go for wet mopping on them. Don't use any oil-soap detergent or any other liquid-based products on your laminate floor as well.
It might result in swelling. Your floor might also get warped from different areas, especially where the moisture has seeped through. You will end up losing the warranty of your laminate floor as well.
Never use steel wool or other abrasive cleaners when cleaning laminate floors. Additionally, don't use a polishing or buffing machine on your floors as well. Instead, use any of those gentle plastic scrapers to get rid of candle wax or chewing gum.
How to Deep Clean Laminate Floors?
If you're looking for a daily cleaning solution, then good sweeping will work just fine. But if you're more interested in deep cleaning your laminate floors, you will have to mop them. Again, we recommend going for a reusable mop that features a microfiber head.
It is the best eco-friendly option available for streak-free laminate floors. Apart from that, you will also reduce your cost by going for those single-use heads. A spray mop is also a good choice, where a microfiber mop has a refillable sprayer of its own.
You can also use hardwood floor cleaner to clean your laminate floor. Pantry-friendly options are also available. We have enlisted a few at the beginning of the article.
You can make DIY natural cleaners instead of buying expensive commercial cleaners. For a brief overview, we're highlighting them here again for your convenience.
- Begin by sprinkling baking soda on your laminate floor.
- Now, you can mix a cup of vinegar in a gallon of water and a couple of drops of dish soap into this bucket as well.
- Now dip your mop into this solution but make sure that you don't create any piddles.
- Make sure not to mop yourself into one corner, where you will have to walk all over the freshly cleaned floor to get out. Instead, begin from the corner of your room and work backward, so nothing is left behind.
- You should wring the wet mop and give your space a final wipe to eliminate any traces of soap residue or baking soda.
- Also, make sure that you dry your laminate floors using any old towels, or you can also use any paper kinds.
Tackling those tough stains
Stains tend to penetrate your laminate floor while going through the finish. From there, that particular section of laminate floor with discoloration. But there are times when you will need much more than a mere mop.
- You can use alcohol to get rid of those tough stains, including those dyes. Acetone-based fluids will work well on oil-based marks. Both of them need proper ventilation, and you should also need gloves and masks when using them.
- Allow any grease, tar, or paint stains to dry and then wipe them away with a plastic putty knife or a rubber scraper.
- To tackle those scuff marks, you can buff them up with a tennis ball. You can even use a school eraser but sweep away those rubber shavings in the end.
- For pen marks or permanent marker stains, there are various options that you can try. You can write with a dry erase marker on those marks and then use dry erase paper to remove any remaining ink. You can use an acetone-based remover or alcohol to get rid of the stains and dry them off.
- Tackle spots from juice, coffee, and wine right away. If there is still a visible stain, you can wipe it off using a solution of water and vinegar.
Wrap-Up
There you have it. Now you know how to clean laminate floors without streaking. It is pretty simple if you have the right tools at hand. But, first, you have to make sure you maintain that coating on your floors, or they will lose their value.
Don't use any abrasive cleaners. Otherwise, you'll damage your floor. Use natural floor cleaner solutions from your pantry. Or go for mild commercial cleaners but make sure you don't leave water or moisture on your floors for too long.