If you’re going for a wood look on a budget, laminate flooring is one of your best choices. It looks great, lasts a long time, and costs significantly less than hardwoods.
The big downside is that laminate flooring is much more sensitive to harsh cleaners. And when you use too much or the wrong kind of mopping solution, you’re left with streaks.
Key Takeaways:
Start by sweeping the floors thoroughly, then spray a water-based cleaner directly onto the floor. Mop the floor, then dry it with a microfiber cloth. Streaks often occur when there’s too much water or if you use the wrong cleaner.
The Best Way to Clean Laminate Floors
The best way to clean laminate flooring is by using a water-based mopping solution. A water-based cleaner will remove dirt without causing streaks or build-up. To do so, you need to thoroughly sweep your floors. Afterward, spray an appropriate cleaner on the floor and mop with a dry microfiber mop.
Pro Tip: Always remember, less is more when it comes to cleaning laminate flooring. My personal experience has taught me that using excessive amount of cleaner leaves the floor saturated and leads to unwanted streaks. Stick with a small amount of cleaner and spread it evenly with a microfiber mop for best results.
Why Your Laminate Floors Look Streaky After You Clean Them
If you want to keep your laminate floors from looking streaky, you need to know what causes it. The two biggest reasons laminate flooring turn out streaky are:
- Too much water is left on the floor after mopping.
- Using too much cleaner or the wrong type of cleaner.
Luckily, these are both easy fixes.
First, if you’re using a wring mop or another type of mop that you heavily saturate with water, you need to replace it. Using excess water on laminate is a huge red flag – not only will it cause streaking but it can cause permanent water damage to your floor.
A better solution for laminate flooring is a microfiber mop.
Secondly, if you’re overusing your cleaner or not diluting it enough, your floors will look very streaky from the excess soap.
Pro Tip: From personal experience, I’ve found maintaining a regular cleaning schedule for your laminate floors helps prevent buildup of dust and dirt that often leads to streaks. Sweeping or vacuuming twice a week can make a big difference to the overall appearance of your floors. And always spot clean spills immediately to prevent staining and streaking.
Top 3 Cleaners to Use on Laminate Flooring to Prevent Streaking
Here are a few of the best options.
Black Diamond Wood & Laminate Cleaner
Black Diamond Wood and Laminate Cleaner is one of the best commercial products available for laminate floors. This cleaner is very gentle yet still capable of cleaning up oil, footprints, and dirt.
Better Life Floor Cleaner
If you’re looking for a natural product you can purchase off the shelf, try Better Life Floor Cleaner. This product is gentle and rinse-free. It comes in a squirt bottle, so all you need to do is squirt a little on the floor and mop up with a dry mop.
I’ve personally used this mopping solution on my floors – it cleans well and smells amazing.
Homemade Streak-Free Laminate Cleaner
If you’re more into making mopping solutions yourself, try our homemade streak-free laminate floor cleaner. Here’s what you’ll need:
- ¼ Cup of Vinegar
- ¼ Cup of Rubbing Alcohol
- 1 Gallon Warm Water
Mix these ingredients, and add to a spray bottle. Next, lightly spray your flooring and then mop up with your microfiber mop.
Pro Tip: As an additional piece of advice that wasn’t mentioned in the article, gently rubbing walnuts into small scratches can help disguise them. Over the years, I’ve learnt that this trick can effectively hide the minor everyday scuffs and help maintain the look of your laminate floors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make my laminate floors shiny?
The number one reason laminate floors look dull is that they have a soap or oil build-up caused by using too much product. Eliminating this build-up is the best way to make laminate floors shiny. To do this, mop your floors with a ½ white distilled vinegar and ½ water solution, and then dry with a microfiber mop head.
If this doesn’t work, find a laminate flooring polish to use.
What’s the best mop for laminate flooring?
The best mop for laminate flooring is one with a microfiber head. These mops are great at picking up dirt and are hard to oversaturate.
The worst mops to use on laminate flooring are wring mops and sponge mops. These mops tend to oversaturate floors which can result in water damage.
How can I prevent footprints on my laminate floor?
Footprints are often seen on laminate flooring when an oil or wax-based cleaner has been used. You can remove this film by mopping it with a water and vinegar solution. To avoid the build-up from recurring, switch your cleaning product to a gentle, water-based cleaner.
Conclusion
If you’re wondering cleaning laminate floors without streaking, the most important thing you can do is not overuse your cleaner. A light spray of a water-based cleaner and a microfiber mop will help you achieve a streak-free shine. Also, remember to avoid using a mop that spreads water, or else you’ll end up with streaks once again.
