Laminate flooring has become one of the most popular choices for home owners as they come in a variety of styles, colors, and textures that mimic the appearance and feel of real materials. As an example, laminate floors can look identical to hardwood, slate, or ceramic tiles.
If you’ve used a wet mop on your laminate, you might have noticed signs of streaking and it could be as a result of your cleaning solution or mopping device. This guide will help you learn how to clean laminate floors without streaking so you can enjoy a spotless shine.
What You’ll Need to Clean Laminate Floor
- Bucket or Steam Mop
- Microfiber Cloth
- Hot Water
- Mild Detergent
Step 1: Vacuuming the Floor
The first step to getting a streak-free shine is to make sure you vacuum your laminate. You might find yourself asking whether you can vacuum laminate floors or not and with the right tools, you can easily pick up subtle traces of dirt and grime.
Some vacuum models are designed primarily for carpets, such as most upright models, but a stick, canister, or robotic vacuum can be phenomenal for vacuuming laminate. They typically have lower brush settings, meaning that the suction will be closer to the floor, which is important for hard types of flooring.
These vacuums are also designed with soft rolling brushes to ensure your floor won’t get scraped or scratched during a clean, which protects the integrity of your floor and helps to prevent streaks while mopping.
Step 2: Use Only Hot Water
Hot water is essential to prevent the appearance of streaks, though it’s not necessary that the water is boiling, but that it is hotter than lukewarm. You’ll also find that cleaning with hot water doesn’t allow the dirt to settle into the sealant of your laminate, so you won’t be pushing dirt around while you clean.
Last update on 2023-08-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you’re looking for an all-inclusive tool that will give you the hot water you need as well as a mop, consider a steam mop. You might have seen them in stores before and questioned whether steam mops are safe for laminate floors. Steam mops are specifically designed to heat water inside of the unit and gently mist it across your flooring. The mop will regulate the amount of water that is misted and then it will mop up any traces of the water.
Step 3: Cleaning from the Inside Out
It’s important to remember that any traces of dirt on your floor while you’re mopping will mix with the hot water and spread, causing unsightly streaks once you’re finished. This is why it’s advised that you clean from the middle of the room to the perimeter, as it allows you to easily exit without having to walk across the wet floor.
Also, ensure that you spend a significant amount of time in the center of the room as this is where the majority of foot traffic is and there will typically be more dirt to deal with.
Step 4: Keeping the Mop Wet
If you’re not using a steam mop and instead have opted for a traditional mop, it’s important that you keep the mop wet while cleaning. Otherwise the hot water won’t be able to work on caked on dirt to easily remove it.
When you dip your mop back into the bucket, it will release any rocks, stones, or abrasive materials that may have been stuck to your floors. Without this step, you’re just going to drag them across your laminate, which would wind up destroying the protective coating and lead to further damage in the future.
Step 5: Drying the Floor
The most important step of making sure you don’t have streaks on your laminate is to sufficiently dry your floor. You can either do this with a soft towel or cloth, such as one made of microfiber.
Stagnant puddles of water are not only going to destroy your laminate, but it will also create terrible streaks that will seem impossible to remove. It’s important that you use a soft cloth that won’t scratch the floors but that will soak up enough water.
Depending on the size of the room, you may want to consider hand drying the floor by using a circular motion with your hand. This will help you to buff the laminate to achieve the perfect shine.
Cleaning Solutions for Cleaning Laminate Floors
- Store Bought Cleaners: There are dozens of different brands that develop floor cleaners, but it’s important to find formulas that are specifically designed for laminate. You will need to find a product that offers a mild detergent and is without alcohol, as you won’t want to destroy the protective coating on your floors.
- Safe* & fast drying formula*do not use on unfinished, oiled or waxed wooden boards, non-sealed tiles or carpeted floors because they may be water sensitive.
- Pre-mixed cleaning solution dissolves dirt and tough, sticky messes
- Reveals the natural beauty of your floors
- For best end results on your floor, use with Swiffer WetJet mopping pads.
- There's the perfect Swiffer WetJet solution for any cleaning need! Scents available in: Open Window Fresh with the Power of Dawn, Febreze Lavender Vanilla & Comfort, Gain, Sweet Citrus & Zest, and Wood Edition
Last update on 2023-08-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Vinegar: As one of the most useful cleaning ingredients, vinegar is a phenomenal floor cleaner. All you need to do is add 60 ml of vinegar and 940 ml of water into a spray bottle and use it for tough stains. It’s important that you dilute the vinegar otherwise it could be more abrasive to your floors than you could imagine.
- Gentle Soaps: Baby shampoo is a phenomenal cleansing agent and since it’s developed for sensitive baby skin, you can rest assured that it would work perfectly with your laminate. The important thing is to make sure you thoroughly dilute the solution or you will end up with soapy streaks. It’s advised you add 2 tbsp. of baby shampoo to a full bucket of hot water.
- Window Cleaner: Window cleaner should be a last resort option as some formulas have abrasive ingredients such as alcohol. In the event you’re dealing with a large or difficult stain that is seemingly ingrained in your laminate, using a window cleaner with a soft cloth is the perfect combination.
Keeping your floors clean is the best way to keep your home fresh and inviting. Cleaning laminate can be simpler than other types of flooring, though you will have to pay special attention to ensure there aren’t any streaks. With the combination of hot water or steam, a soft cloth, and sufficient drying methods you will have a streak free shine to show off the beauty of your home.
