How To Clean Laminate Floor Without Streaking? 21 Proven Tips & Tricks

The floor is the leading beauty of your home. Maintaining laminate floors properly is crucial when it comes to their longevity. 

If you wipe the floor in the wrong way, there is a chance to make some streaks.

Today I will talk about how to clean laminate floor without streaking. I also give you some basic ideas about laminate flooring because if you know the process thoroughly to clean the laminate floor, you can maintain your laminate floor for a long time. Before we move on to the main topic, let’s talk about laminate flooring.

What You’ll Need to Clean Laminate Floor

• Traditional bucket or steam mop
• Microfiber cloth or towel 
• Hot water
• Laminate floor cleaner  

Why Does Laminate Flooring Need Extra Care?

Laminate isn’t really wood. Although it looks just like wood, it is actually a synthetic flooring product that fuses several different materials under high pressure known as lamination.

For those who are looking for the look of hardwood floors without sacrificing their budget, laminate is a great choice. Like traditional hardwood, it is stable without moving.

The laminate typically comprises four layers:

1. Top Layer
2. Decor
3. HDF
4. Carrier

The top layer is made from aluminum oxide, which adds strength and mill amine to protect the product from heat and stains. This layer also gives the product protection from scratching as well as fade resistance from sunlight.

Next is the deco layer. This is a layer of paper where the design of the flooring is printed. Actually, it is a photograph of the wood or stone that the laminate is replicating. In some laminate, the image is printed straight onto the board for a better finish.

Below the decor, HDR is the thickest layer of the laminate. High-density fiberboard or HDF for short. This layer adds strength and stability to help prevent moisture from seeping through. This layer also carries the click system. The thicker the HDF layer, the stronger the click system.

The final layer is the carrier. This backing protects the laminate from moisture from below and so prevents the board from warping.

Key Steps To Avoid Laminate Floor Streaking

I have discussed above the laminate floor properly which will help you better understand.

We find a lot of misinformation on the internet about how to clean laminate floors without streaks. I know this is a pathetic point for you guys, especially that haze issue. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and get some answers from the internet.

If you want to make your floor more beautiful and shinier, you need to maintain some habits.

1. Sweep Or Vacuum To Remove Loose Dirt And Debris

The most important step is also the easiest. Caring for your laminate floor starts with regularly scheduled sweeping or vacuuming. Debris left on the floor can get caught underfoot or dragged around by a mop and cause scratches on the floor.

Remember to use a vacuum with a hard floor attachment and not the beater bar. The frequency will depend on how messy the space gets and how frequently it gets used. But so long as you are mindful, your floors will look great.

2. Mop The Floor Smoothly

First of all, using the right mop is crucial. For laminate floors, a flathead microfiber mop is best because it keeps moisture out and is the easiest way to use a spray product, which brings me to my next point.

It is not recommended to use pine, lemon, oil soap, bleach, or ammonia-based cleaners on these floors. The reason is that they do not leave a beautiful finish on the floors but damage them instead.

In order to clean your laminate floor the way the manufacturer recommends, you must use a floor cleaner specifically designed for laminate floors. Those can be found in home centers or flooring stores in spray bottles. When you do mop, make sure you mop in the direction of the grain to avoid the appearance of streaks.

3. Use Only Hot Water

Yes! Only water can successfully prevent the appearance of streaks. Make sure you use hotter than lukewarm but not boiling water obviously. Hot water doesn’t allow the dirt to settle into your laminate floor. So you can do your cleaning task effortlessly, without spending extra force.

You can make this cleaning task more comfortable by using a steam mop. Don’t worry; a steam mop is safe for laminate floors. Steam mop contains a heated water-producing unit; it gently mists hot water across your flooring. After that, it mops up all the traces of water. And so you get an instant shiny laminate floor.

4. Cleaning From The Inside Out

Most of the foot dirt is found in the middle of the room. Thus, Cleaning experts recommend starting at the center of the room. It allows you to exit without having to walk across the wet floor. It will reduce unsightly streaks once you’re finished.

This simple cleaning strategy helps you a lot, while you’re mopping. You can trace any dirt quite effectively. In this way, you can effectively deal with foot traffic.

5. Keeping The Mop Wet

While cleaning with a traditional mop, be sure to keep the mop wet. Otherwise, you can’t clean stubborn dirt. When your mop is dry and you use force to clean dirt, you will create streaks. Be careful about that.

6. Drying The Floor

Drying the floor is one of the most critical steps to get a laminate floor without streaking. Because, stagnant water can destroy your laminate floor, and create terrible streaks. 

After applying the cleaning solution, start the drying process from where you started. You can use a mop pad or a soft towel (microfiber cloth) that won’t scratch the floors and pick up the moisture from the floor. Always walk backward. This way, minimize your footprints and produce a pristine surface.

Dirty microfiber cloth or mop pad added another layer of dirt onto the clean surface. It has to be cleaned, fresh, and germ-free. To do that, you can wash them under some warm water.

If you want to soak up water from the floor manually. You can consider a circular motion with your hand, depending on the room size. It will give you a perfect shiny laminate floor.

How To Use Homemade Solutions For Cleaning Laminate Floors

There are too many laminate floor cleaning methods on various websites; most of them are worthless methods. In this article, I will show you some productive ways of cleaning the laminate floor. If you maintain one of those methods, it should save your time. You will find your floor is shining without any dirty streaks.

If you follow my listed methods, you can successfully prevent your laminate floor to get any unaccepted streaks. You have to use these methods such as:

• Vinegar
• Baking Soda
• Tea
• Baby Shampoo
• Alcohol

1. Vinegar

Today I am going to tell you a super easy solution. Vinegar is a common ingredient. You can easily find it in your home or in a nearby shop.

In this method, you will need one gallon of warm water, a spray bottle, and vinegar. First of all, mix one cup of vinegar with one-gallon water. Then mixed them properly. Take the mixture into the spray bottle. That is, not a big deal, a straightforward method. Thus, you can make your own laminate floor cleaner. This is very helpful for your laminate floor.

2. Baking Soda

Baking soda, otherwise known as sodium bicarbonate, is a white powdery substance used primarily as an ingredient in baking. You might recognize baking soda as the stuff you mix with vinegar in order to create an erupting science fair volcano.

But what if I tell you that, outside of these two more widely known uses! Baking soda can be used to fulfill a variety of other needs as well. As it turns out, baking soda has a number of potential benefits beyond creating baked goods and semi-realistic volcanic eruptions.

You can also use baking soda as a laminate floor cleaner. 2/3 cups baking soda, 1/ 2 cups of dishwashing powder, and two tablespoons distilled white vinegar mixed them into One-gallon warm water. Pour this mixture into the spray bottle. The laminate floor cleaner is ready to use.

3. Tea Method

I know you are Surprised to hear that tea is a cleaner. Yes, tea can be used as a laminate floor cleaner. The main principles of tea are proanthocyanidins, and polymer chains of flavonoids. These ingredients are useful to clean the laminate floor.

Now any black tea will be excellent (I recommended Twinings of London English Breakfast Black Tea Bags for both drinking & cleaning). But if you want to brew a great pot of tea, then take out a cup for yourself and sit down and have a cup of tea. 

Boil a cup of water with a teabag. Then take a gallon of warm water and mix them. Then pour it into a spray bottle. This way, you can make a tea base floor cleaner at home.

4. Baby Shampoo

Baby shampoo is useful for cleaning laminate floors. I am going to tell you how to clean laminate flooring without streaking by using baby shampoo.

Fill your spray bottle with warm or room temperament water. Mix 15 ml of baby shampoo then shake until the spray bottle is filled with bubbles. This is an easy way to make a laminate floor cleaner. 

5. Remove Tough Stains With Rubbing Alcohol

If you use it wisely, alcohol can be an effective homemade stain remover. It has the ability to remove tough stains. Using a cotton ball, apply a little amount of alcohol in a particular area. But never let the alcohol sit down for too long; otherwise, you will find your laminate floor dull and streak. Because too much and longtime alcohol starts peeling the protective coating layer. 

You can use an acetone-based nail polish remover, or window cleaner as well.

How To Maintaining Laminate Floors?

It is really important to clean them very frequently. But when you clean them, do not use fabric softener. It does not smell pretty also it’s going to bring the haze back even if you are using a laminate-approved product. So, skip any fabric softener.

More info: Why do laminate floors get so dirty?

1. What Is A Hazy Floor And How To Avoid It?

Let’s talk about one of the worst issues facing laminate floor owners: the haze. It is the equivalent of a cleaning horror movie. You clean and clean. It just keeps reappearing and it’s practically impossible to rid of. Through this article, I will help you to solve this very mysterious problem.

What is the cause of this haze? You must use a laminate-approved product. Nothing else! If you use soaps, perfumed oils, and pine base solution, you are going to get the haze.

Is there anything we can do about the haze? Not a big deal. Once you have that haze, it’s going to be really hard to get off. What I would recommend is that you should use the right laminate cleaner. In that case, a spray, or microfiber mop can get your job done. Unfortunately, some damage may have been done when you are using so-called cleaners. So, it is required to do it right.

Related Post: How to repair scratches on luxury vinyl flooring

2. Create A “NO SHOES” Rule

Protect your floor so that it will last and look gorgeous. Dirt is brought into the house mostly by your shoes, so make sure you have an excellent front doormat system.

I will quickly remind you, have one outdoor mat and one indoor mat, and of course, you have to maintain the no-shoe policy in your house.

If you have furniture on the floor which needs to be moved from time to time, take necessary steps to protect your laminate floor.

3. Steer Clear Of Waxes And Polishes

A laminate floor does not need to be waxed, polished, or refinished. It was designed to be durable and look shiny, as long as you take care of it properly.

4. Wipe Up Any Spills Immediately

When you see a spill on a floor, immediately grab a towel or washcloth and place it on top. Wipe up the surface until it is dry to maintain a laminate floor without streaking.

Laminate Flooring – Cleaning Mistakes To Avoid

Are you making cleaning mistakes? You might be. Whether you are a professional house cleaner or a newbie. We all make cleaning mistakes. When it comes to laminate floor cleaning. So, it is really important to clean the laminate floor without streaking to avoid unwanted streaks. If you know the right process, maybe you won’t make them. I am going to talk about that now.

• First, sweep the floor to remove dirt and dust before starting the wet mopping. It makes your cleaning job easier and quicker.
• After pointing out the frequently getting dirt area, you can place a carpet or something to cover up. This way, you can reduce a considerable amount of dirt accumulation in these areas.
• You can utilize a foot brush if your family member uses it before the entrance of the house. You can prevent a lot of dirt from coming inside your room.
• Avoid using bleach. It soaks the wood laminate floor, takes away the shiny finish, and creates a stain on the floor.

In this way, you can successfully reduce the amount of strain on the floor.

Selecting A Streak-Free Cleaning Product

There are many rules and regulations that companies have to abide by when they put out a cleaning product. Plus, they want to make sure you’re actually using it in the way that they intended for you to use them.

This means it is formulated and tested for that kind of use. So, companies cannot be responsible if someone misuses their product and ruins something.

I know you hated the streaks so much. But when you are using a laminate floor, it is a common problem. 

If you want to avoid this problem, you must pick the best laminate floor cleaner. Most of the floor cleaning products in the market are harmful to your floor and also the main reason for Streaks. So, it is vastly important to select a helpful cleaner for your laminate floors.

Tips on Laminate Floor Care

You know already how to clean and maintain a laminate floor without streaking. Now let’s make a list of some useful pro tips to keep the laminate floor neat and clean:

1. Avoid Frequent Washing

Don’t wash your laminate floor too much. Washing the floor is a good habit, but when it comes to laminate floors, too much wash is harmful to your floor.

2. Select Right Cleaner

When you are using the wrong cleaner that is harmful to the laminate floor. Nowadays you will find some so-called laminate floor cleaner. Those kinds of floor cleaners are the main reason for streaks. So, pick the right cleaner. 

Above I shared some homemade cleaner. Try one of those methods, that will be helpful for your laminate floor.

3. Swept And Vacuuming Properly

Don’t need to use water when you are sweeping. When you are vacuuming, make sure that you do not use the brush roll because it makes streaks.

4. Be Careful About Pet Food And Water

You can use a pad under the pet’s dishes. That will protect your beautiful laminate floor.

5. Don’t Use Excess Water On The Laminate Floor

Most of the people are using too much water for mopping. This is bad for any kind of floor. Mop your floor with a little amount of water that is good for your laminate floor.

6. Close The Curtains

Too much sunlight is terrible for the laminate floor. Turn off the curtains if it is part of the highest sun of the day.

Final Thoughts

How to clean laminate floor without streaking? I think now you are clear about this question. You should be conscious about your laminate floor because the floor is the real beauty of any home. Above I discussed some tips and tricks that will help you to clean your floor. I would like to thank you for reading until the end.

How to Clean Laminate Floor Without Streaking (FAQs)