How to Clean Laminate Wood Floors Without Streaking?

Last Updated on September 11, 2023 by admin

There is a reason why laminate floors are popular these days. They are elegant, easy to clean, and give a graceful look to the house interior. With different shades and patterns, laminate floors make an excellent choice. They are also durable and comparatively less expensive.

They are spotless! Well, they are until you drop a bowl of soup on the floor, or your kid spills her water paints, and it dries before you notice it. Or your pet decides to take it out on you by transferring sticky mud from the garden to the house interior. And you are sure that you can’t clean the stubborn stains without streaking the floor texture.

When that happens, you might want to cry for the lost perfection of your interior outlook, or you can go crazy and ground your kid for ruining your favorite texture.

But wait! We have a constructive solution to help you get out of this challenging situation.

In this guide, we brought effective solutions for streak-free cleaning of your laminate wood floors.So read on, and by the end of this article, you will have your spotless and shiny floor back!

Are laminate floors a good option?

Laminate wood floors are beautiful in design and give a glossy finish. This is because of their specific construction. This construction is a double-edged sword as it is responsible for their pretty outlook, but it makes them vulnerable to water damage.

Laminate floors are made from adjoining layers of fiber and wood. There are many layers joined together. The surface is then finished with a protective coating that gives a shiny appearance to the surface.

The challenge in the maintenance of laminate floors is because of its installation mechanism. The floor consists of fiber and wood tiles with sides that fit together like a lock and key profile. The places where two tiles fit together are most at risk of water seepage. Once the water seeps under these cracks, your options are very limited. So make sure you clean the floor with care.

Cleaning methods at your disposal

To protect your floor, we describe the three most effective ways to clean the floor surface. These are proven methods that remove the stains and dirt from the floor without streaking the surface.

Avoid the need for cleaning

You might be wondering why we have started with “not cleaning” in an article about cleaning. That’s because it is the most important step. The best cure is the prevention of the problem. That’s what we suggest you do. For that, add these five things to your daily life routine:

1. Always keep a waste bucket: yes! This banal tip is extremely important. That’s why we added it at the risk of sounding clichéd. When there is a dustbin around, you are at low risk of abrasive material that may damage the floor

2. Do not drag your furniture around: furniture leaves marks on the floor surface. When a liquid then spills, these rough surfaces give the moisture a shelter which damages the floor.

3. Keep a doormat: A doormat can significantly reduce the chances of dirt transport inside your house.

4. Don’t let the stains dry: Clean the surface as soon as there is a spill. Once dry, the stains can become tricky to clean and might streak the floor.

5. Keep the shoes out: Shoes damage the floor surface and reduce its shine. Keep them out as much as possible to reduce your cleaning time. Also, walking barefoot in the house will relax you.

Moping and vacuum cleaning

Now, you can do everything right, and still, something goes wrong. Don’t panic; its not the end of the world. Let’s go through the cleaning process.

First, if there is no liquid spill or wet stains, you need to mop the floor with a broom or a dry mop. It should be enough to remove dirt, hair, fiber, or any other solid particles. There are various ways you can do this. A simple broom is around for thousands of years and is an effective and cheap option.

Or you can thoroughly clean the surface using a vacuum cleaner. This is more effective and easier as you don’t have to sweep the whole room, and only the place where there is dirt can be cleaned. It is effective and fast.

Using a wet mop

If the floor has some dirty stains on the floor which cannot be removed with a dry sweep, you can try wet mops. You might need to rub the surface a little bits, but it should be pretty easy to clean with regular stains.

You can use the age-old method of bucket and mop. You can make the solution at home by mixing vinegar with water, which we have described below. But then you’ll have to carry the bucket around, and you might accidentally spill the water, which will be extremely dangerous.

One effective option is Swiffer. It has a cleaning solution attached to the mop’s handle and has cleaning pads that clean efficiently. The water is also used in a minimum amount as there are spray jet nozzles, which only spray enough water.
Cleaning solutions available for laminate floors

Ready-made cleaning solutions

If you are busy with other things and cannot afford to make your own solution, you can always buy a suitable one in a nearby store. Make sure you check the formula and usage guide as the formula might be harmful to laminate floors. Select a product with mild percentages of cleaning chemicals.

Vinegar water combo

If you don’t have vinegar at your home, you need to put it on a to-do list and buy it on your next visit to the grocery store.
If you have vinegar at home and you are a fan of economical solutions and have time, then a simple solution can be made by mixing 60 ml of vinegar with 940 ml of water. The mixture can be stored in a spray bottle and used on sticky stains.
Ensure that you don’t spray too much solution on the surface and that the solution does not exceed the recommended amount of vinegar.

Soap or detergent and water solution

You can also use a soap or detergent solution with water and clean the surface. This can be tricky as you may end up with a solution containing too much soap or detergent and harm the floor. Therefore, make sure you start with as little soap as possible.

Final Thoughts

To sum it all up, laminate floors are an elegant option for your home interior, but it needs care and maintenance. Cleaning also requires some care and might be streaked if not done correctly. But you have multiple ways of cleaning the laminate wood floors without streaking.

You can start by adopting cleanliness, friendly lifestyle. It can involve regularly cleaning with a dry mop or vacuum cleaner. And if there is a spill, you can always use a wet cleaning method. You also have many options available in terms of cleaning solutions, both DIY and ready-made. Thus, you only need a little care, and your flooring will remain glossy and elegant as always.