How to Clean Laminate Wood Floors Without Streaking

Co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Last Updated: January 31, 2023 References Approved

Laminate flooring often contains small grooves on the surface, making it more challenging to clean using traditional methods. To clean your laminate wood floors without leaving streaks, start by choosing a natural cleaning solution. Apply your solution to the floor using a spray bottle or microfiber mop. Dry your floors right away, making sure to wipe over any footprints that you’ve left behind. Repeat this process every other week for sparkling floors.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Selecting a Streak-Free Cleaning Product

1
Create a vinegar solution. Mix together a 50-50 white vinegar and distilled water mixture inside a spray bottle. Shake the bottle a bit before using. If you dislike the smell of vinegar, add in a few drops of an essential oil, such as lemon. This solution can be stored for a number of weeks without losing its cleaning power.^{[1]
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- It is possible to use apple cider vinegar in the solution, but this does not have the same sanitizing effect as distilled white vinegar.
- Natural cleaners have a tendency to leave less residue and create fewer streaks than their commercial counterparts. Although, be aware that premixed cleaning solutions for laminate are available at most home stores.^{[2]
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2
Mix together a tea-based cleaner. Boil 1 cup (240 ml) of black tea using a single tea bag and 1 cup (240 ml) of water. Wait until the tea cools down and then pour it into a spray bottle for application. Shake the mixture a bit before spraying and use it immediately. Do not store this solution.

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3
Use baby shampoo. Fill your spray bottle up with warm or room temperature distilled water. Add in 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of baby shampoo. Shake the bottle until it fills up with bubbles. Spray this solution lightly onto the surface of your floor. Baby shampoo is gentle and safe for most surfaces, including laminate.^{[3]
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4
Remove stains with a baking soda paste. Before you do a general cleaning, make sure to address any specific stains or their residue can cause streaking across your finished floor. For a food-based stain, spoon a paste made from baking soda and distilled water over the affected area. Let it sit for a few minutes before wiping it away with a cloth dampened with water.^{[4]
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5
Remove tough stains with rubbing alcohol. Applying a bit of rubbing alcohol directly to a stain, using a cotton ball, can also help to remove it. But, don’t let the alcohol sit for too long or it can cause your protective coating to peel up, which can give the appearance of dullness and streaking.^{[5]
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- Try using an acetone-based nail polish remover as an alternative to rubbing alcohol.
6
Mix everything with distilled water. Using tap water is the easier option, but it can add deposits on top of your floor. This, in turn, can make your floor appear dirty or dull. Instead, go with warm or room temperature distilled water in all of your floor cleaning solutions. Using distilled water also makes it possible to store your solution up to a few weeks.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Performing a General Cleaning

1
Complete a spot test. Before you starting the cleaning process, go to a side corner of the room. Apply a bit of your cleaning solution to this space and observe what happens. Look to see if the floor appears dull or otherwise impacted by the solution. If not, proceed as planned. If so, consider using an alternate solution or calling in professional cleaners.^{[6]
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2
Vacuum to remove loose dirt and debris. Select the bare floor setting on your vacuum, making sure that the bender bar underneath does not sit directly on the floor’s surface. Follow the grain of your floor and do a few vacuuming passes over the room. Use your vacuum attachment for any corners or crevices. Vacuuming beforehand helps to minimize the movement of dirt and grime on your floor, which can cause streaking.^{[7]
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3
Position yourself facing one wall. Stand with your spray bottle or microfiber mop against one of the walls with your back facing the rest of the room. This means that you will spray in front of you when walking backwards. This will keep you from stepping on top of the fresh cleaning solution and leaving footprints or other marks.
4
Apply the cleaner. Spray a bit of the cleaning solution onto one of your microfiber mop pads. Or, hold your spray bottle above the floor and lightly mist the surface. Either way, keep an eye on your floor and make sure that it is damp, not soaking wet. Excessive liquid on your floor may cause streaking and warping.^{[8]
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5
Mop the floor using smooth, even movements. After you’ve applied the cleaning solution, run your mop over the wet areas, making straight strokes. Keep the amount of pressure that you use even and controlled, or you could end up causing streaking by scrubbing some areas too much and others not enough. Every few minutes, stop and look over the floor to make sure that you are not missing any wet spaces.
6
Dry it right away. As soon as you finish applying the cleaning solution, go back to where you began and begin the drying process. Walk backward and use a microfiber cloth or mop pad to pick up the moisture from the floor. Moving this way means that you will minimize your footprints, but make sure to buff them out as you go, leaving a pristine surface behind.^{[9]
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Use fresh pads, as needed. If you choose to use a microfiber mop, make sure to use a clean pad for the drying stage. Otherwise, you will just apply another layer of dirt onto the clean surface. To keep your pads clean, place them in your washer on a “delicate” cycle or run them under some warm water.
- Avoid using a laundry sheet when drying your cleaning cloths or pads, as the chemicals from the sheet can lead to streaking when you use the pads or clothes again.^{[10]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Maintaining Your Floors

1
Wipe up any spills immediately. If you see a spill on your floor, the most important thing is to get the liquid up quickly. Grab a towel or washcloth and place it on top of the sitting liquid. Replace as needed until the area is no longer damp. Do a final wipe down of the area with a damp cloth.
2
Stick to a cleaning schedule. It is possible to clean your floors too much, which can damage the protective coating. It is also possible to clean your floor not often enough, which can lead to the accumulation of dirt and streaking when you do try to clean. Try to mop down your floors every other week or so. Vacuum more frequently to remove any surface debris.^{[11]
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3
Create a “no shoes” rule. Start by wearing socks in your own home and asking that guests take off their shoes when entering as well. This will lessen the amount of deep grime present on your floors and it will make it easier to clean them without creating streaks or spots.^{[12]
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Call in a professional. Locate a floor cleaning professional in your area and then go online to read any reviews that are available. Pay particular attention to the comments regarding the quality of the finished work. If you are concerned about streaking, tell the cleaner about your concerns when you make the appointment.

Expert Q&A
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Question

Can you use Mop and Glow on laminate floors?

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Founder, Mulberry Maids

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Yes, the Mop and Glow multi-surface floor cleaner should be safe to use on laminate floors. Read the directions, and make sure the floor cleaner you buy is safe for laminate floors.
Question

My husband dragged a drying machine across the floor tried to wipe up the marks. What is the best way to get the marks off my floor?

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Founder, Mulberry Maids

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

A couple of methods to try involve baking soda or acetone nail polish remover. Create a paste with 2 tablespoons of baking soda and warm water, and wipe the paste on the marks with a clean microfiber cloth. Use a damp cloth to wipe up the residue and then dry with a dry cloth. You can also try to scrub the marks with a microfiber cloth that is dampened with acetone, followed by wiping the acetone up with a damp cloth, then drying with a dry cloth.

Warnings

Avoid using abrasive cleaners, such as ammonia, on laminate floors.^{[13]
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Don’t use soap and water, oil soaps, or other liquid-based soaps.

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