One of the most common reasons floors look streaky after mopping is using too much floor cleaner. In cleaning, more is not always better. When you use too much product, it leaves a residue which dries to a dull, streaky finish.
After you've wet mopped your floors, go over the mopped area with a dry microfiber wet mop pad or cloth (yes I know that sounds like an oxymoron). The microfiber wet mop pad will remove any lingering streaks. The most important thing to remember is to not let water sit on your floors for too long!
A dirty or contaminated mop will leave streaks of discoloration in the finish. The floor may need to be completely stripped to remove all of the streaking if a dirty mop was used on the first coat. Be sure all of your mop heads have been washed thoroughly before reapplying finish.
Your Water Is Dirty
One of the most common causes is dirty water. Whether you're mopping wooden floors or any other surface, it's important to be mindful of the quality of your mop water.
Swiffer is designed not to leave a residue and should provide a great clean on virtually any floor in your home. For best results, make sure the product is suitable for your floor. Do not use Swiffer Wet cloths or the Swiffer WetJet on unfinished, oiled or waxed wooden floors, non-sealed tiles, or carpet.
Never mop with dirty water and always do a final 'rinse' with plain water. The final rinse ensures that there are no residues of both the spills and the cleaning solution left on the floor. Dry off floors properly.
Using excess water
A common mistake is thinking that wet is clean! On the contrary, when cleaning a floor, you should try to use the least amount of water possible! After dipping the mop in the bucket, wring it out until it's almost dry!
Streaking in a laminate floor is caused by using improper cleaning products. These products will leave an oil residue that attracts dirt. To avoid streaking and keep your floor clean, you can find a few options at home.
The Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner is my go-to when I use a store-bought cleaner. It's eco-friendly, uses splashless technology, and is Safer Choice certified, meaning it's safe for people, pets, and the planet. Plus, the water-based solution is residue-free and dries fast.
Use Vinegar
Whether you are out of name brand glass cleaner or you want to use a more natural cleaner, vinegar works wonders on windows. Try a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water for a streak-free clean. You can use a spray bottle or dip a rag in the solution, just like you would an ordinary cleaner.
Commercial vinyl floor cleaners are available, but you can make a simple, effective cleaner for vinyl floors by mixing apple cider vinegar with water. The vinegar's acidity removes dirt without leaving a soapy film. Mix one cup of cider vinegar with a gallon of hot water.
Squeaky Cleaner, COREtec Clean Spray, and Bona Pro are great for the kitchen, bathroom, hallway, and any other room in your home. They're ideal for vinyl floors and work on a variety of hard surfaces.
Instead, learn how to clean vinyl floors using the mildest possible method. Sweep or vacuum it every evening, and wipe up spills right away. To clean dirt that the broom or vacuum can't get, use a mop dampened with warm—not hot—water. If all else fails, use soap, but make sure the soap is designed for your flooring.
White vinegar can damage natural stone like granite or marble and can harm grout. Don't use white vinegar to clean waxed or unfinished wood floors. Vinegar is also too harsh to use on natural carpet fibers such as silk or wool. Without extra tools or wasted storage space, you'll get the clean floors you dream of.
At this point, your floor should now be quite clean, with little or no detergent residue left. But for an extra cleaning step, you can mop over the entire floor a final time using nothing but fresh hot rinse water. If your rinse water gets at all dirty or sudsy, you will know the final rinse has been necessary.
The only vinegar that works for cleaning floors is distilled white vinegar. The simple kind. It has an acidity of 5 percent which is perfect for cutting through grease, grime, and dirt. It is also cheap enough that you can use tonnes of it in cleaning all your surfaces, and still not break the bank or your budget.
Many professional cleaners suggest vacuuming first before mopping. Especially if your interior floor is hard surfaces, vacuuming will make it easier for you to sweep and mop later. Some would instead follow the process of dusting, sweeping, and vacuuming first before cleaning.
Any high-traffic areas in your home should be wet mopped once a week. Rooms in your home that are not frequently used—such as a guest room—do not need to be mopped weekly. Mopping every other week or monthly should be sufficient.
1. Don't Swiffer sweep without vacuuming first. The Swiffer Sweeper pads will do a better job picking up dirt on floors when the larger dust bunnies are out of the way, so a quick pick-up or vacuum job beforehand could help your duster pack a mightier punch.
If your floor is especially dirty, try adding a few drops of liquid dish washing soap to the mixture before mopping once with the soap mixture, a second time with vinegar and water. To add shine to your vinyl floor, add a few drops of baby oil to the vinegar and water solution.
Mild dish soap is a surprisingly good floor cleaner. All you need is 1 to 2 tablespoons of dish soap mixed in with a bucket of water. Floors will be clean and shiny in no time. Dish soap is very effective on resilient floorings, such as linoleum and vinyl, and also works well on ceramic tile.
Swiffer wet cloths are designed to be used on most floor surfaces, such as: vinyl.