What is the best way to clean laminant flooring?

Question

We just put laminant flooring throughout our house. However, no matter what I use to clean it---it leaves smudges and these gnarly streaks. Any ideas on the best way to clean it to leave it looking good?

When I say 'clean it'...I mean everyday cleaning it. It is new wood grain flooring and I mop it (and even swiffer wetjet it) and it seems to leave streaks. I will try the vinegar idea! Thanks to those that answered and any more ideas would be appreciated.

Answer 1

When I clean my floor and leave it damp it tends to streak. Now when I've mopped it I go over it with a dry cloth to remove any moisture and leave it streak free. You can use any soft dry cloth, including kitchen roll. Hope it works for you.

Answer 2

I use the Swiffer on mine. But I use the mopping pads, not a wet jet. To reduce the streaks, mop along the grain pattern, and after mopping switch to a sweeping pad and go over the floor again. My kitchen gets mopped all the time. I'm in Michigan. The combination of people and our dog tracking snow, salt and mud in every day is a challenge.

Answer 3

At Home Depot,in the cleaning aisle, Zep has a hardwood and Laminate cleaner. It is made to be used on laminate floors and all Zep products have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If not happy w/it bring it back to the store for a full refund.

Answer 4

Get a Swifter (handle/mop thing and some dry cleaning cloths.) You can use the clothes as directed to remove surface dirt and dust, then use a washcloth/rag in place of the Swifter cloth, warm water, and a tiny bit of vinegar. If the washcloth gets really dirty you might change it half way through.
You can get washclothes, dishrags, and the like at the dollar store....vinegar too

Answer 5

I am in the cleaning business and here is our secret!
We use the swiffer, but instead of using t hose expensive refills,
We buy this cleaning cloth off the internet. You have to buy in packages of 5 but they are only like $3 bucks a piece. I have ordered them and use them on everything, especially cleaning windows and clean mirrors. They are made out of tiny fibers. They are guaranteed not to scratch and all you do is rinse the cloth under water, wring it out and wipe ANY surface with no streaks or scratch. Use em over and over. I have not thrown one away yet!
I am sold on this ...I encourage you to try it out….hope this helps…Steve

Answer 6

i use a lot of hot water and a capful of bleach and it gets my floor clean. if you have too much bleach, it'll leave the floor kinda "sticky"...just go over it with plain hot hot hot water and it'll be as good as new!!

my grandmother, however, likes hot hot water and a splash of vinegar and uses that for ALL of the cleaning throughout the house!! she's very old fashioned but i've never set foot in a cleaner house!!

Answer 7

A product called Bona works great. It is a spray that comes with a long handle and a washable microfiber cloth. It works great on sealed or unfinished hardwood cloors. Just spray and use the microfiber cloth.

Answer 8

For laminate floors we use either mean green or purple power you can use it full strength for tough jobs or dilute it for everyday mopping.

Answer 9

a good friend of mine had an accidental experience when she accidentally got oven cleaner on it and it whitened up! She went out and bought 3 or 4 more cans of oven cleaner, and voila.......beautiful vinyl floor....yellow to white! doing it in small sections...she even sent before and after pics to me. Not sure if laminate is vinyl...but to get rid of smudges...try dryer sheets like Bounce! they bounce right off!

Answer 10

use alchohol to clean the floor or u can use detergent based floor cleaners
that will be soft on floor at same time remove dirt