Don’t you hate when you take the time and energy to mop your floors, only to end up with ugly white streaks? If you’ve ever wondered in how to prevent streaking from a mop, the Office Ink Blog is here to help!
You don’t need to invoke Martha Stewart black magic to prevent streaking from a mop. Giving your floors a streak-free shine boils down to three simple tricks:
- Sweep your floor first, then
- use the right floor cleaner
- in the right amount.
Sweep first to prevent streaking when you mop.
You absolutely must sweep, or even better, vacuum, your floor before mopping to prevent streaking. Otherwise, you’re just going to smear debris around and end up with a streaky mess.
Use the right cleaner to prevent streaking from a mop.
You have to use the right floor cleaner for the type of floor you have to prevent streaking from a mop. I’ve put together a handy little chart below, and included some DIY alternatives you can use in a pinch.
|
|
|
|||
Laminate Floors | Buy: ammonia-free floor cleaner | Swiffer® WetJet® Cleaning Solutions | |||
DIY: 2 tbs. of baby soap per gallon of water | |||||
Wood Floors | Buy: neutral, water-based cleaner for wood floors. | Murphy® Oil Soap | |||
DIY: one part vinegar and one part oil | |||||
Brick / Concrete Floors | Buy: mild, neutral floor cleaner | PAK-IT® Neutral Floor Cleaner | |||
DIY: 2 tbs. dish soap per gallon | |||||
Ceramic Floor Tiles | Buy: ammonia-based floor cleanerDIY: 2 tbs. laundry detergent per gallon | Mr. Clean® Finished Floor Cleaner |
Using just a little floor cleaner prevents streaking from a mop.
You can’t prevent streaking when you mop if you use the wrong cleaning solution, or use the wrong amount. For example, ammonia based cleaners will dull the the finish of wood and laminate flooring. And too much soap will leave a residue on all floors. You also need to be smart about the amount of water you use. Leaving too much water on mopped floors slows drying times and results in streaky deposits. Plus, water warps wood flooring. Go ahead and dry your wood floors with a soft cloth after you mop.
Finally, be sure to read the instructions before you apply any cleaner to your floors. When in doubt, just use use a mix of white vinegar and plain water. The vinegar provides a little cleaning power, and neutralizes the alkaline in water to eliminate white spots. And while vinegar and water won’t give the best clean on all floor types, it won’t hurt either.
Sources: WikiHow, Real Simple