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:

1. Sweep your floor first, then
2. use the right floor cleaner
3. 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.

Floor	Method	Recommended
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