How To Clean The Hardwood Floor Without Streaks?

Cleaning your hardwood floor can be a big job – but finding out how to clean the hardwood floor without streaks can be even harder.

We have some great tips on how to do just this – and none of these tips are hard to grasp or master.

How To Clean The Hardwood Floor Without Streaks

Cleaning the hardwood floor is not too difficult, but cleaning it so that those pesky streaks aren’t there when you finish can be tricky!

There are many ways around this though, and they don’t involve lots of elbow grease or noxious chemicals.

1. Start by vacuuming or sweeping the floors, to remove any dirt, dust and debris that might affect the cleaning.
2. Mop the floor, using a mixture of ammonia and warm water (this will not only clean, but also help to remove bacteria).
3. Dry the damp residue from the floor using a soft, clean, dry cloth – a microfibre cloth is ideal for this job.
4. Polish the floor, using a hardwood floor polishing cream – you can get these at most supermarkets.
5. Buff the floor using a clean microfibre cloth, to remove residues of the floor polish and to bring out the shine of the wood.
6. When cleaning other areas around the wooden floor, keep an eye out for overspray from other cleaning products, and wipe up any spills that you see.
7. The most important part of this process is buffing the floor, to make sure that there are no leftover bits of cleaning fluid or floor polish.

As you can see, you don’t need any heavy machinery to do this job well – just a little determination and elbow grease will give your hardwood floors the perfect shine.

How Do You Remove Streaks From Wood Floors?

The streaks left behind on hardwood floors are generally caused by leftover dirt and debris that have not been properly cleaned away.

Streaks can also be caused by floor cleaner or polish that has not been rinsed or buffed – either way these annoying streaks are easy enough to remove.

When you wash your floors, make sure you use long, even strokes and never forget to rinse off the cleaning product you use afterwards.

The final step is to simply rub them with a soft, microfibre cloth that won’t scratch the floor, then sit back and enjoy that shine!

If your streaks are caused by something else, such as grease dropping onto the floor, these will need to be cleaned up.

Take a damp rag and dip it in some kitchen soap, then gently scrub at the area. Rinse the cloth, then rinse the area.

This great video shows you a great way to clean your hardwood floors without streaks (interesting homemade cleaner recipe included!)

How Do You Get Streak Free Floors When Mopping?

When you are mopping your floors, imagine that you are mowing the lawn – you’re going for smooth strokes, in one direction.

(I’m definitely not saying you should mop the floors with your lawnmower, just so we’re absolutely clear!)

Streaks are caused when too much of the cleaning product gathers in one place, or the cleaning is not done thoroughly enough.

You can also end up with streaky floors if you miss a step in your cleaning – never forget to rinse with clean water after you have mopped with a cleaning product.

If you use a polish to finish off the job, make sure you give it a final buff with a soft clean cloth – this will ensure that your floors are sparkling.

What Is The Best Thing To Clean Wood Floors?

Wood floors are a different kettle of fish to the rest of the surfaces in your house, and do need to be treated differently.

You should avoid multi-surface cleaners as these can contain chemicals that can damage your hardwood floors.

Go for a gentle, natural cleaner – not only is this best for your family and the environment, it is also much better for your wooden floors.

Never use anything abrasive on your hardwood flooring – you run the risk of damaging the wood and ending up with discoloured patches.

A soft microfibre cloth is the best thing to use – these will gently clean and buff the wood, without the danger of damaging the wood.

What Is A Homemade Streak-Free Hardwood Floor Cleaner?

Sadly, any shop-bought cleaning product can leave streaks on your floors because the usually contain some sort of chemical or active ingredient that needs to be removed.

Making your own, homemade, natural floor cleaning product is a great idea – not only will it not be harmful, but often this type works even better.

• Water and vinegar. Mix 1 part of vinegar to 3 parts of water and use this as a floor cleaning fluid – be sure to test it on an inconspicuous area first!
• Vinegar and vegetable oil. Not just for salad dressings, equal parts of these liquids mixed together and sprayed on can be a great cleaner and moisturiser for your floors.
• Lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil and water. Combine equal parts olive oil and white vinegar, then add a few tsp lemon juice and 5 parts hot water.
• Water, vinegar and dish soap. Dilute equal parts of water and vinegar, then add a few drops of dish soap – this is great for floors that need a really good clean.
• Black tea. This solution contains tannins that can break down grime and help with cleaning – just make a strong cup of black tea and spray into onto your floors, then rub off.

Final Thoughts

Once you have figured out how to clean your hardwood floor without leaving those annoying streaks all over the surface, you will never look back.

And the best part is that you don’t need any fancy equipment or cleaning products to achieve this look – you can make your own, and it really takes so little effort.