skip to main content

Cleaning Tips Flooring

Weird white marks on my laminate floor - how do I get this off?!

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Recently, my husband and I moved into A home with high gloss laminate flooring - i was using a vinegar/water mixture and then was alternating between that and the Bona laminate floor cleaner.

Now, there are these white cloudy marks all over my laminate floors and I am FREAKING out! What do I do to get this off? I feel like I have tried everything and am not trying to make anything worse.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

WalnutCreek Zone 7b/8a
4 years ago
I was told many years ago to never use Bona because it would create white streaks on the floor, which would be impossible to remove. Was told by the person who sold me the flooring to only use only water with no vinegar.
SJ McCarthy
4 years ago
Windex Original formula (with the ammonia) will most likely do the trick. Laminate finishes do VERY WELL with Windex. I've used it on finished furniture, hardwood, cork, laminate, vinyl, etc. You'll be fine.

First things first: Your cleaning schedule. I'm going to bet this floor is being over cleaned (yes...there is such a thing). With rigid floors, the most important thing is sweeping. Or vacuum with a unit that does NOT have a beater bar (just suction).

Here's your cleaning schedule that you will want to take up as a regular habit:

1. Sweep 1-3x per week (or vacuum...either way)

2. Damp mop (water ONLY) 1/week. Damp means so little water the microfiber mop feels 'dry'.

3. Damp "clean" = 1-2x per MONTH. A cleaning product such as water and vinegar is just fine. It should be a 20:1 ratio (20 parts water to 1 part vinegar...some people will use a small bucket of HOT water + 1 tablespoon of white vinegar = just fine).

4. For tough situations (like dried spaghetti sauce) you can use the Windex as a treatment of the area.

***Do NOT use wet swiffers!!!!! In fact the dry swiffers leave behind 'wax'. That wax, over time, can cause build up as well (weird but true).

The OVER USE of cleaning products AND the mixing of chemicals (vinegar vs. Bona cleaner) have always caused 'build up' like you are showing in your photos. Relax. Breathe. You are doing fine. Build up can be reversed....with a mild 'stripper' like Windex.

Remember: build up is caused by too much cleaner being LEFT BEHIND. Water EVAPORATES but dirt/cleaner does NOT. They stay behind. Over cleaning leaves +++cleaner. And then mixing in vinegar with Bona and you get the one chemical (vinegar) grabbing on to the other cleaner (bona) to create weird looking spots.

The fix: use a mild degreaser/stripper like Windex to remove the issue...and start again. Windex works well because it has a HEAVY concentrate of alcohol. The alcohol evaporates VERY quickly meaning your laminate floor (which HATES water...hates, hates, hates, hates water) will not have an issue with being 'too wet'. Which is another reason to stay away from 'over cleaning' these floors.

Good luck. Tell us what worked.
Related Discussions
Help me get off my hands and knees to clean my laminate floors!
Q
Comments (13)
I think you might like the Shark Steam Mop. It works great on any kind of floor mess that I've run across, and I imagine it would do fine with dog drool. I clean up all kinds of sticky, gloppy kitchen messes off my maple hardwood floor....it is amazing how dried up stuff dissolves with the application of the steam. If you like the effect of the vinegar on your floors, spritz some on the floor before you use the mop, as you can't put anything but water in the mop chamber. The Shark has a microfiber pad that you can toss to the floor and then put the mop right on it, as the velcro will grab the pad. You really don't have to bend over at all while using it.
...See More
How do you get grout dust off of tiles and flooring?
Q
Comments (3)
The easiest way is to call the contractor and tell him that you're holding his final check until he cleans up his worksite. Seriously, a good tile guy will not leave grout haze behind.
...See More
how do you clean black scuff marks off vinyl flooring?
Q
Comments (24)
I clean our Legion every 2 weeks. They replaced their previous linoleum floor with a laminate flooring. Both floors are light coloured an I was always on my hands and knees getting the black marks off. I used a Mr Clean eraser at first but then stopped, it left white marks, not residue from the eraser itself, but it was taking the coating of the floor off. Even when using an eraser on the walls to remove scuff marks, I can see pale spots. I really don't like using them. What took it off quick and easy was the blue easy-off pad. A couple of swipes and immediately wipe off the blue soap and it was clean.
...See More
Can I get my white oak floors this white color using rubio monocoat?
Q
Comments (52)
Pallman is fine. There are two things I would change: Humidity - it is at the lower end of acceptable. Even though 35% is allowed, it is still going to show some problems with splitting and checking. Please get it up to 45% - 50%. That will really, really, really help the wood look health and beautiful. This should be done SLOWLY. About 5% increase every 7 days or so. Ditch the Minwax. It is low-end DIY stuff. If Pallmant makes stains, then get them to work with Pallman stains. Get them to redo the colour patches for you to decide on your colour...again going with a coat of finish over the stain patch so that you can see the depth of colour. That's it. They are stepping up and fixing a finish that was really rough. They buffed three times (I'm assuming the buffing was between every coat) and yet they still came up with a rough finish. So they are doing it over. Very nice. You have an stand-up group of guys there. If they won't switch out the Minwax - it probably isn't a huge deal. Many refinishers like to work with Minwax because the stains have remained the same for DECADES. I'm not a fan, but oil based stains work with oil based finishes all the time. The HUMIDITY is going to be your challenge as a homeowner. If you can bump it up to 45%, you will have a much happier floor. Much, much happier floor.
...See More

Related Stories

REMODELING GUIDES Laminate Floors: Get the Look of Wood (and More) for Less

See what goes into laminate flooring and why you just might want to choose it

TRIM Trim Color Tips: Get Your White Trim Right

By Jennifer Ott Design

Set off wood tones, highlight architectural features, go minimalist ... white trim is anything but standard when you know how to use it

REMODELING GUIDES Are You Gutsy Enough to Paint Your Floor White?

By KitchenLab Interiors

Sleek and glossy or softened by wear, white floors charm

ENTRYWAYS Get a Mudroom Floor That’s Strong and Beautiful Too

By Lisa Higgins

Learn the flooring materials that can handle splashes and splatters with ease and still keep their good looks

COLOR Color of the Year: Off-White Is On Trend for 2016

By Jennifer Ott Design

See why four paint brands have chosen a shade of white as their hot hue for the new year

LIFE The Polite House: How Can I Kindly Get Party Guests to Use Coasters?

Here’s how to handle the age-old entertaining conundrum to protect your furniture — and friendships

KITCHEN OF THE WEEK Kitchen of the Week: Graphic Floor Tiles Accent a White Kitchen

By Jeannie Matteucci

Walls come down to open up the room and create better traffic flow

PATTERN Fit to be Tiled: Get Some Pattern on the Floor for Excitement Underfoot

Get all the visual delight of a rug with more durability by treating your floors to a pattern done up in tile

BATHROOM DESIGN Which Flooring Should I Choose for My Bathroom?

By Sarah Alcroft

Read this expert advice on 12 popular options to help you decide which bathroom flooring is right for you

FLOORS How to Get a Tile Floor Installed

Inventive options and durability make tile a good choice for floors. Here’s what to expect

Sponsored

28 Reviews

Franklin County's Preferred Custom Cabinetry & Design Studio

More Discussions

how do I get ride of fertilizer discoloration on stamped concrete?!!

2

Paint off Black Window sill

1

Looking For Info On "Earthy" Smell in Bedroom

8

How to remove dried worms from my porch

3

limestone floor looks dirty

0