Learning how to clean bamboo floors without leaving streaks can be a nightmare, but we’ve got the best method ready for you in this article and all it takes is five simple steps.
Let’s jump straight into it.
5 Easy Steps for Cleaning Bamboo Floors Without Leaving Streaks
To clean bamboo floors without leaving streaks, you will first need to gather a few supplies as follows:
- Vacuum with a felt head and no beater bar
- Soft-bristle broom
- Waste bin
- Microfiber mop
- Mop bucket or another container to hold water and cleaning solution
- Soft dry towel or cloth that absorbs moisture
- Sponge
- Non-alkaline, non-abrasive, and wax-free hardwood floor cleaner
- Distilled white vinegar
If you’ve noticed a pattern here, the bottom line is to use gentle, non-abrasive cleaners and soft cleaning supplies on bamboo floors. The most important thing to remember is to use little to no water so as not to leave behind streaking or damage to the floor or subfloor.
After you have all the supplies ready, it’s time to start cleaning. Follow these helpful step-by-step tips as a guide to getting your bamboo floors clean with no streaks.
Step 1
The best way to keep a bamboo floor clean is to prevent dust and dirt from building up. Start by cleaning up any dirt or spills as soon as they happen. The longer you wait, the tougher it will be to get the floor completely clean.
Remove dust and dirt on a daily basis. If you don’t stay on top of this, the dirt can set in and scratch the bamboo leaving you with a bigger problem now of figuring out how to get scratches out of the floor.
Step 2
Use a soft-bristled broom or a vacuum with a dust mop or felt-head. Avoid using a wet or steam mop on bamboo floors since it can lead to warping and buckling.
If you sweep up dust and debris, make sure you empty the waste bin outside immediately, so it doesn’t hang around inside the house creating more problems. Sweep or vacuum daily to keep the bamboo looking its best.
Step 3
Look for dried spills or any discoloration. If you find any stains, lightly wet a cloth and start rubbing the area with it. A microfiber cloth works best. Sometimes, this will do the trick and get the stain out.
Other times, you will need to do more cleaning. This time, use hardwood floor cleaner. Be sure to completely dry the floor afterward with a separate clean microfiber cloth.
Step 4
Wet a mop with a hardwood cleaner, and lightly wring it out.
Begin moving the mop in a round-about position. Continue until the floor is clean. Don’t allow the solution to puddle on the floor. When done, wipe the floor dry with a clean towel.
Step 5
If a cleaner is needed, always use a pH-neutral cleaner to restore the luster and rejuvenate bamboo floors.
Some brands of floor cleaners are specifically designed for bamboo floors. Look for this on the label, or use the brand recommended by the flooring manufacturer.
Why Choose Bamboo Flooring?
You chose bamboo floors for a reason, possibly because they are known for their strength and durability. Maybe the promised low-maintenance appealed to you. Many people choose a bamboo floor because it is an exotic species of wood that offers natural, beautiful colors in a variety of hues.
Bamboo is eco-friendly, natural, and organic. When bamboo is used in flooring, however, it is less forgiving than solid or engineered wood floors when it comes to cleaning with water, overall stress from use, and even insects.
While bamboo flooring is a beautiful eco-friendly, natural and organic choice, if you don’t clean it properly, it leaves streaks behind. The good news is that if you properly take care of your bamboo floors, they will look great while you prevent dullness and streaks.
Bamboo Floor Cleaning Tips
Remember that the most important step in cleaning a bamboo floor is to make sure to tend to any spills immediately. Also, never use steel wool or any other rough cleaning surface on bamboo.
Proper Dilution or Water Ratio
Cleaning a bamboo floor is very much like cleaning other hardwood floors. Using the right amount of water and the right kind of cleaning solutions is important. When diluting a cleaning solution with water, be careful to follow the proper dilution ratio so you don’t flood the floor with too much water.
Keep Humidity Low
Keeping the humidity level in the room with bamboo flooring is important since it’s the water and moisture that damages the floor. Always keep humidity levels between 40 and 60 percent with the thermostat set to between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or 15.5 and about 26 degrees Celsius.
Clean up Dirt and Debris Immediately
Since dirt and debris are enemies to bamboo, due to the fact that they cause scratches, place a doormat by every entrance to encourage visitors and family members to wipe their feet. Better yet, encourage visitors to remove their outdoor footwear before entering the house by leaving a shoe rack by the door. Area rugs also work well on bamboo floors.
Avoid Scratches from Furniture
Avoid scratches from occurring by making sure you never push or pull heavy furniture across the bamboo flooring.
If you need to move the furniture, be sure to lift them to avoid dragging or sliding across the floor. If you have pads underneath your furniture, be sure to replace them when they start to wear out.
Non-Abrasive Cleaning Products
Never use abrasive cleaning products on bamboo. Also, avoid using wax or furniture polish on bamboo. If you do, it will leave behind a sticky floor with a lot of residues left behind.
Follow Manufacturer’s Recommendations
Also, be very careful to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you use the wrong cleaning products, you could void the flooring warranty.
Never Use Murphy Oil on Bamboo
Never use Murphy oil or other oil cleaner soaps on bamboo, or any wood, floor. This type of cleaner is made from vegetable oil and will cause the floor to streak or take on a cloudy haze.
These oil cleaners will make your bamboo floor look dull. If your floor is already damaged from using Murphy oil, don’t worry. It can often be removed, and the floor restored by wiping it off with a mixture of warm water and vinegar.
Using Pine-Sol on Bamboo
Pine-Sol is generally considered to be a good cleaner for hardwood floors, even bamboo. However, be very sure that the floor is sealed or well finished with a protective coat if you choose to use Pine-Sol.
If the floor is not properly sealed, the liquid cleaner can seep down in between the floor planks and sit there to cause severe moisture damage. Never use it on old, worn-out flooring or on waxed or oiled bamboo.
Cleaning Bamboo with Vinegar
Vinegar is a great cleaner to clean dark bamboo floor stains, as well as many other types of surfaces. Just be sure to use the proper dilution of a 1:4 ratio with warm water.
Also, don’t douse the flooring with the water mixture. Pour it into a spray bottle to spray it onto the floor, and wipe the floor dry when done.
What Causes Bamboo Floors to Streak?
A few different possibilities could be the reason your bamboo floor is streaking. The most common reasons a streak was left behind include:
- Dirty Mop
- Dirty mop water
- Too much cleaning agent
- Residue
- Too much water
- Strong chemicals
Final Thoughts
Keep your bamboo floor looking great by using the proper cleaning method.
Clean bamboo floors without leaving streaks by making sure you clean up spills immediately. If the floor has already become stained, use the right cleaning solutions and ratio to keep the bamboo looking shiny without any streaks.