Laminate floors are a fantastic option for any high-traffic home. Non only are they attractive, but they can stand up up to the vesture and tear that comes with having kids, pets, and a busy household. All that's needed to keep them looking like new is regular cleaning.

Despite their durability, though, laminate floors don't respond well to many of the cleaning techniques used on hardwood or vinyl. Harsh chemicals and annoying scrubbers tin can damage the surface, and the buildup from wax or polish can leave your floors looking deadening.

Want to learn how to clean laminate floors without doing any harm to them? Read on for a quick and piece of cake guide to laminate floor intendance.

Laminate Floor Cleaning: What Not to Do

The showtime footstep in figuring out how to clean laminate hardwood floors is understanding how not to make clean them. The limerick of laminate flooring (a layer of compressed forest particles topped with a plastic veneer) makes it sensitive to heat and moisture.

Here are some common cleaning methods to steer articulate of using on a laminate wood flooring.

Avoid H2o

The blended layer of laminate is fabricated of wood particles packed tightly together and bound with adhesive. It absorbs moisture as much as (and sometimes more than than) solid wood planks. The flooring expands when it soaks upward water and can warp, bend, chimera, or even separate the seams between planks.

The summit layer of laminate floor is h2o-resistant. Nonetheless, h2o can seep through the cracks between planks if information technology's left to sit.

This means yous should avoid cleaning laminate floors with large amounts of h2o like with a traditional wet mop. If water or another liquid does spill on the floor, wipe it upwardly as soon as possible.

Avert Heat

The top layer of laminate (chosen the "wear layer") is made of a thin sheet of textured plastic. Loftier heat can melt the plastic and disrupt the texture, cause the wearable layer to peel off, or weaken the adhesive belongings the composite layer together.

Because of this, yous should avoid using a steam cleaner on laminate floors at all costs. The combination of heat and moisture can exercise permanent impairment to the floor after but one cleaning.

Avoid Scratches and Buildup

While scratches won't damage the integrity of your floor, they can ho-hum the laminate's natural shine. Avoid using these cleaning tools to foreclose scratches and chips:

  • steel wool
  • stiff-bristled scrub brushes
  • woven plastic scrubbing pads
  • heavy vacuum cleaners, especially ones with a brush
  • abrasive cleaners

Along with scratches, flooring waxes and polishes can also brand your floor expect dull when they build up over time. Attempt not to utilise oil- or ammonia-based cleaners made for hardwood floors. Soap can too leave a motion-picture show behind, so apply it sparingly and always remove the residual before it dries.

How to Clean Laminate Floors

Even though you may have to switch up your methods a fleck, you'll exist pleased to know that keeping a laminate floor clean is easy with the right tools.

Getting rid of whatsoever loose dirt, pet hair, or debris is the first step in cleaning your floor. As such, the nearly important item to keep in your cleaning arsenal is a standard broom and dustpan. You tin also keep a small handheld vacuum or dust buster on hand for small messes, just avert heavy vacuum cleaners that tin chip or scrape the article of clothing layer.

Along with a broom, stock up on microfiber cleaning cloths and invest in a laminate floor mop. These can be used with minimal liquid and get deep into the textured grooves in your floor, preventing rest without leaving scratches.

Cleaning Small-scale Messes and Scuffs

Afterward you lot sweep up any dry dirt or pilus, most small messes tin can exist cleaned upwards with a clammy microfiber material. Yous can either utilize patently water or dilute some white vinegar or rubbing alcohol. Remember to avoid pouring liquid directly on the flooring when cleaning.

For stubborn spots or areas of buildup, some people turn to glass cleaners similar Windex. This method is helpful in a pinch, just employ it sparingly and just in small areas. Spray the glass cleaner on a microfiber cloth and rub the floor clean, going with the grain whenever possible.

Drips of candle wax or chewing gum volition scrape off easily with a credit menu if y'all freeze them with an ice cube first. For shoe scuffs, endeavour rubbing the area with a dry tennis ball before reaching for cleaning chemicals.

Cleaning the Entire Laminate Flooring

The best way to make clean an entire room with laminate flooring is to utilise a clammy microfiber or spray mop such as a Swiffer. These pick up dirt and grime without leaving streaks or pools of h2o. When washing a reusable mop head, don't employ material softener, as this tin can leave residue behind the next fourth dimension you clean the floor.

Protecting Your Laminate Wood Floors From Impairment

Keeping your laminate floors in smashing shape is easiest when you prevent damage and messes from happening in the first identify.

Consider placing a mat and shoe rack just inside your entryway to keep from tracking dirt and mud inside, and don't wear high heels inside the house. Exit pet dishes on a waterproof tray or non-sideslip mat to keep them from spilling water on the floor. You may also want to lay downward a carpet in high-traffic or mess-prone areas.

Laminate Floor Intendance Is Easy With Loftier-Quality Floor

Information technology merely takes a bit of try one time or twice a week to proceed the dirt at bay. Follow the to a higher place instructions on how to clean laminate floors to keep your home looking make-new for years to come.

If yous're looking for a new laminate floor, National Floors Direct tin assist! Full of versatile, high-quality laminate options, nosotros can elevate the appearance of any house. Contact usa online today for a costless in-home guess and we'll send i of our professional flooring experts your style.