Best Ways to Clean Laminate Floors

Laminate flooring is the favorite for every designer and architect not only because of its glossy look but the finish that looks no less than solid hardwood flooring at a fraction of the cost. The flooring comes with a protective layer on top that keeps the underlying composite wood material from the action of water or any other chemical agent. Homeowners often find themselves confused about the proper cleaning method to maintain their laminate floor sparkling clean for long. If you are looking for the best ways to clean and maintain laminate floors, then continue reading for all you need to know about the best practices in the industry. With methods including plain water and chemical-based solutions, you can experiment with these methods on your laminate floors and choose which works best for you!

How Often You Should Clean Laminate Floors

Whether you are using laminate or hardwood flooring, it is essential to clean it periodically depend on where you live and how many people or pets there are in the house. If you have pets or children, regular vacuuming or sweeping with a soft-bristle broom is necessary to clean up after the dust and pet hair. When cleaning with a broom or a vacuum, it can be done once a day or few days, depending on the living conditions. It is essential to use a soft brush attachment to ensure the floor is not scratched when vacuuming. Most models come with a setting for hard floors that stops the rotating brush to make it easier on the floor.

How to Clean Laminate Floor – Simple Methods

Laminate floors need a little bit of special attention while cleaning as they are susceptible to damage by harsh cleaning agents or rough scrubbing methods. Here are some safe ways to clean laminate wood floors:

1. General Cleaning Laminate Floors

There are instructions for cleaning your laminate floors on ordinary days or your regular maintenance schedule.

What You Will Need 

• Soft-bristle dry dust mop
• Vacuum cleaner with soft brush attachments
• Microfiber cleaning cloth or sponge
• Soft-cloth cleaning mop
• Mild detergent

Instructions 

Here are instructions on different ways you can clean your laminate floors in general:

• Regular Sweeping: The laminate flooring needs regular sweeping to keep dust and pet hair at bay and potentially avoid allergies. Although the floors are pretty tough, excess debris and dirt can build up over time and scratch the floor as your move about. Regular sweeping can prevent such scratches. Use a vacuum with a soft brush or a dry dust mop with soft bristles to sweep the floor.
• Cleaning up Spills: Spills of any kind needs to be cleaned up before it stains the floor. Use a microfiber cloth to absorb the spill and wipe in the direction of the grain for maximum cleaning. Dampen a second cloth and wipe again to remove leftover spills.
• Deep Cleaning: Use a mop to deep clean laminate floors. Avoid using steam cleaners, buffers, or polishers as long-term use of these devices can cause the laminate to weaken.
• Stronger Cleaning: If you need more cleaning power, use a mild detergent or vinegar to remove stains and tough dirt stuck to the floor.

2. Hot Water Cleaning

Hot water is one of the best ways to clean laminate floors periodically. The water need not be boiling – lukewarm or slightly hotter does well. Hot water cleaning is particularly effective when you have tough stains that can’t be cleaned by cold water.

What You Will Need 

• Hot water
• Wet mop
• Dry mop
• Hot water bucket
• Mild detergent

Instructions

• Before you do a wet mop sweep with hot water, sweep the floor with a dry mop to clear it of any dust and debris so they will not get stuck to the floor after the wet sweep.
• Soak the wet mop in hot water and wring it out until it is damp but not soaking wet. Mop the floor back and forth along the direction of the grains. Avoid sweeping it from side to side perpendicular to the grains.
• Start from the center of the floor and mop your way outwards. If you start from the outside in, you will have to walk back on the freshly mopped floor.
• Ensure the mop is not dripping wet, so there are no puddles of water left behind after you’re through.
• Allow the floor to air dry if it is only damp. If it gets a little wet, mop it with a dry cloth.
• If you are dealing with tough stains, add a little mild detergent for superior cleaning power.

3. Cleaning With Vinegar

Vinegar is an excellent acidic cleaner that is mild on all surfaces and to disinfect laminate floors effectively.

What You Will Need 

• Vinegar
• Water
• Spray bottle
• Microfiber cloth or cleaning sponge

Instructions 

Here is how to clean laminate floors with vinegar solution:

• Vinegar in its raw form is too abrasive to be used. Hence, you must dilute it before using it. Use a large spray bottle and mix 60ml of vinegar with 1000ml of water to prepare the spraying mix. If you need to create a more powerful cleaning liquid, combine 80ml vinegar with three squirts of liquid detergent in 4 liters of warm water.
• Start the cleaning process from one end of the room and spray only a small section of the floor that you can quickly wipe clean with a dry microfiber cloth. Avoid spraying the whole floor at once, as the solution would dry up before you can get to it.
• Use only a soft microfiber cloth with gentle cleaning strokes to get the dirt off the laminated floor. Avoid using mops or other abrasive cleaning materials.
• If there is any more water left out, use a dry cloth to absorb it all. Avoid letting any water puddle stand.
• If needed, wipe a second round with a damp cloth soaked in plain water and wrung.

4. Cleaning With Soaps

To get your laminate floor sparkling clean, you need to clean it with soap water occasionally.

What You Will Need 

• Hot water
• Hot water bucket and mop
• Mild liquid detergent or baby shampoo
• Dry cloth or sponge

Instructions 

Follow these instructions to clean your laminate floors with soap safely:

• Fill the bucket with warm water and stir about two tablespoons of a mild detergent or baby shampoo into the water. Avoid scented or dyed detergents as these are more likely to leave behind stains. Also, baby shampoos are excellent, so avoid using adult shampoos.
• Stir the water until the liquid soap is thoroughly dissolved. Soak the mop and wring it thoroughly until it is damp and not dripping wet.
• Mop the floor using to and fro strokes along the direction of the grains. Start from one end of the room and move to the exit.
• If the floor feels slippery and wet, use a dry cloth to clean the leftover soap water. Wipe a second round with the mop wrung with plain water to clean away the remaining soap.
• Soap water cleaning is a great idea to effectively clean floors that have accumulated stains over time or have big spills, such as sugary juices.

5. Removing Difficult Stains

Sometimes we end up spilling stuff on the laminate floors that are not easy to clean. These techniques will help with common tough stains that people encounter now and then.

What You Will Need 

• Spray bottle
• Window cleaner
• Microfiber cloth
• Plastic knives
• Acetone (nail polish remover)
• Pencil eraser
• Ice pack

Instructions

Follow these instructions to remove tough stains on the floor:

• Use a window cleaner to remove stubborn stains such as blood and other liquid spills effectively. Spray the cleaner directly over the stain and wait for a few minutes before scrubbing it off with a microfiber cloth.
• Use a plastic knife to scrape away chewing gum stuck to the floor. You can also use water or an icepack to harden the gum before you can begin the task of scraping it away. Remove what is left by spraying a solvent such as acetone and wiping the gum away with a tissue.
• With a damp cloth, you can easily remove stains left by crayons, ink, wine, or soda. For tough ones, use a little bit of acetone and wipe away with a cloth.
• You can only remove substances such as nail or shoe polish or tar with organic solvents such as acetone. Dab a bit of acetone to the cloth and scrub the stain on the floor until it disappears.
• Pencil erasers can be used to remove scruff, heal marks, or any deposition on the floor.
• Grease stuck to the floor can be frozen with an ice pack before being scraped away with a plastic knife. You can wipe the remaining grease away with a tissue soaked in acetone.

Ways to Protect Laminate Floors

Here are the best practices to keep your laminate floor sparkling clean and damage-free:

• Always mop laminate floors with a soft-cloth mop. Avoid abrasive methods such as floor buffer or polisher.
• Avoid hard acidic cleaners or physical abrasives such as steel wool or scouring powder.
• Place protective mats under heavy objects and furniture. Avoid dragging anything across the floor without adequate protection.
• Area rugs need to have a laminate-compatible vinyl base to avoid the rug from sticking to the floor.
• Keep your pet’s nails trimmed and filed to avoid scratches.
• Avoid walking on the laminated floor in heels or cleats.
• Use doormats to keep as much dust outside as possible.

Dos and Don’ts to Clean Laminate Floors

Here are some dos and don’ts with laminate flooring:

Dos

Here are some things you can do while cleaning the laminate floor:

• Thoroughly read the cleaning instructions that come with your laminate flooring. The manufacturers often give the best advice on how to maintain the floor.
• Remove stains or staining substances from sitting on the floor as early as possible.
• Use soft microfiber cloth or sponges to wipe the floor clean. When using a broom, always opt for soft-bristled ones.
• Please spend some time learning how to make a DIY laminate floor cleaner and experiment with several different stain types. Avoid using strong industrial cleaners that can etch the laminate.
• Only use diluted vinegar as a cleaning agent. Concentrated vinegar is highly acidic and can eat through the laminate when left in a puddle.

Don’ts

Here are some things you shouldn’t do while cleaning laminate floors:

• Do not soak the floor with a drippy mop, especially when cleaning with hot water and detergent/vinegar.
• Do not use steam cleaners on the laminated floor.
• Do not use brooms with bristles that leave behind particles that can scratch the surface.
• Do not use products that add a shiny finish to the laminate. These can leave behind a waxy deposition that is difficult to clean.
• Don’t mop the floor too often with vinegar solution. It should only be a last resort when cleaning large areas.
• Do not forget to check any new cleaning products for compatibility with laminate floors.

Can Steam Mop Be Used on Laminate Floors?

Steam mops expose the laminate surfaces to higher temperatures that can make them weak and prone to abrasion. While most laminate floors these days are more resistant to spills and stains, steam can cause excess warping and damage. The warranty of some of the manufacturers is also void if steam mops are used.

Laminate floors are an excellent choice for homeowners looking for an attractive and economical flooring option. They are easy to maintain and last long when the correct cleaning practices and maintenance procedures are followed.

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