Laminate flooring is a popular choice thanks to its affordability and variety of designs. Advancements in design and technology allow you to get the look of wood or tile at a fraction of the price, made all the more attractive thanks to the easy installation. 

In this blog, we will share tips on how to clean and maintain your laminate flooring to help prolong their life and keep them looking their best.

What is laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring applies images of wood, stone, or tile to layers of sturdy particleboard, often affixed to an under-padding for comfort. Available in a wide variety of styles, the image is protected by a highly durable, clear layer.

It is a more affordable option than hardwood, luxury vinyl, and engineered hardwood. Today’s laminate floors are very durable, as long as they are cleaned and maintained properly. 

Use the Right Tools

Using the right tools avoids damaging your laminate floors while also making the job easier. You need a dry mop or vacuum as well as a wet mop to get the job done right. A broom is not recommended as it is more likely to drive dirt particles into the surface of the floor, which starts to wear down the protective top coating over time.

Although this level of damage will take many years of constant sweeping, you might as well prevent this from happening by using a dry mop to be safe. Dry mops have soft cloths that attract and hold onto dirt, which also makes the job less tedious. 

Use Laminate-Safe Cleaning Solutions

Laminate floors don’t need anything fancy to keep them clean. Using a homemade concoction of dish soap, vinegar, and water is a safe, easy, and affordable way to remove dirt.

Start With the Dry Mop or Vacuum

Always start with the dry mop to remove grit and dust from the floor. These loose particles actually cause more damage than anything else when it comes to daily wear and tear.

When using a vacuum, be sure to turn off the beater bar as this not only causes dirt to shoot all over the place, but also can damage the laminate, making tiny dents and scratches.

Prepare Your Cleaning Solution

Mix together a ¼ cup of distilled white vinegar, a gallon of hot water, and a drop or two of dish soap in a bucket and give it a stir, being careful not to let the water get too sudsy.

If you don’t have a bucket, you can use a spray bottle instead. You might find that this gives you more control over the amount of moisture and water you are dragging across the floor.

Mop and Rinse as You Go

When cleaning laminate floors, it is an absolute must to reduce the amount of water you use as you mop. Therefore, be sure you’re really wringing out the mop so it is not dripping wet.

Ideally, you want to work with a damp mop, starting in the corner of the room and making your way across to the next corner, and then progressing back and forth. This is the best way to get every inch of the floor. Remember not to wash yourself into a corner, working towards a doorway instead of away from it.  

Rinse the mop as you go. We always recommend using another bucket of clean water to rinse your wet mop as you work. However, if you want to avoid dragging more dirty water over the floor, you can also use your sink and run warm water over the mop so it is nice and clean with each swipe. 

Keep a Dry Cloth Handy

Because you want to avoid getting the floor too wet, keep either your dry mop or a dry cloth handy to sop up excess dripping. This will keep the floor free of moisture that can damage the particle board backing. 

Tackle Stains Right Away

The moment you notice a stain on your laminate floor, act fast to remove it. This is especially important if you have modern, light-coloured floors. Things like red wine, dark pop and juice, and coffee will stain your floors if not wiped up right away.

The good news is you can tackle stains with a microfiber cloth dipped in warm water and a splash of vinegar to scrub the stain away. Be sure to remove excess moisture with a clean dry cloth as you work.

Buff Away Scratches and Scuffs

If your floor has scratches or scuff marks, you can try buffing them away with a dry microfiber cloth or tennis ball. Be sure to first remove any dirt and gritty debris from the floor to avoid making more tiny scratches.

If the buffing doesn’t work, try using an art gum eraser. You can also match a wood floor repair marker to your laminate flooring to fill in scratches. 

Laminate Floor Cleaning FAQs

These laminate flooring FAQs will help you ace your cleaning technique:

If possible, try to dust mop your floors daily, especially in higher traffic areas, and then you can mop about once a month.

No. Steel wool is too abrasive and will make things worse by removing more of the protective coating. Stick to the microfiber cloth or tennis ball instead.

Again, no. Wax is intended for natural wood floors and will dull laminate floors, leaving behind an unpleasant, hard-to-remove sticky build-up.

Although you can use other laminate floor cleaners, they are expensive and don’t work as well as our simple mix of hot water, vinegar, and dish soap.

If you don’t dilute the vinegar, it can damage the coating. Always mix no more than a ¼ cup of vinegar to a gallon of water to use a safe amount.

No. Sponge mops hold a lot of water and also force dirty water between floorboards, allowing moisture to damage the particle board backing.

 

Contact the Laminate Flooring Experts

Following the tips above will protect your laminate flooring finish so it lasts for years to come.

For more information on laminate floors, visit a Cosmaroma store near you, or click here to look through our laminate flooring selection. You can also call us at (855) 457-1039 or contact us online.