HOW TO CLEAN THE LAMINATE FLOOR

Time: 2 – 4 hours Difficulty: Easy

The laminate floor may resemble other floors in appearance, but to keep it looking its best, there are special cleaning tricks you need to know.

1. Develop Weekly Cleaning Habits

Sweep regularly with a soft-bristle broom to collect pet hair and dust. Vacuum weekly using a soft brush attachment. There is a setting for the hard floor on the vacuum cleaner these days, which stops the beater brush from rotating, so it won’t scratch the floor.

2. Deep Clean Occasionally

Water should be used minimally in laminate floor cleaning. Standing water can cause the wood to bubble or swell, make the seams separate. It makes the cleaning more complicated, may cause warp or fade the floor color.

It is better to use cleaning products that specifically designed for the laminate floor, such as:

• Bona Multi-Surface Floor Care Kit (Amazon)
• Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner（Amazon)

Mop every 2 – 3 months using a laminate floor mop, which is usually made of microfiber or other highly absorbent materials that can clean the floor well without leaving excess water. If necessary, a teaspoon of unscented clear dish soap or baby shampoo in a gallon of hot water can be used. But make sure to dry the floor with a piece of microfiber cloth to avoid the liquid soaking into the protective layer.

Please pay extra attention that you shouldn’t use oil-based cleaning products as they leave streaks on the floor that can’t be cleaned.

3. Stains Caused by Accident

Use a microfiber cloth as soon as possible to clean the stain. If the stain is grease, wax, or gum, freeze it with an ice pack to stop the area from expanding, then carefully scratch it off with a plastic scraper, and finally wipe the area with a damp microfiber cloth to remove the residue. If it's an oily or colored stain, such as by a marker, lipstick, ink, etc., treat it with acetone or nail polish remover. The method is to pour a small amount of the chemical on a clean white cloth, gently wipe off the stain, and then wipe off the residue with a slightly soaked microfiber cloth. When finished, wipe with a dry cloth to make sure the area is completely dry.

4. Protect the Floor

Do not use a floor buffer or polisher on the laminate floor.

Never use abrasive or acidic cleaners, or any abrasive tools, as any harsh cleaner can potentially strip the protective coating.

Place protective mats under all heavy furniture or anything with castors. Try not to slide heavy objects across the laminate floor.

Use only laminate-approved vinyl rug underlays under area rugs to prevent rug backing from sticking to or scratching the flooring and the rug itself in place.

Place entry mats at outside doorways to keep dirt, oil, and other outdoor substances from being tracked onto the floor.

To prevent scratches, keep pet nails trimmed and avoid walking across the floor in heels or cleats.

Hope this article explains in detail how to clean the laminate floor and helps you a little bit. In next article, we will talk more about the hardwood floor. If there are contents you are more interested in, please leave us a comment below.