How to Clean Laminate Floors

Establish a good, regular cleaning routine that involves basic sweeping and vacuuming. This will help you remove debris and dust consistently and reduce dirt between the interlocking pieces. Never leave spills to dry or other debris to sit on the floor for long periods of time.

When cleaning laminate floors with a mop, use water sparingly. Laminate floors may bubble or swell if too much water stays on the flooring, the colour may fade, and the seams may separate. It’s important to use methods and products especially for laminate flooring, which include:

• Use a microfibre or other highly absorbent mop.
• Use laminate floor cleaner or a teaspoon of unscented soap in a gallon of water.
• Use a damp mop every two to three months.

Leaving spills can lead to stains and make it more difficult to clean up. Although laminate flooring isn’t prone to stains, it’s best practice to clean up right away. To tackle dirty areas by spot-cleaning, use an absorbent cloth and either a laminate stain remover or a natural recipe. Tough stains can be frozen with a bag of ice and scraped off or rubbing alcohol can be used to remove them.

As mentioned, stay away from harsh and abrasive scrubbers as they will scratch your laminate floors.

There are many things you can do to protect your laminate floors and keep them looking new and shiny.

• Use glides or pads on the legs of your chairs and tables.
• Wipe up wet spills and pick up debris when they drop.
• When it comes to pets and babies, protect the ground below them with a mat.
• Avoid dragging heavy furniture across the floor to prevent scratches.
• Dry mop before you clean your floors to capture debris.
• Put down an entry mat at doorways.
• Avoid walking across your laminate flooring with shoes, especially heels.

Aside from learning the best way to clean laminate floors, you want to actively avoid certain practices as well.

• Avoid products with wax, polish, and oil.
• Avoid acidic cleaners and floor buffers or polishers.
• Avoid using hard bristle brooms or any other harsh scrubbers.
• Do not use a steam cleaner.
• Do not soak the floors with water.