How to Clean Laminate Flooring?
Laminate flooring is trending these days, and almost every home has a version of this flooring. Laminate floors become sticky and cloudy if not properly cleaned, so the cleaning of this flooring is very necessary if you want to make your flooring always look good.
This flooring looks like a hardwood floor, which never means that you have to clean this floor in the same way as you do wooden flooring. The cleaning of the laminate differs from all other floorings, so you must know the ideal way to clean the floor.
If you want to remove the stains from your laminate flooring and are looking for a reliable method, then we are here to tell you all the do’s and don’ts while cleaning the flooring and an ideal method that can clean all the stains from the flooring. So, continue reading the article and get what you want to know about your flooring.
Tips for the Cleaning of Laminate Flooring
There are some tips that you must follow while cleaning your laminate floor.
- Always read the cleaning instructions that come with this floor.
- Never use abrasive tools for cleaning the floor.
- Only mop your laminate floor once every two months.
- Never let stains sit on your floors for a long time.
- Never use cleaning products that don’t have labels for laminate flooring.
- Never use too much water on your laminate floor.
- Try to use a homemade cleaner to clean this flooring.
- Try to install a welcome mat on your flooring to keep it protected from damage.
How Often Should You Clean the Laminate Floor?
You must first determine how frequently you can clean your laminate flooring. You should use a broom or vacuum on this flooring daily to remove all the dust and dirt. Never forget to broom under the floor mats or luxury carpets.
Dust and dirt settling on the laminate will cause scratches on it and the flooring will start looking dull and old. If there are splashes and food stains on the laminate, then they should be cleaned immediately to keep the flooring from decolorizing.
Tools and Materials Needs for the Cleaning of Laminate
Here are the materials which you will need for the cleaning of your laminate floor.
- Dust mop
- Vacuum cleaner
- Flooring cleaner
- Vinegar solution
- Damp-mop
- Cleaning clothes
Steps to Clean the Laminate Flooring
Here are the steps that have to be followed while cleaning the laminate flooring, so the flooring looks new and presentable all the time.
1. Broom Or Vacuum the Floor
The first step in cleaning the laminate floor is to remove the dirt and dust from it. For this purpose, you can use either a broom or a vacuum cleaner. You should clean the debris off the floor immediately.
Never use a traditional broom for cleaning the laminate floor because it leaves behind dust and does not clean the floor properly. Ask the seller for the latest broom for the cleaning of different floorings.
Vacuum the floor if you want to make it clean from dust completely. Never use a damp mop on the laminate floor for the removal of dust because the mop gets the sticky particles from the floor and then spreads these particles all over the floor, making your floor more annoying than before.
Note: When using a vacuum cleaner on the laminate floor, always set the vacuum cleaner for the hard floors because the rolling brushes of the vacuum cleaner can make scratches on the floor and ruin its look.
2. Choose An Ideal Cleaning Solution
For the cleaning of this flooring, you can’t use any solution. Check if the solution has a label for laminate flooring or not. If the solution doesn’t have any labels, then you can’t use it for the stain removal on the laminate floor.
If you don’t want to use a ready-made solution for your premium flooring because you have a doubt that it can be dangerous for the finishing of your flooring, then you can also make a cleaning solution at home which helps you to clean all the stains from your flooring.
Many commercial cleaners create a sticky texture on the flooring, so you can follow the below recipes to get the best cleaning solutions at home.
- Vinegar Solution For The Cleaning Of Laminate Floor
For preparing a vinegar solution to clean the laminate floor, you need the following ingredients:
- White vinegar 5 ounces
- Rubbing alcohol 5 ounces
- Boiled or distilled water 5 ounces
- 2 to 4 drops of essential oil
Pour all the ingredients into the spray bottle and then spray the solution on the floor and mop the surface. Your laminate flooring will look new after using this cleaner. The presence of vinegar in the solution also kills the germs on the surface of your flooring.
- Baking Soda Solution
The use of baking soda to remove stains from carpets and rugs is very old. People mostly use the baking soda solution to clean coffee and food stains from carpets. But you must know that you can also use this solution on the laminate floor to remove all the stains of dust, ketchup, coffee, tea, soft drinks, and sauces.
To prepare this mixture, you need some easy ingredients that are easily available to everyone’s home.
- Baking soda 2 tbsp
- Lukewarm Water 1 liter
- 2 drops of essential oil
Mix this solution and put it in the spray bottle. Spray the solution on the stains and then leave it for 20 minutes. Clean the stain with a damp mop.
3. Damp Mop the Floor
After selecting the ideal solution for the floor, you now must know that the use of water can destroy your laminate flooring. Water can seep down into the floor and the flooring can swell from different sides. So try to minimize the use of water on the flooring.
When you select the cleaning solution, never use too much of it on the floor. Always use a spray bottle, so the use of the solution will be minimal. After spraying the solution, dry the mop as much as you can, then clean the flooring with the mop so you can get the maximum results.
4. Add Shine to Your Flooring
After cleaning the floor with the solution and a damp mop, now you can add a simple step in your cleaning process so you can add shine and polish to the place. For this purpose, you only need an absorbent cleaning cloth made from microfibers.
You just need to mop this cloth on the floor so it can absorb all the water from the flooring and make it completely dry. The laminate floor will automatically shine when it gets dry.
How to Keep Laminate Floor Clean?
When cleaning the laminate floor, a user must know how they can protect the floor from getting dirty, because if the flooring does not get dirty, you don’t need to clean the flooring. Keep some points in mind when you have laminate flooring at home.
- Place both outdoor floor mats at the front of the house. Use indoor mats as well to make the flooring more protective.
- Immediately clean up spills, messes, and plant watering overflow.
- Install protective floor pads on the bottom of chairs, couches, and tables to prevent the floor from deteriorating and being damaged prematurely.
Conclusion
Now you know all about the cleaning of the laminate flooring. So you can easily prepare a cleaner at home and keep the flooring always clean. We have mentioned all the tips and tricks from which you can easily maintain the laminate floor and then can use it even for 30 years. So best of luck with the cleaning of the flooring.
FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions
There are many cleaners available on the market, but not every cleaner is ideal for the laminate floor. Cleaners having labels for laminate flooring can only be used for the cleaning of the laminate floor. A vinegar solution can also be used for cleaning flooring.
It could be the laminate flooring’s reaction to the cleaner. Many commercial cleaners make the laminate floor sticky and cloudy. Always use vinegar, alcohol, and essential oil solutions to make the flooring clear and clean.
The only trick that works is to add shine to the laminate flooring. After cleaning the flooring with a commercial or homemade cleaner, clean the floor with a dry, water-absorbent microfiber mop. Use the mop in the circular solution and the flooring will start shining.