How to Clean Laminate Flooring

People choose laminate flooring because it is an affordable, attractive and durable flooring option for any room in the home. Because of the way laminate flooring is constructed, it is extremely durable and is easy to maintain. A laminate floor needs to be cleaned regularly, as one key enemy to laminate floors is abrasives, and dirt can act as an abrasive if is allowed to build up on the floor.

Obviously, abrasive cleaners are not needed and can actually destroy the beautiful finish of a laminate floor. Excess dirt can usually be removed by simply sweeping the floor or vacuuming the floor with a brushless vacuum without a beater bar. This should keep the floor clean. For stubborn spills or stains, an occasional damp mopping may also be required. The mop should be rung out until it is as dry as possible, as excess water can cause the laminate floor to expand. After damp mopping the floor, it is important to remove excess moisture with a dry cloth or towel.

While laminate floors are extremely durable and finished with a very strong coating, they are very susceptible to abrasives and scratching. Scouring pads and abrasive-based cleansers should never be used on a laminate floor because they can damage the finish and make the floor dull. One way to prevent scratching is to put glides or floor protectors on all the furniture.

Sometimes there will be the need to spot clean a laminate floor if there is a particularly stubborn stain. It is recommended that you use a cleaner that the manufacturer recommends for the flooring. It’s important not to use soap and water on the laminate floor, because soap can cause dulling and ruin the finish. Use only a manufacturer-approved cleaner if you need to clean up a stubborn stain.

Another important factor in the cleaning and maintenance of a laminate floor is that you should never use wax or polish on a laminate floor. These floors were designed to keep their sheen and their finish, so they do not need wax which will just build up and not do any good for the floor. Laminate floors are durable, and do not require sanding and refinishing like hardwood floors. Sanding and refinishing can permanently damage the floor and should be avoided at all costs.