How Do I Clean A Laminate Floor

Parrys Carpets:

The ultimate guide to cleaning and looking later laminate floors

Everyone loves a hardwood floor, but many of them are non solid wood all the way through. Rather, they are laminate – an engineered forest floor solution that is stronger, more versatile, more hygienic and more cost-effective than solid woods. Increasingly pop and suitable for DIY installation, laminate floors are often the perfect solution.

While they are well known as much tougher and more resistant to stains than wooden floors, that does not mean laminate floors don't notwithstanding need careful maintenance.

This article is your guide to:

Cleaning laminate floors
Maintaining laminate floors
Removing stains from laminate floors.

Before we get into that, we must first explicate a little of how laminate floors are made and what are the common sources of damage.

What are laminate floors?

A hybrid floor covering, laminate flooring is installed much like real hardwood – multiple boards joined with a tongue-and-groove system. Unlike hardwood flooring, however, a piece of laminate flooring is fabricated up of multiple layers:

A vesture layer of durable plastic that protects the layers below
A pattern layer that gives the floor its attractive advent
A core layer (too called a substrate) made of high-density fiberboard (HDF) to give the floor its heft and daze absorbance
A balancing (or backing) layer that works as a wet barrier and stable base.

Laminate floor is a popular solution for those who desire the aesthetic of hardwood or stone flooring without the exorbitant price tag.

Common sources of damage to laminate floors

Laminate flooring might be more durable than traditional woods floors, but information technology's still possible to harm or stain it if yous're not careful. The damage tin can range from surface-level blemishes to multi-layer penetration. The staining tin can be simple grime through to bleaching.

Hither are some common sources of harm to laminate flooring:

Water harm to laminate floors

Less is more than when it comes to water on your laminate flooring – aye, even while cleaning. While properly installed laminate floors will exist as h2o-tight equally possible, excess water will seep in. Left unchecked, this can cause your planks to smashing, damaging your floor irreparably.

Using the wrong cleaners

Incorrect usage of cleaning products is well-nigh always the culprit of chemical damage to laminate floors. The wrong cleaner can dull the look of your laminate floors or worse, swallow away the protective upper layers.

Vacuuming and sweeping

Clay is a universal enemy and the aforementioned goes for dirt on your laminate flooring. Regular sweeping and vacuuming are essential to proceed the annoying action of dust and debris from dulling the finish of your laminate.

That said, vacuuming or sweeping the incorrect way tin also deal damage. Vacuum with the castor roller switched on and information technology will crusade micro-scratches to build up on your floors. The same goes for sweeping with a bristle broom, no affair how soft.

Houseplants

Keeping your indoor plants watered is not bad for the plants, merely it only takes a fleck of spillage to become a long way to damaging your laminate flooring. And the larger the pot, the bigger the area that'll be masked until it'south too belatedly!

Sunlight

A sun-dappled house may expect slap-up on Instagram, but harsh sunlight that hits your laminate floor in a regular pattern every twenty-four hour period can gradually fade out sections of your called style in the pattern layer.

Heavy piece of furniture

That perfect argument piece might merely be making a statement gouge in your laminate flooring. Furniture without proper piece of furniture pads is a no-no when it comes to laminate. This goes double if it's a piece you get a lot of utilise out of such equally couches or tables. But the act of pulling out a chair every day can build upwardly to hefty impairment over time.

The best style to clean wood laminate floors? Prevention!

The optimal way to keep your laminate floors clean is to stay on peak of routine maintenance. Consequent one time-over cleaning volition go along them in much meliorate condition than an occasional attempt at a deep scrub. Hither is what we recommend.

Sweep or vacuum

The simplest of all floor-cleaning routines. Dirt doesn't simply affect the look of your home, it also causes tiny scratches in laminate that build up to dull the surface of your floors. You lot should sweep or vacuum your laminate floor at least once a calendar week.

To ensure your broom or vacuum isn't scratching your floors, utilize the use of a soft dust mop and ensure your vacuum'southward brush is in the 'upwardly' setting.

Wipe up spills ASAP

Laminate floors seem like they are totally waterproof, but they're not. Liquids will seep in over time (call up of those small leaks that tin can build upward under fridges). The best communication is to make clean up the spill and then use a completely dry material or paper towel to remove all dampness.

Give-and-take of caution:

You're cooking breakfast and splat! One one-half-cooked pancake or egg or spoonful of mushrooms hits your laminate floor. Practise NOT use a metal implement to scrape information technology upwardly. Instead, only utilize wood or plastic implements.

Launder with manifestly hot water

Hot water actually is an effective cleaning agent for floors: it cuts grease, melts dirt and is lethal to microbes. As it contains no harsh chemicals, there is little take chances of information technology damaging your floors. A monthly wash-down is unremarkably sufficient if y'all're also following a weekly sweeping routine.

As laminate floors are sensitive to water, it's important though to wring your mop out until information technology is merely damp, not wet, when you utilize it to the floor.

The experts say:

"Never apply annoying cleaners, soap, detergents, waxes or polishes on your laminate floors."

However, if you want the all-time-of-the-best for your floors, run across the adjacent department downwardly: The best products for cleaning laminate floors.

Always use saucers under your houseplants

Water impairment to laminate flooring can be catastrophic, so it's important yous preclude water exposure where possible. Houseplants should always sit down in a saucer to grab any backlog when watering or seepage through the pot.

Close the blinds during the harshest times of day

Sun bleaching of laminate floors is a tricky customer – often people don't realise what'southward happened until they movement their piece of furniture and detect two-toned laminate. To help prevent sun damage, ensure you close your blinds against the dominicus during the harsh midday and early on afternoon hours.

Apply article of furniture pads

Furniture pads are an often-disregarded godsend when it comes to maintaining your laminate flooring. Without them, you risk scratches or even large gouges in your flooring. So, do yourself a favour and spend the extra few dollars on preventative article of furniture pads. Your laminate floors will thank you.

Golden rule:

Always take doormats for people to wipe their shoes on. Tracked-in dust and dirt is the major cause of a tired-looking laminate floor.

NEVER utilize a steam mop

While there are some conflicting reports about whether a steam mop is a good choice for laminate flooring, our communication is simple: don't. While laminate floors are loftier-tech, they are still fabricated from woods. The searing temperatures and the backlog water only don't concord with their construction.

You don't take to become far to find stories of people ruining brand new laminate floors in just a few months of well-meaning but misguided steam mopping.

The best products for cleaning laminate floors

If you stay on top of regular cleaning, there should exist no reason at all to use stiff flooring cleaners on your laminate flooring. They won't make your floor cleaner, they will simply impairment its end and make your house scent like a hospital.

However, there are specialised laminate floor cleaners bachelor and most are formulated to rejuvenate your floor'southward shiny appearance. However, if your floor only needs a make clean, why not make the solution yourself? The recipe is simple and the ingredients tin be establish around the home.

Unproblematic laminate floor cleaner:

ane part white vinegar
10 parts warm water
A few drops of dish lather.

Method: Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle and mix well. Use sparingly in minor sections. Your floor shouldn't really go 'wet', merely clammy enough for the solution to loosen the dirt and dust. The vinegar may odour, simply it is the necessary ingredient to preclude streaks. With ventilation, the odour vanishes speedily.

Ever remember:

When y'all clean your laminate flooring, you're only cleaning the top layer, not the wood underneath.

Dealing with stains, marks, and spills

The good news well-nigh laminate flooring is that well-nigh spills wipe directly off. Still, there are times when certain kinds of stain require a different arroyo.

How to remove scuff marks from laminate flooring?

One of the greatest dwelling cleanliness secrets lives right on your desk – the humble pencil eraser. Soft white erasers of good quality have an almost magical ability to remove marks from smooth surfaces. On a laminate floor, heel marks and shoe scuffs usually rub right off.

How to remove blood stains from laminate flooring?

Act fast! Blood contains proteins that brainstorm setting immediately on contact with both air and warmth. Soak up the blood as best you can without wiping and and so spray some window cleaner on the stain and and then wipe this up with a soft damp cool cloth. You should use the minimum amount of wiping possible – blood smears hands and sets more quickly when spread thin.

How to remove java and wine stains from laminate flooring?

Black coffee and cerise wine tend to make for worse stains than their white counterparts, only either way, the steps are the same. Soak the excess liquid up immediately and then use the laminate cleaning solution sparingly to wipe off the residuum. Wipe with the grain.

How to remove felt pen from laminate flooring?

Remarkably, a skilful-quality pencil eraser can often wipe pen marks off your floor with only a little elbow grease. If that doesn't work, dab some nail shine remover onto a soft cloth and gently work at the marks. Be sure to remove whatsoever backlog chemicals from your floor when finished.

How to remove crayon from laminate floor?

Get equally much of the crayon off with your fingernails or a plastic utensil equally yous can (an old credit card works well). Adjacent, dab some vodka onto a soft cloth and gently buff off the marks. If that doesn't work, try nail smoothen remover.

How to remove paint from laminate flooring?

If however wet, soak upward as much paint every bit possible; if dry, remove the excess with a plastic or wooden utensil. Next, use the cleaning solution higher up to remove equally much of the remaining paint equally you can. Last, dab smash smoothen remover onto a cloth and gently wipe away the remaining pigment. In one case done, wipe all residue of cleaning products off the area.

How to remove fats and oils from laminate flooring?

Quickly chill the area as much as possible. Ice-cubes in a plastic purse work, equally does a pack of frozen peas. You lot want the oil to ossify. Once it has become thickened or solid, scrape information technology off with a wooden or plastic implement. Remove the residue with a clean damp cloth and window cleaner. Remove all the oil and window cleaner residue and and so dry the surface area thoroughly.

Gilded rule:

Remove the stain. Then clean the spot. Then wipe over the spot with plain water. Then dry the spot completely.

How to make your laminate floors shiny once again?

Subsequently cleaning, laminate floors accept a trend to streak or leave mottled patches – they demand a shine!

Buy a special laminate floor cleaner – regular flooring detergent is a no-get
Sweep or vacuum whatever dust and clay off your floor
Follow the instructions on the bottle – usually, y'all spray a very pocket-sized surface area of the floor direct with the cleaner
Wipe the area you accept sprayed with a microfibre material or mop – going with the grain
Move around the whole flooring one small section at a time.

Laminate flooring is worth taking proper care of

Laminate flooring is versatile, attractive, and price-effective, but, equally with whatsoever material, it takes a bit of knowledge and intendance to maintain.

Knowing how to prevent problems before they ascend is the key to ensuring your floors look equally good in 10 years as they do upon installation.

Having a few tricks up your sleeve to deal with stains, spills and other cruddy marks will go a long way as well.

Problems cleaning your laminate flooring? Stubborn stain you just can't budge? Contact the friendly squad at Parry'south and we'll exist able to help you.

Further reading about laminate flooring:

Buyer'south guide to choosing laminate flooring
How to gear up your floor earlier installing laminate flooring?
Guide to installing laminate flooring yourself