How to Clean Laminate Flooring?
Cleaning laminate floors is a pain, but it doesn’t have to be. Laminate floors are a great choice for many reasons. They’re affordable, easy to maintain, and come in a wide range of colours and designs. However, they can be tricky to keep looking their best. Fortunately, there are a few simple tips that will help you to keep your laminate flooring sparkling. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the most useful cleaning tricks for laminate floors.
Laminate flooring is a cost-effective way to create a clean, sleek space. It’s also easy to install yourself, which means that you can save some money on installation costs. But before it can be installed, you need to make sure your laminate floor is clean and ready for the new flooring. These tips will show you how to do it right.
Read the cleaning Instructions
Before you get into cleaning your laminate flooring it’s important to get to know your floors specific cleaning requirements.
Did you know: most vinyl laminate flooring will come with cleaning guidelines or instructions.
Most vinyl and laminate flooring manufacturers and/or retailers will have specific cleaning recommendations for their flooring products and will have detailed instructions on how to clean and maintain your flooring. Laminate flooring is cost effective, easy to install and a practical choice for busy homes. However, it’s essential that you maintain your vinyl flooring to keep it looking as good as new.
How to remove stains from vinyl flooring
Vinyl flooring is a great alternative to tiles and hardwood floors; it’s cheap, easy to install and easy to replace when needed. However, this style of flooring can be more susceptible to stains and marking.
Don’t let stains sit on the floor
You can’t avoid spills and accidents on your floor, however the simple and quick way to remove stains from vinyl floors is to wipe spills up as soon as they happen. Simply, take a paper towel or cloth and wipe up the spill. This means the substance won’t seep into the vinyl and cause a stain.
Vinyl and laminate flooring are particularly susceptible to bubbling and stains when excess liquid is poured or spilled on them. So, getting any spills wiped up as soon as possible is essential.
However, with children, pets and a busy home this may not always be the case. Spills and stains happen, the important thing is knowing how to remove them. Here are a few easy cleaning solutions for cleaning stains from vinyl flooring:
Water & vinegar solution
Making a simple water and vinegar solution and having it on hand to spray on spills and stains is a quick and easy way to avoid permanent stains on your floors. With a quick wipe and spray of the water and vinegar solution you can remove any residue of spilled coffee, wine and juice stains.
Acetone
Acetone is a great solution for removing tough stains such as spilled nail polish, glue, and permanent marker.
Non-abrasive scrapers
For tougher marks and stains such as candle wax, wait until the wax has completely dried and take a non-abrasive scraper – for example, a rubber scraper or putty knife – to remove the wax from your floor.
The best cleaner for laminate flooring
It’s essential that you select cleaning products that are compatible with your vinyl and laminate flooring. However, if your flooring doesn’t have specific cleaning instructions or recommendations, we recommend using a good quality laminate floor cleaner. Many hard wood floor cleaners are also compatible with laminate flooring, so these are a great way to tackle and clean all flooring in your home or commercial space with just one product.
You can find most hardwood floor and laminate flooring cleaners in local supermarkets and can bulk buy from online retailers like Amazon.
Skip cleaning products that aren’t made for laminate flooring
To save trial and error and avoid damaging your laminate flooring, don’t use cleaning products that aren’t labeled as made for laminate or vinyl flooring.
Oil-based cleaning products can leave streaks and residue on laminate floors and may even damage the protective sealant layer of your floors.
When using a laminate cleaner be sure to use sparingly. Rather than applying cleaning solutions straight onto your floor, apply the solution to a microfibre cloth or mop then spread evenly across your floor.
Never use a wax or polish on laminate and vinyl flooring
Can you use a steam mop on laminate floors?
Some people find steam mops work great on laminate floors, however, most vinyl flooring manufacturers and retailers caution against them.
While steam mop brands will claim their products are safe for laminate flooring, check the care guidelines for your flooring before using a mop to clean your floors. Modern laminate and vinyl click flooring are far more resistant to moisture, but excessive use of steam and moisture can still cause warping or bubbling.
Don’t use too much water
A traditional bucket and mop is definitely a no go for laminate floors. The excess water can seep between the seams of the laminate and cause damage like swelling or floor bubbling as well as staining or fading to the print and pattern of your flooring.
Don’t use abrasive tools
This may seem like an obvious tip, but don’t use abrasive tools to scrub or clean your laminate and vinyl floors. This style of flooring scratches easily, so you want appliances like a soft bristle broom, microfibre cloths and dust mops to help remove debris and dust. Be sure to use a vacuum attachment without a rotating brush or beater bar too.
DIY laminate floor cleaner
A quick and easy way to take care of your laminate and vinyl flooring is to make your own cleaning solution. It’s a simple process that will save you time and money in the long run and will ensure that you’re not using any harsh or harmful products on your floors.
It’s easy to make your own laminate floor cleaner at home! To tackle waxy build up and remove any grime, mix a cup of white vinegar with a gallon of hot water and store it in a spray bottle to avoid using excess water on your flooring.
Vinegar is a natural cleaning agent that can easily break down dirt and film without damaging vinyl laminate flooring.
