How to Clean Laminate Floors - The Dos and Don'ts!

Are you planning on switching to laminate floors? Are you wondering how you’ll keep it clean so that it looks as new as the day they were installed?

These floors need special care when it comes to cleaning. Like hardwood floors, you cannot keep refinishing them every time they are damaged. It’s important you treat your floor with the care it needs.

So, whether you’re new to cleaning laminate floors or you’re looking for ways to keep your existing floor clean, take a look at these tips and tricks. We’re sure you’ll become a pro by the end of this article! 

To begin you will need these 3 things:

1. Vacuum Cleaners

It should come as no surprise that the first thing you’ll be needing is a vacuum cleaner. Your vacuum cleaner will help to maintain and keep the laminate floor clean.

Not only does the cleaner make your floor look all shiny and polished, but it's also pretty good at sucking in grit and dust. These grits and dust can scratch your laminate floors and make them look worn out.

Also, never ever use a broom. It doesn’t matter how awesome your broom is, just don’t use it on laminate floors. They’ll only trap in the allergens during the cleaning process.

Instead of getting rid of the dust or allergen, Broom’s aids in lifting these up and resettle them back to the floor. When buying a vacuum for your house keep in mind to check whether it is suitable for laminate floors.

2. Microfiber Mops FTW!

Now that we’ve taken care of the dust and grit. What about when we have to use water? That’s easy - a microfiber mop!

Microfiber mops glide across the laminate floors and pick up hair, pet hair, and dirt easily and effortlessly. Its swivel heads make it possible to cover large grounds and they are easy to use when cleaning under tables and chairs.

These mops don’t even require a lot of water, which easily makes it the top choice for cleaning laminate floors as any sort of water will warp the floors.

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3. The Right Cleaning Solutions

You can choose cleaning solutions from the market or make them yourself. Whatever way you choose, you’ll need a mop pad and a spray bottle to squirt your solution.

To start off, you’ll need to either use vacuum or a dry microfiber mop to clear away the dust. For the microfiber pad soak it in warm water and mop the floor while spraying the cleaning solution.

Mop your floor like you usually do and if the pad gets too dirty, just rinse and replace it. After you are done mopping, rinse the pad and put it in the wash, or put it in your washing machine.

Don’t use any sponge mops or strings. Not only will these take longer to clean but will also leave streaks and marks since t more water is needed than a microfiber mop.

This makes it easy for the moisture to get into the cracks of the floor.

What To Avoid When Cleaning Laminate Flooring

We’ve already talked about avoiding the use of sponge and string mops. They need a lot of water and can cause your floor to warp way too easily.

You should also avoid completely soaking your magnificent microfiber mop when you’re moistening it. Whenever there is a large spill, use a dry cloth, paper towel or a sponge to blot it up. Don’t let the spill sit on the surface of your floors for long, it can also cause warping.

It’s important to remember that laminate floors are not actual wood, so don’t even think about using polish or wax on it. Any sort of chemicals that promote shine should also never be used.

Even bleach or any other harsh cleaning solution is not recommended. You don’t need to do anything extra to keep your floor clean, just vacuum and use a microfiber mop and everyone is happy!

Removing Stubborn and Exotic Stains

We’ve all dealt with our fair share of wine spills and heel marks from wearing those stilettos. It’s vital to know what to use when there are different kinds of spills and marks.

Let’s find out how you can tackle all sorts of stains and marks!

Ink, Blood, and Wine

When it comes to ink stains, start by wiping with a damp cloth. Next, add a small amount of detergent if the ink is too stubborn to come off. You can use a commercial ink remover if it’s seriously not coming off.

Just remember to wipe up with a damp cloth and you’re good to go.

Blood can be cleaned off using a window cleaner, but again, use a damp cloth. The same goes for red wine or coke spills - use a damp cloth!

Chewing Gum and Grease

Trying to pry off chewing gum can be a little tricky. We’ve all dealt with a sticky situation at some point in our lives. Well, when they are stuck on your beautiful laminate floors, use a non-metal object or a plastic to get the gum off.

Non-metal because you can very easily scratch the floor. Once you’ve pried the gum off, rub off the rest of residue with a soft cloth dampened with mineral spirits.

For cleaning of grease, you’ll need an ice pack first to harden it. Then, scrape it off using a non-metal object or a plastic knife. Wipe away whatever is left by using a cloth dampened with window cleaner. That’s all you need to keep your marvelous laminate floor grease-free.

Crayons, Scuffs, and Nail Polish

Children can be quite wonderful until you realize they draw everywhere, like walls, important documents, and floors! For crayon marks, use mineral spirits on a cloth and rub away their masterpieces with not too much of a  heavy heart.

To take off nail polish stains, use your nail polish remover to clean it off. Then, finish it by wiping off the area with a  cloth moistened with warm water.

Hide any heel or scuff marks by borrowing your child’s pencil eraser. Yes, that’s all you need to correct your mistakes!

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, we’d like to say that we hope our tips and tricks help you to maintain a clean and long-lasting laminate floor. It’s really a matter of being diligent and careful if you really want to keep your floor looking new and clean.

So, let us know if any of our tips have made your cleaning life easy and as always, don’t forget to let your family and friends know from where you’ve learned all these awesome tips!