How To Clean Laminate Floors The Right Way

Laminate floors are an affordable option for many homeowners. This and the fact that it looks pretty good makes this style of flooring very popular. However, in order for it to keep its gleam and glamour for years, it needs proper care. And while they may look similar, unlike hardwood floors, laminate floors cannot be refinished if they happen to get scuffed, scratched, or stained. Yikes! But don’t worry. We are going to tell you how to clean laminate floors the right way, so you can keep them in tip-top shape and enjoy their gleaming beauty for years to come.

Laminate floors are an affordable option for many homeowners

Laminate floors cannot be refinished if they happen to get damaged

How To Clean Laminate Floors

Laminate floors look similar to solid hardwood flooring, but it is made from wood composites (sawdust pressed together), rather than a solid piece of wood. This type of flooring is more affordable, and it’s quite easy to install. It comes with a protective layer that keeps it safe from the everyday damages that await it in the home. However, it still required regular care to keep the steel intact and the shine strong.

Laminate floors look similar to solid hardwood flooring

This type of flooring is more affordable

#Sweep or Vacuum

Before you can go into a more thorough cleaning, you need to give the floor a good cleaning with a broom or vacuum. It’s recommended to sweep, as it’s more gentle than vacuuming and is super convenient for getting rid of small messes on the daily. You can also vacuum, but there is the risk of damaging the floor. If you can use the vacuum with the suction-only attachment or a special floor attachment, that would be best.

You need to give the floor a good cleaning with a broom or vacuum

#Cleaning Solution

Choosing the right cleaning solution for your laminate is very important. A cleaner that is very expensive is not always going to do a great job, so make sure to choose one that is both good for your budget and your floors. There are a ton of cleaners on the market you can choose from. And if you don’t find any you like, you can always make your own using vinegar. Whatever you choose, just don’t overdo it. You don’t want leftover residue or it seeping into the floors. Speaking of choosing the right cleaning solutions, there are also some you should avoid, like baking soda, harsh chemicals, scrubbers, oil-based wood cleaners, etc. Anything harsh or abrasive is a no-no.

You can always make your own cleaning solution using vinegar.

#Mop

It’s recommended to stick to a microfiber-style mop to clean your laminate floors. The other most important thing to remember when mopping your laminate floors is, first, to use a mop that is really well wrung out, to the point it’s just damp. You shouldn’t use wet mops that will soak your laminate floors with water or a cleaning solution as it will steep under the planks and warp them! Then, use a dry cloth to wipe away any excess moisture left on the floors. Mop in a circular motion, as it is much easier to get rid of stains this way.

Use a mop that is really well wrung out, to the point it’s just damp

#Buff Out

Once you’ve moped the floor, it’s time to make it gleam. To achieve that you need to buff the floor dry. Take an absorbent cleaning cloth that you can attach to a mop, or get a microfiber cloth and do the ultimate hands-and-knee work. Work in circles with whatever tool you have chosen and buff out each section of the floor to achieve that beautiful shine.

Once you’ve moped the floor, it’s time to make it gleam

#Protect The Floor

As we mentioned, laminate floors can’t be refinished and if any scratches, scruffs, or damage appears you can’t simply buff them out. So, the next best thing you can do is to try and prevent as much damage as possible. The first preventive measure and the most effective method is to clean on the regular. This way there will be nothing that can scratch against the floor. The next thing you can do is invest in rugs and mats for areas that have a lot of traffic, as well as put some pads on furniture legs.

Invest in rugs and mats for areas that have a lot of traffic

How Often To Clean Laminate Floors?

It depends on what you are cleaning up. When it comes to removing dust, then you should be dust mopping or vacuuming your floors preferably on the daily. However, realistically at least every two to three days. When it comes to spills or other messes, they should be taken care of immediately. If your floors don’t receive all that much traffic they can be clean once weekly.

You should be dust mopping or vacuuming your floors daily

This was how to clean laminate floors the right way. We hope you found this article useful. Now you know how to clean them without worrying that they may get ruined, and you can enjoy gleaming floors all the time.

This was how to clean laminate floors the right way

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