Tips For Cleaning Laminate Floors
We recently had gorgeous laminate flooring installed in our living room and I just had to ask the installer what he recommended for cleaning it. Although it’s much easier to care for than real wood flooring and I’ve had it for years in other parts of the house, I want to maintain the high gloss that this one has (it would be a shame for it to dull over time or be plagued with streaks from washing). Here are his tips for cleaning it:
Directions
- Regularly use a soft brush attachment on the vacuum or use a swiffer style tool for picking up dirt and hair. Sweep or vacuum in the direction that the floor is laid so that you pick up all the crud between the grooves instead of trapping it in the flooring (especially if your flooring is mock-hardwood style that has the grooves between each “plank”).
- For washing, mix a couple quick squirts of gentle liquid dish detergent in a pail of warm water. Wring out the mop well so there won’t be any water dripping then wash the floor with the damp mop. No special cleaning fluid required!
My sister-in-law has a tried and true recipe for cleaning high gloss laminate that will leave the flooring streak-free:
- 1/2 cup of vinegar
- 1 to 2 squirts of liquid dish detergent
- Bucketful of warm water (about a gallon)
Using this homemade cleaner for about 7 years hasn’t affected her floor’s gloss/shine at all and she would notice it–she’s got very particular eye for that sort of thing. If there are streaks, increase the vinegar amount gradually until you find the fix.
Did You Know: Many manufacturers require you to only use their brand of cleaners or your warranty is voided. On one hand I understand it (if you washed it with bleach for example–should you really be eligible for all new flooring under the warranty?), but on the other hand–total ripoff considering there are suitable solutions that are cheap and effective (you’re locked into buying their brand of cleaner for the lifetime of the warranty–which can be up to 30 or 50 years for some brands). Check your warranty guide before washing with any homemade or commercial brand cleaning product.
More Tips
- Put felt pads on everything, underneath furniture legs, tv stands, coffee tables–you name it. This will help keep the floors scratch free.
- Place an area rug in the common seating area (by the couch in front of the tv for example). Helps prevent scratches in this high-traffic area as well as a layer of protection for accidental spills from beverages.
- Lift furniture when moving it rather than sliding pieces, will prevent scratches.
- Remove tough stains like shoe polish, spilled nail polish, tar, etc., with an acetone based nail polish remover.
