Useful Tips for Cleaning Laminate Floors

Laminate floors are a great addition to any house, as they are a great money saver and give the look of polished hard wood without having to pay exorbitant prices to achieve the look you want for your home. However, because laminate floors are slightly different from the hard wood they emulate, the cleaning process is a bit different.

Cleaning Laminate Flooring

Cleaning laminate floors is no harder than cleaning hard wood floors, but you must take special care not to scuff or scratch them as you clean them. Remember, your laminate floors are durable, but they are not indestructible, so you should take care to sweep or dust mop regularly, as dust can be an abrasive substance, which causes scratching. Products on the market like the Swiffer make great laminate floor cleaners, as they remove nearly all the dust, while traditional methods like a broom or a dust mop may leave them behind.

To assist you in cleaning laminate floors, you should always place doormats or walk-off mates in entryways and high traffic areas to help collect moisture and dirt and keep it from being tracked across your floor. In addition, when it comes time to mop your floor, you should take care to remove the residue from mopping, as excessive moisture can expand the laminate and ruin it. Once again, this is why Swiffer products are recommended.

If you have furniture down where your laminate is, use gliders and floor protectors on the feet of your furniture to protect your floor from scratching. Heavy items such as couches and entertainment centers should be lifted or placed on rollers instead of dragged, as this could severely scratch your floor.

When cleaning laminate floors, be sure you follow the manufacturers recommended products. You should never use cleaners which or abrasive, or products such as steel wool or S.O.S. pads. In addition, mop and shine products should be avoided, as they are wax, which can damage your laminate.

While these are great tips for when it comes time for laminate floors cleaning in your household, there are some every day reminders you should keep in mind as well. If you are prone to wearing stiletto heels when you go out, you should consider putting them on after you leave the house, as stilettos can puncture and scuff laminate flooring and leave it looking bad.

On the bright side, your laminate flooring is protected from sunlight and fading unlike typical hardwood, meaning it will weather the years much better if you take care of it as outlined here. If you do find yourself requiring repairs on your laminate flooring, you may have to get a different texture than what the rest of your floor is made of. That is why it is important to have extra slats in case repairs are required, so you do not have pieces, which look out of place, as areas with high traffic are the most visible and the most susceptible to damage.