How to Maintain Your Laminate Flooring

There are plenty of reasons why laminate flooring is so popular amongst modern homeowners.

Since its creation in the late 1970s, laminate has gone from strength to strength, promising attractive designs, high tolerance to footfall, and minimal costs.

Additionally, laminate flooring is renowned for being low maintenance. No matter how many accidents you have around the house, there will be a quick and easy cleaning solution. But if you want to retain the gorgeous appearance of your boards, there are a few things worth bearing in mind. Here’s our ultimate guide to maintaining your laminate flooring.

Equipment List

Before you get started, ensure you have the right tools and equipment.

Most of these are everyday items you’ll already have around the house, but just in case you don’t, here’s our quick list

• Sweeping Brush
• Dust Pan and Brush
• Vacuum Cleaner
• Microfiber Mop
• Dedicated Laminate Floor Cleaner
• Bucket
• Floor Cloth
• Acetone

Alternatively, you can pick up one of our purpose-built cleaning kits. These are guaranteed to provide the best results, no matter where your laminate is. Now you’re all ready to get cleaning!

Sweeping and Vacuuming

Homes are for living in, so it’s inevitable that your laminate flooring will get dirty at times. While laminate doesn’t harbour excessive dust and debris, a daily sweep or vacuum will help keep floors in optimum condition.

Be sure to use a soft brush or vacuum attachment as hard bristles may scratch the laminate finish, causing it to lose its shine. Additionally, large debris, such as stones and grit, should be removed by hand, as using a brush will cause further abrasion.

Mopping

Laminate flooring is naturally water-resistant. However, excessive moisture may damage even your waterproof laminate, causing movement or delamination. Therefore, you should use a dry cloth or microfiber mop.

When removing large-scale grime, use as little moisture as possible. Do not use a standard mop or steam cleaner on your laminate boards, as this will cause swelling.

Add the dedicated cleaner to your laminate floor mop, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not use soap detergent, ammonia, or chlorinated cleaning products. 

After applying the cleaning solution, mop along the grain to reduce the appearance of streaks. Remember to dry your laminate quickly after cleaning, this will not only protect against warping and shrinkage but also ensure that your boards look great!

Heavy-Duty Cleaning

Sometimes, more drastic action is required to clean your laminate flooring. If you accidentally scuff your boards, don’t panic! Marks from scuffs, slips and spills can be quickly and easily sorted.

Apply your cleaning solution to a dry cloth and rub the scuff marks firmly and thoroughly to safely restore your boards to their pristine condition.

For hard-set grime, such as chewing gum or candle wax, you may need a little extra help. Try using ice to harden the spot, and simply scrape off using a soft plastic scraper or credit card to prevent further scratches. Finish by wiping clean with your microfiber mop or cloth. All fixed!

Removing Stains

Stains are a homeowner’s worst nightmare! However, don’t stress too much about spilling on your laminate, not only are these floors naturally stain resistant, but they are also easy to lift marks from.

If you manage to stain your boards, you can rest assured that it’s an easy fix. If the stain was caused by food or beverages, you can start by removing any surrounding debris. Do this as soon as the accident happens to minimise any damages. 

As with scuff marks, thoroughly wipe the stain with a dry cloth, before cleaning with your microfiber mop and cleaning solution. For more tough stains like lipstick, paint or ink - we have a handy guide to help.

Get in Touch

Have any questions or need a little help floating your floor? Contact us today, our friendly flooring experts are always happy to share their wisdom!

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