Laminate flooring is a popular option with homeowners who want the elegance and warmth of wood, with less hassle. It is durable and scratch resistant. It suffers less wear and tear than many other types of flooring, and is easy to clean – providing you know how to clean laminate wood floors.
In this post, you’ll learn how to keep your laminate wood flooring looking like new, no matter the spill or stain.
Get equipped right before you start
Using string and sponge mops will leave your wood laminate floor with streaks. They also use a lot of water, making it more likely that water will seep into the cracks – unless your laminate floor is waterproofed. The best type of mop to use is a microfiber mop. They are easy to clean, and the microfibers trap dirt, dust and hair.
You should also use a quality laminate floor cleaning solution. You could make your own, by mixing three parts of water with one part vinegar, and adding a squirt of liquid dish detergent. Simply spray the solution on the mop before you mop.
Dry mop the laminate floor first
Using your microfiber mop, dry mop your laminate wood flooring to remove debris. Remove the debris from the mop before wet mopping.
You might also choose to vacuum your floor first – though avoid using a vacuum with a beater bar.
Wet mop
Take your microfiber mop (with a clean or a new pad attached) and dampen the pad with warm water. Spray on the cleaning solution and gently mop the floor. If the mop pad gets too dry, rinse and reattach before continuing.
That’s it!
Caring for your mop
When you’ve finished mopping, rinse the microfiber pad and allow to dry in the open air. If the mop becomes discolored, pop it in the washing machine on a sanitary wash cycle.
Tips to follow when you clean laminate wood floors
There are a few dos and don’ts when cleaning laminate wood floors:
- Don’t allow spills to stand for any length of time
- If you have a large spill, use a dry cloth or paper towel to blot the liquid off the floor
- Don’t wax or polish laminate flooring
- Use natural cleaners or ones recommended by the flooring manufacturer
- Don’t use abrasive cleaners on laminate floors
How to remove stubborn stains from laminate floors
The above method to clean laminate wood floors should be part of your regular home cleaning routine. But what about more suborn stains, like ink, nail polish, or red wine? Here’s how to tackle a few of the most common spills on laminate floors:
- Red wine and ink – simply wipe with a damp cloth. Add a little detergent if it’s a tough stain.
- Nail polish – it takes around 30 minutes to get nail polish out of carpet. It’s even easier to get nail polish stains off laminate floors – use a little nail polish remover and wipe with a warm, damp cloth.
- Crayon and chewing gum – both can be removed using mineral spirits. Use a plastic knife to scrape off the worst (avoiding scratching), then put mineral spirits on a damp cloth and wipe.
Laminate wood floors may get scuffed by shoes. Not to worry. All you need is a pencil eraser to rub the mark away!
Laminate wood floors: effortless elegance
Modern laminate wood floors add a touch of elegance to your home. With the cleaning routine detailed in this post, your floor will stay looking like new for years, with a fraction of the effort needed to clean wooden floors or carpets.
If you are considering changing your flooring, contact Porter's. We’ll help you choose the best floor for needs, tastes, and home.