The maintenance of your homes requires careful cleaning of furniture, walls, and even flooring. If you have been fretting over how to clean the laminate floor, you can put your worries to rest. That’s because laminate flooring is one of the easiest surfaces to clean effectively. It has a durable adhesive aluminum oxide finishing to keep off chemicals and stains.
While laminate flooring is relatively easier to clean, it should not be neglected. A proper cleaning routine is necessary for every home. That is why deep cleaning of laminate flooring with the right techniques can be highly beneficial.
Techniques for How to Clean Laminate Floor
Laminate flooring can benefit from maintenance cleaning every 2 to 3 months. However, for the best results, you should follow a weekly cleaning regime. This is a good way to prevent the accumulation of stubborn dirt.
If you don’t know how to clean a laminate floor, the first thing is to avoid water. Since laminate flooring is made of wood, the moisture can be damaging to the timber. Laminate flooring is resistant to water, but moisture can still cause swelling and discoloration. Additionally, do not allow water to stagnate on the floor.
The following methods are the ideal solution for how to clean the laminate floor.
Dirt Removal
The first step to cleaning is to remove dirt and debris. For this purpose, use a dry vacuum, microfiber mop, or broom.
Keep in mind that you don’t use the beater bar feature if utilizing an electric vacuum.
This is an important step for eliminating dander and fur in case you have pets. Other loose debris like sand rocks and such also need to be removed. These can cause scratches on your flooring if allowed to persist. Such dirt is easily trailed in through shoes and enter through open windows.
Use A Laminate Floor Cleaner
The second step to how to clean the laminate floor involves using a floor cleaner. These are special solutions meant to add shine to your floors. Floor cleaners eliminate bacteria, mold, fungus, and mildew to give you a deep clean.
Given that water is not suitable for laminate floor cleaning, floor cleaners are the best to use. To apply floor cleaners, use a spray to spread it evenly across the floor. Then use a mop to clean the surface thoroughly. A mob with disposable cleaning pads is also suitable for this purpose.
You should use a laminate floor cleaner at least once a week. The following types of cleaners are effective for deep cleaning.
Branded Laminate Floor Cleaners
Branded floor cleaners are specialized for cleaning your exact type of flooring. Which branded cleaner you pick will be exclusive to the manufacturer of your laminate floor and other specifications.
Store-bought Laminate Floor Cleaners
Store-bought cleaners are effective for cleaning and easily accessible at any grocery store. Usually, store-bought cleaners will mention which flooring they are suitable for. These are not as exclusive as branded cleaners, but a good solution given their pricing.
Homemade Laminate Floor Cleaners
You can make natural floor cleaners using 1-part vinegar and 3 parts water. This is a simple and great technique for cleaning laminate floors. As a homemade alternative for cleaning the laminate floor, the acidic PH level is effective. Its composition makes it strong enough to clean without any harsh impact.
Drying
Drying is a crucial step in how to clean the laminate floor. If water penetrates the laminate floor surface in any way, you can incur damages. Whatever solutions you use to clean, always dry to the surface using a cloth afterward.
How to Remove Some Common Stains from Laminate Flooring?
Apart from your regular cleaning routine, you need to know how to clean the laminate floor of stubborn stains. Our expert opinion is that most spills and stains can be cleaned using a vinegar or acetone solution with water. However, a few stains can be trickier, and we have gone over them below.
Liquid Stains from Coffee, Juice, Or Wine
Do not let these stains settle. Immediately clean the spill using a damp cloth. This will help prevent discoloration or other damage. Then, spray a vinegar solution diluted with water onto the affected area. Finally, wipe the area with a paper towel.
If the stain has dried, you can still use this method to reduce damage.
Furniture or Dust Cleaners
Dusting is another important part of home maintenance. However, furniture and dust sprays can spill onto your floor and create a mess. Clean the spill with a vinegar and water solution, then dry using paper towels. Ensure that no moisture is left remaining.
Candle Wax
Laminate flooring won’t be directly damaged by candle wax. The best way to clean spilled wax is to wait until it is entirely dry. Use a blunt tool, like a plastic or rubber knife to remove the dried wax. Once it is removed, use the same vinegar solution and paper towel method mentioned above.
Marker or Pen Ink Stains
Pen marks or ink stains might cause anxiety but aren’t as difficult to remove as marks on walls. Use acetone for stubborn ink stains and wipe using paper towels. This process might require some repeated wiping and application of acetone until the stain is gone. A nail polish remover containing acetone is a good substitute.
Streak or Scuff Marks
Scuff or streak marks are one of the most common kinds of stains on flooring. You can try removing these with a white eraser. Then use a vinegar and water mixture for the final clean. Streak marks can also be cleaned with high-end cleaners and paper towels.
The last thing to keep in mind for cleaning the laminate floor is never to use cleaners with an oil base. Avoid using floor conditioners, lotions, or waxes. These are likely to leave streaks and grease stains on your flooring.
Endnotes
To attain the best results for how to clean the laminate floor, you can follow these methods. New cleaning methods can be effective, but trying out unproven techniques can cause damage. It is recommended that you consult a flooring specialist if a stain is becoming too difficult to handle.
Thank you for reading!