How to Clean Laminate Floors and Make Them Shine?

Do you love the look of laminate flooring? According to a report published by IMARC group, the American decorative laminates market reached $2 billion in 2023. Laminate flooring can replicate the appearance of any kind of wood, including rare or exotic hardwoods, as well as stone and other types of flooring. While regularly performing minor maintenance will keep them gleaming and looking new for many years, harsh cleaning materials can easily cause harm, so it's important to know the best way to clean dirty laminate floors to avoid streaking.

What Are Laminate Floors?

Laminate floors are made of synthetic materials but mimic the look of natural flooring materials like wood or stone. They are resilient, easy to install and often more affordable than real hardwood or tile floors. They also don’t expand or shrink as much as hardwood flooring. This makes them a stylish, affordable solution with incredibly realistic-looking surfaces and patterns.

How To Clean Laminate Floors Step-by-Step

There are two ways to clean laminate floors - with a broom and a wet mop or a robot vacuum with mop combo. For this, you’ll need a broom, a dustpan, a wet mop, a bucket as well as a vacuum cleaner (optional for more thorough cleaning).

Step 1: Preparing the floor

Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove any loose dirt, debris or pet hair. Use a crevice tool to get into the edges and corners. Sweep in the direction of the laminate floor planks to prevent pushing dirt into the seams. Make sure your broom does not have stiff bristles as this could damage the floor.

While a traditional broom and mop will get the job done, using a robot vacuum with a mop function has several advantages. All you need to do is press a button and let the machine navigate and vacuum up dirt and debris, then mop the floors to make them shine. Some models can do both tasks in a single cleaning cycle, while others can control the amount of water to avoid over-wetting. Using a smart vacuum also ensures a uniform, steak-free finish on laminate floors. It can also have auto-emptying capabilities so you won’t have to worry about emptying the dustbin or washing the mopping pads after every cleaning cycle. This way, you can spend less time cleaning and more time doing things you enjoy.

Step 2: Choosing the right cleaner

When cleaning laminate floors, you can choose a store-bought gentle cleaner or make your own cleaning solution at home using a small quantity of vinegar mixed with water or rubbing alcohol-based solutions. Remember to not include any harsh chemicals or abrasives that can damage the laminate floor’s finish. If you’re using a new commercially made cleaner and are unsure if it’s safe to use, test it in a small corner area before using it on the entire floor.

Step 3: Mopping techniques for laminate floors

Use a mop head with microfiber cloth as it is more effective at removing dirt and debris. Make sure it’s only damp and not wet, as excess water can seep into the seams of the laminate floors and cause damage. Dip the mop in the cleaning solution, wring it out thoroughly and mop in straight, overlapping passes to avoid spreading the dirt around.

Step 4: Drying the floor to prevent water damage

It’s important to properly dry laminate floors after mopping with a dry, clean microfiber mop or cloth to absorb any remaining moisture. Pay extra attention to edges, corners and seams where water can accumulate. You can also use fans or open windows to help the drying process. This will protect the laminate for warping or peeling over time.

How Often To Mop Laminate Floors?

Daily dust mopping or vacuuming of laminate flooring is recommended to get rid of the grit and grime on the surface that can damage the floor and harm its finish. Never overlook the area rugs' undersides, which might harbour debris that can harm the flooring. Spills and muddy messes must be cleaned right away.

You should give your laminate floors a thorough cleaning at least once a month, depending on how much traffic they receive. Obviously, kitchens and areas with high foot activity may require it more frequently. You can deep clean your kitchen laminate floors once a week.

What To Use For Cleaning Laminate Floors?

As mentioned above, choosing the right cleaning solution is important for laminate floor cleaning. You need a safe and mild cleaning solution that doesn't contain any harmful chemicals. It should also clean well and be easy to use. You can either purchase a commercial cleaning product from the store or make your own solution at home using readily available ingredients. For example, you can mix vinegar and water to make a simple and inexpensive cleaner. Remember to not use too much vinegar as it is acidic and can damage the floor when used in large quantities. Alternatively, you can use a rubbing alcohol-based cleaner to disinfect and remove stubborn stains. You can even add a few drops of essential oils for a refreshing scent.

It is possible to use a cleaning solution in your robot vacuum mop, but make sure to choose the right one that won’t damage the machine or your floor. In fact, our ECOVACS cleaning solution will make cleaning your dirty laminate floors an easy experience. With ionic surfactant as one of its ingredients, it can effectively remove common stains. Plus, it is non-toxic, can clean your laminate floor without damaging it and will leave it with a natural fresh floral fragrance.

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Cleaning Laminate Floors

One of the most common mistakes that is made when cleaning laminate floors is using too much water. This can cause the water to go into the joints and make it smell, warp or delaminate over time. It can also cause discoloration, leave streaks and make the floor look dull and uneven.

Avoid using harsh chemicals such as bleach-based cleaners, acetone and paint thinners and ammonia-based cleaners as this can wear down the protective layer of the laminate and cause the surface to crack over time. Instead, use pH-neutral and laminate-safe cleaning products.

Floor wax and polish are not necessary for laminate flooring because it already has a glossy finish and may potentially make your floors look dull. Wax and the majority of polishing agents don't perform effectively either. It makes your floor sticky and encourages dirt particles to attach to the surface of the floor rather than adding more shine to it so it’s best to avoid it.

Maintaining your laminate floors on a daily basis is relatively hard if you have children. It might get crayon, mud, ketchup, and juice stains, to name a few. Stubborn stains usually require excessive scrubbing, which can harm the laminate floor. To steer clear of causing any damage, avoid using abrasive tools and take extra precaution by choosing the right cleaning solution. Make sure that your broom has soft bristles and if you’re using a robot vacuum, ensure it has soft brushes and a strong suction power.

How To Maintain Laminate Flooring?

Although our DEEBOT vacuums can make your laminate floor look great, it is important to take precautions to keep it that way. Taking protective measures can also reduce the amount of times you have to clean them. For example, you can place indoor and outdoor floor mats at your home's entrances. Consider instituting a no-shoes policy at home and place a small reminder in the mud room.

Remember to clean up spills, messes, and overflowing plant watering cans right away. Additionally, apply floor protectors on the bottoms of tables, couches, and chairs to stop your floor from deteriorating too quickly or prematurely.

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