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Cleaning Laminate Flooring to Make It Shine
Do you want to know the secret to how to make laminate floors shine? The real secret is you really don’t need to put a lot of effort into laminate flooring to maintain its shine. As long as you care for the flooring properly and follow a regular cleaning schedule, keeping laminate flooring clean and shiny should be simple. A surface known as the wear layer protects the flooring from scratches. It also helps the floor resist stains, making it easier to clean. We’ll show you the best way to clean laminate floors and how to keep them shiny in the process.
How Often Should You Clean Laminate Flooring?
Plan on a weekly maintenance cleaning for your laminate flooring and reserve time every couple of months for deep cleaning. We’ll give you general instructions for both types of cleaning and tips for caring for your flooring below, but always follow the cleaning and care instructions for your specific flooring and use the cleaning materials the manufacturer recommends.
If you have children or pets or if your laminate flooring is in an entryway or foyer, you may need to clean more often. In some cases, it’s a good idea to give laminate flooring a quick cleaning each day.
When using cleaners and chemicals, wear the appropriate safety gear as specified by the manufacturer.
Regular Maintenance Cleaning
Regular, weekly cleaning has several benefits. In addition to keeping your flooring looking good and making deep cleaning easier, periodic cleaning can reduce allergens in your home and remove sand and other debris that can scratch your flooring.
Step 1: Clean Up Liquids Quickly
Use a microfiber towel or other soft cloth to clean up spills or mud as soon as possible. Liquid will damage laminate flooring if you leave it unattended for long periods of time, and spills that dry will be more difficult to clean later. For heavy grime deposits, use a small amount of laminate-floor cleaner on a microfiber cloth to spot-clean. After wiping up the spill, dry the area with a clean cloth.
You can’t use a steam mop on laminate floors unless it’s specifically recommended by the flooring manufacturer. The steam could seep into the seams and cause damage.
Step 2: Sweep, Dry-Mop or Vacuum
Use a broom or dry mop to remove loose material such as dirt, grass, dust and, if you have pets, pet hair. Be sure to clean in the corners, around the baseboards and under furniture. A broom with soft bristles or a microfiber dust mop is best for laminate flooring.
You can vacuum laminate flooring, but be sure to use either an attachment designed for the floor or a vacuum with the rotating brush turned off. The wrong attachment can scratch your floor. A rotating beater brush will spread dirt and dust around and can gouge the laminate.
How to Deep-Clean Laminate Flooring
Deep-cleaning laminate flooring takes more effort and time than regular cleaning, but it can make your floors noticeably cleaner and restore the floor’s shine by removing remnants of mud, drips and spills — anything that can block the original beauty of the floor. In most cases, you can deep-clean laminate flooring with a soft-bristled broom, mop, damp cloth and small amount of cleaning solution for laminate flooring.
Step 1: Perform Maintenance Cleaning
Clean up any liquid spills or drips. Sweep, dry-mop and vacuum the floor as normal to remove loose dirt, dust and debris. When it comes to the best mop for laminate floors, for a dry mop, choose a microfiber dust mop, and for a wet mop go for a microfiber wet mop.
Step 2: Damp-Mop the Floor
Dampen the pad or head on a microfiber mop and mop the floor to remove any dirt or dust buildup you didn’t catch during the maintenance cleaning. Clean the pad as needed. Use as little water as possible when mopping, as too much water may cause the flooring planks to swell or may seep into the joints and get under the floor.
Step 3: Make Your Laminate Flooring Shine
For buildup that a damp mop won’t remove, use a cleaner for laminate flooring and follow the instructions on the packaging. Scrub problem areas by hand using the solution on a clean microfiber cloth. Don’t use an abrasive pad. It’ll scratch the flooring. Once you’ve applied the cleaner, you may need to damp-mop again with water to remove streaks or excess cleaner that could collect more dirt.
You can create a homemade cleaner for laminate flooring by mixing 1 cup of white vinegar into 1 gallon of warm water. As an alternative to vinegar, you can use 1/3 cup of no-suds household ammonia. Keep in mind, you don’t want to use a lot of liquid to clean your floor. If you save any leftover homemade cleaner, be sure to label the container.
Step 4: Clean Any Remaining Grime
Some spills and marks may not come up when you damp-mop or spot-clean. For example, cleaning dried gum or candle wax from laminate flooring will require more effort. Cool the material with some ice cubes sealed in plastic or with an ice pack you’d use in a cooler. Carefully and gently use a plastic putty knife to scrape up the material. To wipe away crayon or ink marks, use a small amount of nail polish remover on a microfiber cloth. Once you’ve removed problem grime, wipe up any residue with a clean, damp cloth. Dry the floor thoroughly after cleaning.
Maintaining Laminate Flooring
Good care and maintenance will keep your laminate flooring looking its best for years to come and make cleaning easier.
- Avoid using waxes, polishes and any commercial cleaners not designed for laminate. Harsh cleaners, such as those with bleach, can cause damage, and sudsy cleaners can leave behind sticky residue that collects dirt.
- Use exterior door mats at your entry doors. Use area rugs inside the doors and place the rugs on pads designed for use with laminate. Clean the mats and rugs regularly so they can effectively keep dirt off of your floors.
- Remove cleats or shoes with hard heels or soles before walking on laminate flooring.
- Regularly trim your pet’s claws.
- Apply felt pads to the legs of furniture on laminate flooring.
- Don’t slide furniture across the floor. Get a helper and lift furniture to move it.
- If you’ll be using an office chair on laminate flooring, choose one with rubber wheels or swap out the plastic casters with rubber replacement wheels.
The Enduring Beauty of Laminate Flooring
Keeping your laminate floors looking great and in tip-top shape helps ensure you’ll enjoy them for many years. By following our cleaning and maintenance steps above, you can keep your laminate floors looking beautiful and shiny. Keep your cleaning closet fully stocked with everything you need to keep your laminate flooring looking its very best. Shop online at Lowes.com or stop by your local Lowe’s for everything you need, from microfiber dust mops to laminate flooring cleaning solution.