The smart way to clean laminate floors
Laminate floors are durable, easy to install and a cost-effective alternative to wood. They’re also easy to maintain and clean without the need for expensive products – just follow our simple guide.
Easy, everyday cleaning
To clean a laminate floor, start by vacuuming or giving the floor a thorough sweep with a soft-bristled broom. This will get rid of loose dirt and dust.
Next, it’s time to get mopping. If you’re in the market for a new mop, we like the e-cloth Deep Clean Mop. It has a wide head that’s great for taking on large expanses of flooring. And as it’s made from microfibre, you can use it with just a little water – the mop head is machine washable, too. Take care not to over-wet the floor though as there’s a risk the moisture can get underneath the laminate and warp it.
GHI Tip: If you’re going to add a small amount of detergent to the cleaning water, avoid soap-based products as these can leave a film, which will dull the surface of your freshly cleaned floor.
Top floor care tips
9 PLACES YOU'RE FORGETTING TO VACUUM
HOW TO CLEAN ALL TYPES OF FLOORING
Take on tough marks – and win!
You should be able to get rid of stains and dried-on food splatters from laminate flooring using a weak solution of distilled white vinegar and water. Never use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads, which can damage the surface of the flooring.
To remove tricky marks such as those made by shoe polish, try an acetone-based nail polish remover or WD-40. Do a patch test in a discreet corner first.
Using furniture polish of any kind on a hard floor can leave it dangerously slippery and should be avoided. However, if nothing else you’ve tried has worked to shift stubborn scuffs, a dot of silicone-based furniture polish on a microfibre cloth should do the trick. To avoid accidents, clean the area you’ve treated thoroughly afterwards to remove the polish.
What about vinyl flooring?
An alternative to laminate, vinyl flooring is enjoying something of a moment in interior design. For everyday cleaning, treat it as you would treat laminate – a good vacuum and a mop with water should be enough to keep it looking its best. In general, you should be able to remove scuff marks from vinyl flooring using a cloth dipped in neat washing up liquid or white spirit, then rinsing.
However, some manufacturers of vinyl flooring, such as Amtico and Karndean, have their own cleaning products for everyday maintenance, as well as products that can be used to deep-clean your flooring by stripping and refinishing it.
If your flooring is covered by a warranty, check the terms first and make sure you follow the cleaning and maintenance instructions to the letter to ensure you don’t invalidate it.
How to protect laminate floors
Heavy furniture feet should be fitted with felt pads to stop them from scratching the surface. An example of this would be X-Protector Premium Felt Pads.
Likewise, take care to lift furniture whenever you move it around. Dining chairs are prone to scratch floors as we pull in and away from the dinner table, so watch out for wear here and use felt pads if possible.
Place a tray under plant pots so residual water won’t reach the floors.
If you’ve got pet bowls on your laminate floor, a mat can protect it from any spills and stains, like this Mason Cash Paw Cat & Dog Feeding Placement Mat.
Avoid wearing shoes on your laminate floors. If you’ve picked up any stones outside, these can scratch the floors. High heels can do the same.
Always vacuum before you mop your floor, otherwise any residue can be pushed around and end up scratching the surface.
Spontex Spin Mop and Bucket
E-Cloth Deep Clean Mop
E-Cloth Mini Deep Clean Mop
Vileda 1-2 Spray Mop
Spontex Flat Spin Mop and Bucket
Flash Speed Mop Starter Kit
Vileda Turbo Microfibre Mop and Bucket
Flash Power Mop Starter Kit
Addis Spray Mop
You Might Also Like
