Laminate floors are created to add style and beauty to your home. Laminate is a flooring option that is very affordable for many.
It doesn’t need a lot of maintenance and can last for many years. You can easily clean it and it looks clean and polished.
To keep your laminate floors clean and shiny, you can use a steam mop for the floor. But if you don’t clean and maintain it correctly, they can lose their shine and become dull or damaged.
Exactly how you maintain it depends on what kind of laminate floor you’ve got, and it’s best to get a professional to help out. This blog will look at how do you steam mop laminate floor.
What do you know about the laminate floors?
Laminate flooring is a type of flooring that usually resembles the look and feel of natural wood and is made by gluing thin layers of materials together.
The layers of laminate floor that we use at Floor and Decor include the topcoat (a sealant that helps protect your new laminate), a photograph printed on paper featuring a texture like hardwood, one layer of material with an actual wood composite, maybe even layers for structure and support, and finally a moisture barrier on the bottom.
Durable laminate is made up of layers that are used to make flooring, tabletops, countertops, and other items.
To install it properly you utilize interlocking pieces that are meant to lock together in place with the help of a tongue and groove mechanism.
Laminate is very sensitive. You have to be wary of how you plan on cleaning it so as not to damage its glossy finish over time. It’s also sensitive to water so you don’t want there to be any standing moisture.
Tips to clean laminate floor
Use homemade cleaner
By adding a little vinegar to the water used to mop your tile or laminate floors, you can kill off some of the germs that cause odors and leave behind a shiny, sanitized floor.
A bucket half-filled with warm water is all you need for this trick! A 10% solution of hot water and white vinegar is often used as an everyday cleaner for showers—the combination helps eliminate soap scum without chemicals.
Bonus tip: if your laminate/ceramic tile flooring has that slightly waxy buildup that’s usually caused by poor cleaning habits, try combining ¼ cup of vinegar with 1 gallon of hot water. The amount may vary depending on how runny/thick you want the cleaning solution to be.
Don’t use abrasive tools
When installing laminate floors, make sure you watch out for anything abrasive (such as steel wool). Use soft-bristle brooms or dust mops to sweep up debris.
Be careful when vacuuming by making sure the vacuum has an attachment without a beater bar or rotating brush.
Mopping the laminate floor
Damaged laminate flooring can lead to numerous problems – from the build-up of unwanted dirt being tracked around your home, to potential falls from tripping over a damaged piece lying across a room.
To prevent this from happening, you should try mopping it up with a disinfectant that has been made specifically for cleaning laminate floors. So, you should mop the laminate floor every second week.
Avoid using oil-based products
Using oil-based cleaners will lead to problems. These types of cleaning products may leave streaks and residue or even damage the protective clear coat on your flooring which could temporarily make it appear dull.
This is why you shouldn’t use wax, polish, or buffing compounds on laminate floors.
Read the manual’s guide
It’s always advisable to consult the manufacturer’s instructions before you clean. Laminate floor brands may have specific recommendations based on the material used.
Have a look at your brand’s website or brochure for more information on cleaning.
Keep pets and plants move out from the floor
Laminate flooring can hold up to a great many things. It’s sturdy, even against pets and potted plants.
The problem comes when you try pushing them beyond their limits by placing too much weight on your laminate flooring.
Not only does the extra weight cause stress on your laminate flooring, but it can also result in damaging your potted plants and leaks from overfilled pots as well as scratch marks from pet dishes and damage caused by pet’s nails on your laminate wood floors.
In extreme cases, floor protectors may cause warping and buckling. Floor protectors made from plastic POM’s may cause water trapping which will eventually lead to a laminate floor becoming warped and buckling.
To protect your floor from plant pots and pet-related damages stick to pads made from polypropylene.
Steps to clean the laminate floor
Dry Mopping
You’ll prevent scratches and surface damage on your laminate flooring if you keep up with regular cleaning.
You can do this by wiping down the floors to get rid of any dirt that gets left behind by passersby.
Use a wide broom head that has been made from microfiber strands because it will effectively collect dirt while still being soft on your floor’s finish.
The heads can be washed over and over again to make sure they remain in good shape.
Use cleaners for laminate floor
Using cleaners that are meant for laminates can restore your laminate floor to its shiny self.
However, it’s important to note that only certain types of cleaning products will be safe for laminate floors, so make sure you research what the best ones on the market are before you go out and purchase any.
Alternatively, try a DIY approach and create your own laminate floor clean by mixing water and vinegar together adequately.
Dry your floor
You can use a microfiber cloth to dry your floor. Buff the section of flooring in front of you so you can leave behind a nice shine on your laminated flooring.
Bluffing helps restore and rejuvenate the shine in your laminate flooring so these tips should help get rid of any shine-hating dust or grime.
FAQs Related to the Topic
Can we use vinegar on the laminate floor?
There are so many innovative and amazing uses for vinegar it’s always exciting to discover one more thing that this common household item can be used for!
The great thing about vinegar is that you can use it in such a variety of ways, whether that means cleaning the kitchen floor, unclogging a sink, or even making over your furniture.
One appealing aspect of vinegar is that it comes in so many different varieties and types. It sounds slightly unusual but putting white distilled vinegar down your sink once every few months can really freshen up the smell.
Mixing 1 cup of white distilled vinegar with 1 gallon of warm water will surely do just fine.
What is the best way to clean laminate floors?
The best way to clean your laminate floors is with a product designed for it. If you don’t have a floor cleaner, you can use some dish soap in some water or even some baby shampoo.
You should avoid using some natural cleaners, however, because they could end up damaging the finish on the laminate flooring over time if used excessively.
How to make the laminate floor shine?
To make laminate floors shine, it’s important to use the right kind of floor polish to remove grime and dirt buildup.
To dust the floor regularly, simply take a damp rag or cloth, wet it with watery soap solution, and wipe down the surface.
Clean up messes immediately. Do this by wiping up sticky foods with a dry cloth to prevent stains from setting into the finish.
The flooring will lighten up if you use floor restoration products instead of polish. Some cleaners can also prevent dull surfaces and renewing floors that may have turned yellow, gray, or orange.
However, every cleaner is different so using these types of products is always best on a small test patch at first before working your way around on cleaning the whole floor.
Conclusion
Laminate flooring has become a popular choice for both homeowners and business owners. While the initial cost of a laminate flooring project might be a bit higher than a traditional flooring option, it does require a lot less maintenance.
While some people may use a vacuum cleaner to clean laminate floors, a mop can be used to help add a shine to your flooring.
But you can’t use steam on the floor because it leads to damage to your floor. In this way, you have to replace your floor which is a time-consuming process and it needs a lot of money.
So, you should clean your laminate floor with a microfiber mop. I hope that you will understand about How do you steam mop laminate floor.
For more information about cleaning tips visit our website.