Need advice on how to clean your laminate wood floors? You’re in the right place!
Laminate wood flooring may not be the priciest material for floors, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t cost you a considerable amount of money putting it up. Thus, making an effort to maintain it is a must!
So to help you, here are a bunch of dos and don’ts you’ve got to be aware of regarding cleaning laminate wood floors.
How to Clean Laminate Wood Floors: Don’ts
1. Do not use wet mops, cloths, etc.
Liquid is one of laminate flooring’s nemeses. Once liquid reaches its fiberboard core, it can swell.
And what’s even more unfortunate is that it won’t go back to its original shape even if the liquid dries out. That’s why using wet mops, cloths, and so on is a no-no.
If you’re thinking, “How on earth can I clean my laminate wood floor if I can’t use a wet mop?” We’ll get to that in a bit; we promise!
2. Do not use abrasive cleaners and tools
Do not use abrasive cleaning tools (e.g. steel wool, sandpaper, etc.) as well as abrasive cleaning solutions (e.g. Clorox), as this can dull your laminate floor’s wear layer.
If you use a vacuum, make sure to use an attachment that won’t scratch your floor.
3. Do not use cleaning products that aren’t made for laminate flooring
If you’re tempted to use a floor cleaning product that doesn’t have “laminate” on its label, it’s best to ditch it.
Needless to say, it may do more harm than good to your floors. For instance, oil-based cleaning products can leave behind streaks and residue.
What’s more, it is also not recommended to wax and polish your laminate floor.
How to Clean Laminate Wood Floors: Dos
1. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your laminate floor
Always consult the cleaning instructions for your laminate floor before you start cleaning. This is so you’ll know if your floor brand has any particular recommendations such as specific cleaning products, tools, techniques, etc.
Moreover, you can also try checking out your floor company’s website for more info on product guides, instructions on cleaning, and so on.
2. Start by dry cleaning your floor
Earlier, we mentioned that you shouldn’t use a wet mop to clean your laminate wood floor. You can, however, use a damp mop, but before you do so, it’s important to dry clean your floor first.
You can do this by using a vacuum, broom, dustpan, and so on.
3. Use a damp (not wet) mop
Of course, dry cleaning alone won’t be sufficient to clean your floor, so go ahead and use a damp mop.
To make sure your mop is on the damp side, soak it in your cleaning solution and then wring it multiple times. Your mop should feel almost dry when you touch it.
Meanwhile, if you use a laminate floor cleaner, it’s recommended that you apply just the right amount on your mop or cloth, instead of directly on your floor.
Hopefully, you found the info here helpful for a successful laminate floor cleaning duty!
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