Laminate flooring is one of the most common types of flooring in American homes. It is found in almost any bathroom, kitchen, or utility room. There’s a reason why it is so popular. Not only is it affordable, it is very easy to clean spills off of. It is durable, and looks good years after it was installed. Laminate flooring gets dirty easily and filth is very conspicuous on this type of flooring. Just walking on it a few times can cause it to start showing streaks. Most of the time, this is not a big problem. However, if you are about to have company over (or if you simply take pride in cleanliness), you will probably want to clean it.
Sometimes it starts looking dirty again right after being cleaned. Luckily, there are many simple methods that will put your mind at ease when it comes to your dirty floor.
Mopping your laminate floor:
If you are going to mop your floor give it a vacuum or sweep first before you mop it. If you do not have the time or resources to sweep, you can use an automated electric floor sweeper or a normal upright vacuum cleaner on a low setting. The high settings are intended for carpeted floors, so it is not necessary to use one of those settings. Only take the time to vacuum if the floor is heavily coated in dirt and grime. The key to a good mopping job is in getting all the large, dry pieces of dirt effectively swept off beforehand. When mopping, it is good to start with the corners that are farthest away from the greatest amount of foot traffic. Clean adjacent segments at a time, making sure not to leave gaps and cover the floor entirely. Moving your mop in a figure 8 motion is one of the most effective ways to operate a mop.
Though there are many types of mop heads one can use on their laminate floor, using a microfiber cloth produces the best results. Dishwasher detergent is not a suitable cleaning agent for laminate floors. It can leave streaks, a residue that is sticky to the touch, and can possibly permanently stain the surface.
Warm water + Vinegar to clean Laminate Floor:
If it has not been too long since the last cleaning, then warm water may be all you need. A good idea is to actually add 1 cup of vinegar to a gallon of warm water.
The Vodka Suite for your floor:
This is a slightly unconventional tip, but is sure to provide a deep clean with a shiny finish, and leave no residue. Mix equal parts vodka (an inexpensive brand, most likely), water, and half those amounts white vinegar, and a few essential oils.
Cleaning with Liquid Dish Shop:
If you have no vodka or vinegar on hand, a combination of warm water, ammonia, and a small amount of liquid dish soap with work well. It is important to get the right water temperature; if it is too hot, it may reduce some of the potency of the cleaning agent. If it is too cold, it may not allow the cleaning agent to achieve its optimum level of functionality.
Steam Cleaner:
Though it is often believed that steam cleaners should only be used for carpeted floors, a vapor steamer is an excellent option to use on the floor. Just like mopping, make sure you sweep beforehand. After cleaning, there are a number of things you can do to provide a beautiful, shiny finish that screams “clean”.
If you don’t mind going on your hands and knees, you can wipe the floor with glass cleaner and a few paper towels. If there are trouble spots on your floor, have no fear! Grease may seem hard to remove, but the key is to harden it with ice, which makes it easier to wipe off. Rubbing dry cloth dipped in mineral spirits will remove crayon marks or gum.
Kevin Peterson writes on behalf of Michael’s Flooring, a company which mainly deals with laminate flooring cleaning.
Tips For Cleaning Laminate Flooring
