How to Clean Wood Laminate Flooring Safely
Wood laminate floors are easy to clean and it's what you don't put on them that really counts. They are simpler and more durable to maintain in the long run than ceramic tile and grout which is harder to clean or carpets which must be vacuumed, spotted and shampooed. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Soft bristled broom and dust-pan
- Vacuum with brush or felt pads
- A bucket
- Warm water
- Clean cotton towels
- Murphy's oil soap or vinegar.
Instructions
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"Chunky or smooth?"
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Begin cleaning your wood laminate flooring by first removing all the chunky debris by sweeping it with a soft bristled broom into a dust pan and removing or vacuuming it with a brush or felt end vacuum so that you don't scratch the floor in the process of cleaning it. Remove the top layer of dirt first, i.e., food particles, garbage etc.
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Avoid harsh chemical cleaners and ammonia completely. They will only strip the finish off your wood laminate flooring leaving them spotty, dull and lifeless. Step away from the mop-and-glow isle. The cleaning products that are best for wood are as basic as the element itself. You'll want to use vinegar, about one tablespoon per three gallons of water in a bucket to clean your floors beautifully and the good news is that vinegar is also less expensive than fancy floor cleaning products which are way too harsh for a wood laminate finish. You can also use Murphy's Oil Soap which is a natural wood soap with a little oil in it especially designed for the care of wood floors and furniture. You'll want to put about one tablespoon of Murphy's Oil soap in a bucket with about three gallons of warm water. Keep it simple. You don't need a lot of vinegar or Murphy's soap at a time. Keep the dilutions mild as directed. For super-dirty floors, dump and rinse the cleaning solution in your bucket frequently whether you're using vinegar and water or Murphy's and water. When the water in the bucket starts looking grey, dump it in the toilet and get a fresh bucket of water and whichever cleaning agent you choose. It is better for your floor to use less cleaner at a time than to use a lot thinking more is better. When it comes to maintaining your wood laminate flooring, less is more, don't overdo it.
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After sweeping or vacuuming the "chunky stuff", it's time to get down to the "smoother" dirt on your floor. You are taking it down, one layer at a time. Starting from the most remote corner in each room with wood laminate flooring, use a soft floor mop of your choosing that can be wrung out completely between mopping strokes. Remove any excess water from the floor such as puddling, drips and spills immediately. Gently mop the top of the floor leaving as little water as necessary on the floor. Mop one room or 8 feet x 10 feet at a time.
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After you have mopped one room or section of your floor, about 8 feet x 10 feet, use a dry, soft mop to go over the floor you have just mopped which will dry it. Dry each section or room with wood laminate flooring immediately after you wet mop it. You want to dry it as soon as possible. If you open your windows to expedite drying your floors, be careful dust doesn't blow in on your wet floor making it harder to clean. Fans and heaters can be used to hasten drying. Avoid prolonged direct sunlight on your laminate floors as the UV rays will dry-out and fade the colors of your wood.
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For an added superior shine, use a shammy mop which is a mop with a sheep-skin sham or a soft acrylic thick towel like sham head mop that you can use to buff the floor to a shine by running the sham my mop over the floor after it is clean and dry, buffing it to a nice natural finish. Again, do not use wax or mop and glow type floor waxes because they are as expensive as they are unnecessary. Enhance the floors existing finishing by treading lightly when it comes to polishing and keeping it simple with a soft sham type mop-head to use to buff dry to a natural shiny clean.
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Tips & Warnings
Install curtains or blinds to stop the direct exposure to sunlight which fades color. Remove spills promptly to avoid staining and discoloration. Use floor mats and rugs in high traffic areas to preserve flooring. Trim pets claws that can scratch and scar floors when they're too long. Take your shoes off inside, or only wear soft-soled shoes inside to avoid scratches.
Do not use ammonia based or other harsh chemical cleaners on your wood flooring. Do not use wax on wood laminate flooring. Do not use Brillo-pads, stainless-steel pads, metal brushes or anything that scratches to clean wood laminate flooring. Lift instead of dragging furniture and use coasters for ends of furniture legs.
