Laminate floors offer a number of benefits to their owners, but without proper care, they can certainly lose their appeal. Here’s how to safely clean your laminate floors and keep them looking new for years to come.
Daily
There are a couple of ways to daily care for your laminate floors. Neither are difficult nor time-consuming, but they will help decrease the wear and tear on your laminate floors.
Treat Stains
As with any kind of flooring, it is crucial to treat stains on your laminate floors as soon as possible. The biggest enemy to laminate floors is moisture. Whether it’s in the form of a spilled glass of wine, your toddler’s latest concoction, or Fido’s untimely accident, spills need to be cleaned up immediately. Prolonged exposure to fluid can lead to discoloration and warping. To clean up spills on your laminate floors, first, use paper towels or a dry rag to clean up the fluid. Once all of the liquid is absorbed, use a solution of white vinegar and water to clean up any residue.
Lightly Sweep
To save yourself time in the long run, do a daily once-through with a broom and dustpan. Focus your attention on high traffic areas and sweep up any dirt, dust, and dry spills that have collected on your laminate floors. Sweep in the same direction that your floor is installed so you can release trapped debris from in between panel seams rather than push it into the cracks.
Weekly
Once a week, you’ll want to take your cleaning a little bit deeper. Utilize these cleaning methods to keep your laminate floors looking new.
Vacuum
Vacuuming your laminate floors can help pick up dry spills, dirt, and dust even better than you can with a broom. Be sure to use your vacuum on the bare/wood floors setting. This should turn the rotating brush off and prevent any scratching on the surface of your laminate floors.
Dust Mop
Use a dry mop to clean up hard-to-reach areas like under or behind furniture and in corners. Be sure to properly clean your dust mop after each use, or you’ll end up spreading the dirt and dust around the next time you use it.
As Needed
Every once in a while, you’ll need to give your laminate floors a little extra attention. Here’s how to do so without harming your floors.
Microfiber Mop
Microfiber mops are excellent to use on laminate floors. Lightly dampen your microfiber mop and use it to collect dry spills, dirt, and dust from your floor. Microfiber mops are also safe to use as a scrubber on more stubborn stains.
Laminate Floor Cleaner
About once a month, use a store-bought or homemade laminate floor cleaner to thoroughly clean the floor. You can use your microfiber mop to completely dry the area.
Never
Use Bleach
Bleach and other harsh chemicals can damage the finish on your laminate floors. Only use cleaning products that are specifically designed for laminate floors. You can always make your own cleaning solution of vinegar, laundry detergent, and water.
Use Too Much Liquid
When cleaning your laminate floors, avoid using too much moisture. Too much of a good thing is still too much—and can cause your floors to warp. If you’re concerned that you may have gotten your laminate floors too wet, you can always use a towel or dry mop to soak up the excess water.
Professional laminate floor cleaning is an excellent way to supplement your regular laminate floor cleaning regimen. If you’re in need of Des Moines area cleaning services, call Springer Professional Home Services. The experts at Springer are trained to clean your floors properly, without causing harm to the integrity of your laminate floors. Schedule your appointment with Springer today!
Topics: Laminate Floors