How To Clean Laminate Floors Quickly And Effectively

Laminate floors have become a popular choice in homes and businesses alike due to their sleek appearance. However, in order to keep laminate floors in the best shape possible, it’s important to know how to take care of them — and to do your research before you install them. So, what’s the best way to clean laminate floors?

A variety of different cleaning solutions work well on laminate floors, from store-bought cleaners to baking soda and water. However, you should avoid oil-based cleaners and equipment that may scratch the floors. Make sure to dry mop or vacuum away any dirt before you start cleaning the floors.

Let’s take a closer look at laminate floors, including what they’re made out of, the advantages to having them, and how to clean them. We’ll also go over the best products and some you should never use.

What Are Laminate Floors Made Out Of?

Floor cleaning

Laminate flooring is made mostly of melamine resin and fiberboard material at its core, with a texture printed on the top to make it look like real wood.

If you’re looking for ‘real’ wooden floors, you’ll want to look for other materials, like vinyl wood.

Why Do People Choose Laminate Floors?

So if it’s not real wood, why do people pick laminate floors over actual hardwood flooring?

There are a few reasons. The first is that it’s pretty easy to install, meaning you don’t need to disrupt your home too much to have the flooring installed. This can be very convenient for people who have busy home lives and may not be able to work around a long flooring installation.

The second reason is that it’s cheaper than hardwood flooring, so the budget can be a big factor. Laminate flooring typically costs about half as much as real hardwood.

The third reason is easy maintenance. Laminate floors can be more resilient than real wood, meaning that beginners don’t have to worry too much about doing damage to the floors.

What Are the Best Cleaning Products for Laminate Floors?

There are many great cleaning products that work well for laminate floors, like the Bona Hard-Surface Floor Cleaner (which you can find on Amazon), which is our favorite.

Make sure to read the reviews for cleaners and do your research, as not all of them are created equal — and there’s a big chance some won’t be as effective as others.

If you want to make your own laminate floor cleaner, you can mix apple cider vinegar or baking soda with water and mop the floors with it. Baking soda is somewhat more abrasive and will only work for laminate floors; don’t use it on real hardwood!

Which Products Shouldn’t Be Used on Laminate Floors?

Although laminate floors are a little sturdier and far more resilient than hardwood, there are still some products you should avoid using on them. Oil-based cleaners can leave marks and residue on the floor, so you’ll want to avoid those.

You should also avoid harsh cleaning equipment that may scratch the floor, such as steel wool.

How to Clean Laminate Floors 

To clean laminate floors effectively, follow these steps.

1. Dry Mop or Vacuum

The first thing you’ll have to do is dry mop or vacuum the floor to get rid of any dirt or debris, which will make the cleaning easier.

You can either sweep around the floor — ensuring to go under furniture and get into corners, getting rid of all the dust, hair, and crumbs that may have built up — or you can use your vacuum for a quick job.

2. Mop With Your Cleaning Solution

The next thing you’ll want to do is mop with your cleaning solution, making sure to focus on particularly dirty areas.

The best cleaning solution depends on how often you clean your floor and how clean it is already. For example, baking soda is going to be harsher than apple cider vinegar in your water mixture.

3. Dry the Floor

Lastly, you should make sure to dry the floor with an absorbent cloth. Don’t leave liquid to soak into the laminate flooring, as water could get under the floor and cause mold, which is a very difficult problem to deal with. When you’re done with the process, the floor should be as dry as possible.

How to Get Rid of Stains

A picture of women hands in yellow gloves cleaning the floor

If there are stains on your laminate floors, then you might need to take a different approach to get rid of them. Below are a variety of methods that may work on stubborn stains.

The good news is that you won’t have to use these methods often. Laminate floors don’t stain easily as long as you address spills quickly, so make sure you clean up when accidents happen and you shouldn’t have to worry about spending too much time trying to scrub stains off the floor.

One Part Bleach to Four Parts Water

Although it’s never a good idea to use too much bleach on your floor, one part bleach to four parts water left on a stain for around an hour can get rid of the really tough stains. Make sure to keep kids and pets away from the area and wipe the bleach away entirely when done.

Vinegar and Water

One cup of white vinegar (on Amazon) in a gallon of hot water can also be helpful for stains. Scrub gently at the stain in a circulator motion until it starts to come away.

Acetone

Certain stains, such as those made from makeup or nail polish, can be dissolved with acetone (on Amazon). Just make sure you don’t leave the acetone on there for too long, as you don’t want it to sink into the floor too much.

The Final Word

At the end of the day, laminate flooring is wonderfully resilient and sturdy, so it’s much harder to make a cleaning mistake than it is with, say, hardwood flooring.

However, you should still avoid oil-based cleaners and equipment that may scratch the floor, and make sure you soak up any leftover cleaning solution at the end.

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