Laminate flooring has become increasingly popular in recent years because it offers very comparable visual qualities to pricey hardwood flooring but at a much more reasonable cost and with a lot less work to clean. The material can be challenging to maintain, and unlike hardwood flooring, damage from careless cleaning on laminate flooring cannot be as quickly fixed. Therefore, you must be knowledgeable on how to effectively clean the laminate floor. Keep on reading to learn how to properly clean your laminated floors.
Step #1. Get to Know Your Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring: what is it?
Wear Layer – It is the thickness as well as the quality of the aluminum oxide wear layer, which is the section you wish to preserve. It determines how resistant a laminate floor is to abrasion.
Print Layer – The laminate flooring’s print layer is what gives it the appearance of genuine wood.
High-Density Fibreboard – High-density fused wood pulp is utilized to make the laminate floorboard. The laminate floor can be more resilient to water and durable if the fiberboard is thicker.
Understanding the kind of laminate floors that you’ve installed is important, especially given their variety. It’s crucial to be aware of what laminate flooring can withstand even though it can be extremely durable and water resistant.
Abrasion Rating
The Abrasion Coefficient (AC Value) is used to determine how resistant laminate flooring is to abrasion; the higher the rating, the more scratch- and dent-resistant the surface is. This makes it easier for you to choose the right cleaning equipment.
AC1: Light residential use – Sweeping and moderately damp mopping is the only advisable cleaning method you can use with this floor. Over time, harsher tools might degrade the surface.
AC2: Moderate residential use – Although vacuuming with soft padding on the head is recommended, sweeping, scrubbing, and slightly moist mopping are all suitable.
AC3: Heavy residential use – These are resistant to all non-abrasive cleaning products.
AC4: Light commercial use – Very scratch-resistant and simple to clean, even with conventional cleaning techniques.
AC5: Moderate commercial use – Any conventional cleaning technique, even floor scrubbers.
AC6: Heavy commercial use – It can tolerate high traffic and rigorous cleaning techniques. Additionally, AC6 laminate floors are relatively rare.
Water Resistance
Through the developments in flooring technology, they were able to create water-resistant laminate flooring. You can determine the best ways to clean your planks by determining how water-resistant your floor is.
0 > 24 Hrs – Only use a well-cleaned mop or towel to clean, and remove any excess water or other stains right away. If at all possible, stick to sweeping or vacuuming.
24 – 48 Hrs – When sweeping or cleaning, avoid using too much water. If necessary, make sure to dry the floors upon cleaning.
48 – 72 Hrs – If you don’t flood the floors, laminate flooring with higher water resistance of 48 to 72 hours can endure wet mopping. To minimize prolonged soaking, it is still advisable to dry the floor afterward.
100% Waterproof Laminate – A 100% waterproof variant is available in more recent models. As a result, they will never bloat or absorb water. As long as you don’t fully submerge the floor, wet mopping is perfectly fine.
Step #2. Maintain Your Laminate Floors to Avoid Problems
The best way to keep your laminate flooring clean is to take precautions to reduce possible filth and grime. Here are a few quick and practical strategies to think about.
Placing a Doormat at the Door Entrance
Dirt may be kept out of your home by simply placing doormats at all of its entrances. By doing this, you may reduce the amount of cleaning required and stop extra filth from harming your laminate floors.
Do Not Over Expose the Floors to Sunlight
Overexposure to sunshine, especially from large windows, can cause sunlight bleaching, which over time will fade the colors of your laminate flooring. To avoid this, make sure the blinds are drawn during the hottest time of the day, which is midday and early afternoon.
Put Furniture Pads
These are very wise purchases if you want to keep your laminate flooring free of dents and gouges. Moving bulky furniture when cleaning difficult-to-reach locations is now considerably safer with these pads.
Step #3. Clean Your Laminate Floors
Mop the floors – If the laminate planks are not water resistant, be sure to wash the mop before using it on your laminate flooring. To prevent soaking, it is usually important to dry the laminate flooring after mopping. Never flood the floors so that water absorption won’t be a concern for you.
Clean the spills – If you have the chance to clean up the spills as soon as they happen, do it. This can reduce the possibility of the liquid staining or, worse, leaking through to the subfloor. All laminate floors are quite absorbent, so you don’t want any ketchup or soda to set on them.
Sweep or Vacuum – In addition to affecting the way your flooring looks, grime may leave small scratches in laminate flooring that over time fade the colors of the planks. A gentle dust mop or other indoor equipment should be used to sweep or vacuum the floors at least once a week to reduce abrasion.
Pet Accidents – This is very hard to avoid, but if you have a chance to clean it up right away, do so. Pet accidents can cause foul odor and stains on your laminate floors. In worst cases, you can use a pH-neutral cleanser designed for laminate floors.
Things to Avoid When Cleaning Laminate Floors
- Avoid using abrasive tools, like steel sponges and hard-bristled mops, on laminate floors, particularly those that are rated AC3 or below, since they might damage the finish.
- The use of a steam mop is strictly forbidden since high temperatures and water usage might lead to long-term water damage and other issues. Use only traditional mopping especially if you have a low water resistant type of laminate flooring.
- Water in excess is a major no-no! The boards will be saturated and severely damaged if there is an excessive application of water. This is a major issue, especially since it is usually too late to make repairs by the time you discover any damage to the planks.
Additional Tips for Cleaning and Taking Care of Your Laminate Floors
- You can get the best results using a good laminate floor cleaner. Products specifically made for your floor type can easily remove all the dirt and grime without leaving any scratches or marks. This will help you maintain your laminate floors in good shape and can prolong the life of your flooring.
- Mop them every two months using a damp microfiber mop to keep them fresh and clean. A regular mop will do as well, just be sure to wring it out well.
- Never use products that are not made for laminate floors. Oil-based cleaners and polishing wax can leave streaks and damage the floors.
- Products that contain hazardous chemicals like 2-butoxyethanol should be avoided if you have kids and pets. To ensure the safety of your loved ones, you can make your natural floor cleaner by combining vinegar, rubbing alcohol, essential oil, and clean water.
- Trim your pet’s nails so you won’t have to worry about them scratching the floors while they roam around the house.
