How to Clean Laminate Floors Properly: Here Is the Definitive Guide

One of the advantages of laminate flooring over a traditional wooden parquet is the ease with which it is cleaned and the little maintenance it requires.

Cleaning laminate floors requires little effort compared to traditional parquet because, unlike these, laminate resists stains and fingerprints well, as well as being extraordinarily resistant to wear.

Laminate floors are proving to be the winning choice for those looking for beauty and practicality, in short, the best way to have a "wooden" floor without too many thoughts and attentions.

However, like all surfaces , even laminate needs to be cleaned and cared for every now and then, doing it is simple, just take a few easy steps to have a splendid surface over time.

So here is the guide that explains how to clean the laminate floor.

CLEANING IMMEDIATELY AFTER LAYING

Going in order, the first cleaning to be done is the one after laying. An operation that is sometimes underestimated but that if done well, keeps the laminate floor nice and like new for a long time.

To clean the new laminate flooring  newly laid  recommend :

• remove all dust and residues from the laying work carefully with a soft broom and a dustpan or with a vacuum cleaner ;
• remove stubborn dirt with a slightly damp cloth ;
• for aggressive stains such as glue, silicone etc., you can use synthetic thinner or white spirit with a clean cloth;
• remove any persistent dirt left with a suitable laminate cleaner , for example Skema's Multilayer Cleaner , which is neutral and non-abrasive.

THE ORDINARY CLEANING OF THE LAMINATE FLOOR

To remove dust and everyday residues just use a broom and microfibre cloths , the more often the dirt is removed from the floor, the easier the cleaning operation, avoiding stubborn stains.

If you don't have microfibre cloths, you can use the broom by coating the bristles with a nylon stocking and passing the surface gently.

You can also use the vacuum cleaner at home on the laminate floor, it won't damage and sucks up all the dirt without dispersing it .

HOW TO WASH THE LAMINATED FLOOR

All wooden floors, in general, never have a good relationship with water. If water stagnates, it can swell the wood fibers and deform the floor.

This does not mean that it will happen every time water falls on the floor or every time you wash it, yes because the laminate floor can and must be washed every so often and if you do it correctly, which is also the simplest, the floor will never be damaged.

The procedure is simple: just pass a well wrung cloth . Microfiber cloths generally do not need detergents, otherwise you can use a common , well-wrung , floor cloth with neutral detergent .

Better not to use mop cloths that can leave a lot of water on the floor.
So for a clean floor:

• do not throw water directly on the floor,
• do not use soaked cloths,
• do not let the water stagnate.

THE PRODUCTS TO CLEAN THE LAMINATE: WHICH DETERGENTS TO USE

The laminate does not require aggressive detergents, these could in fact affect the floor and ruin the color on the surface.

Neutral or mild detergents such as Marseille soap, Lysoform for floors or Vileda for floors, always diluted and always rinsed after application, are fine.

Or to be sure of the result, use specific products or special detergents found in the large-scale retail trade recommended for laminate, neutral and wax-free floors.

There are also more natural methods which consist in diluting white cleaning vinegar in water : 60ml of vinegar (about one third of a classic plastic glass) for each liter of water, the cloth is immersed, wrung out and cleaned the floor quickly. The vinegar frees the water from the limestone which tends to remain on the floor.

WHAT NOT TO USE AND WHAT NOT TO DO

As mentioned above, the laminate does not fear water very much , but remember once again that stagnation should be avoided therefore it is important:

• DO NOT use too much water (yes to wrung out cloths)
• DO NOT throw water directly on the floor
• DO NOT use boiling water

DO NOT use steam cleaning

There are products for cleaning that should not be used on laminate floors, otherwise they could damage the surface and ruin the color or the structure itself:

• DO NOT use ammonia  based products
• DO NOT use bleach- based products
• DO NOT use abrasive sponges
• DO NOT use soap paste, wax or other polishes because they form a film that attracts dust.

EXTRAORDINARY CLEANING: HOW TO ELIMINATE STAINS FROM THE LAMINATE

It can happen that the floor is stained and that stains or marks are difficult to remove . In these cases there are several procedures to follow, depending on the type of patch.

Here are some practical examples:

GREASE-BASED STAINS

Rubber strips, ink, tar, asphalt, strips caused by heels, colored pencils, wax crayons, lipstick, varnish and chocolate: you can use mineral spirits or acetone (no ammonia) or to be sure of the result use the Skema Multilayer cleaner Cleaner , let it act for three minutes and then rub it with a non-abrasive sponge.

Grease, shoe polish, oil: clean with denatured alcohol , then dip a cloth in cold water , wring it out and rinse.

Chewing gum, candle wax, stearin: allow the stain to cool with ice in a plastic bag, then with a scraper , gently remove the solidified material.

WATER BASED STAINS

Blood: dip a cloth in cold water , wring it out and clean.

Soft drinks, beer, wine, coffee, fruit, berries, ice cream, milk, cream, tea, whiskey and urine: soak a cloth in a solution of lukewarm water and mildly concentrated neutral detergent , wring out well and clean repeatedly.

As you can see, even if the cases can be many, the cleaning of the laminate floor is resolved in a few gestures  and with few precautions. The laminate floor is designed to be a practical surface, easy to manage , to give you the best of a warm floor, without having any thoughts.