Tips For Cleaning Laminate Floors

We recently had gorgeous laminate flooring installed in our living room and I just had to ask the flooring expert (our installer) what he recommended for cleaning it. Although laminate is much easier to care for than real wood flooring and I’ve had it for years in other parts of the house, I want to maintain the high gloss that this laminate has (it would be a shame for it to dull over time or be plagued with streaks from washing). Here are his tips for cleaning it:

How To Clean Laminate Flooring

Washing Laminate Flooring

• Regularly use a soft brush attachment on the vacuum or use a swiffer style tool for picking up dirt and hair. Sweep or vacuum in the direction that the floor is laid so that you pick up all the crud between the grooves instead of trapping it in the flooring (especially if your laminate is mock-hardwood style that has the grooves between each “plank”).
• For washing the floor, mix a couple quick squirts of gentle liquid dish detergent in a pail of warm water. Wring out the mop well so there won’t be any water dripping on the floor then wash the laminate with the damp mop. No special floor cleaning fluid required!

My sister-in-law has a tried and true recipe for cleaning high gloss laminate that will leave the flooring streak-free:

• 1/2 cup of vinegar
• 1 to 2 squirts of liquid dish detergent
• Bucketful of warm water (about a gallon)

Using this homemade floor cleaner for about 7 years hasn’t affected her floor’s gloss/shine at all and she would notice it–she’s got very particular eye for that sort of thing. If there are streaks, increase the vinegar amount gradually until you find the fix.

Did You Know: Many laminate flooring manufacturers require you to only use their brand of floor cleaners or your warranty is voided. On one hand I understand it (if you washed your floor with bleach for example–should you really be eligible for all new flooring under the warranty?), but on the other hand–total ripoff considering there are suitable solutions that are cheap and effective (you’re locked into buying their brand of cleaner for the lifetime of the warranty–which can be up to 30 or 50 years for some brands). Check your warranty guide before washing floor with any homemade or commercial brand laminate cleaning product.

More Laminate Care Tips

• Put felt pads on everything, underneath furniture legs, tv stands, coffee tables–you name it. This will help keep the floors scratch free.
• Place an area rug in the common seating area (by the couch in front of the tv for example). Helps prevent scratches in this high-traffic area as well as a layer of protection for accidental spills from beverages.
• Lift furniture when moving it rather than sliding pieces, will prevent scratches.
• Remove tough stains like shoe polish, spilled nail polish, tar, etc., with an acetone based nail polish remover.

Quick note to fellow Canucks: We’re taking full advantage of Canada’s economic stimulus plan with the Home Renovation Tax Credit, it’s a great way to add value to your home and decrease next year’s tax bill–plus give the economy a boost at the same time (must be helping, our flooring installer has been booked solid all year so far and we’ve been on waiting lists of 6 to 8 weeks for other jobs). Check it out if you have a home-reno wish list on the go, now’s a great time to get some work done (you have until February 1, 2010)!

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