How to Clean Laminate Hardwood Flooring

15 Feb How to Clean Laminate Hardwood Flooring

Laminates are a popular flooring material because of their good looks and economical price. You get the impression of solid hardwood floors without the eye watering prices. But because of the unique structure of laminate planks, cleaning a laminate floor is not the same as with most other materials. Laminate planks have a fibreboard core which does not react very kindly to excessive moisture. Using a wet mop with cleaning fluids can spell disaster if the liquid is allowed to penetrate between the seams and into the plank core. To help ensure this doesn’t happen to you we’ve created an article about how to clean laminate hardwood flooring.

Dry Cleaning

The first step to cleaning laminate hardwood flooring is to dry clean it. And obviously this doesn’t mean taking it down to the same place you get your suits pressed. Dry cleaning simply means taking up large dirt and dust particles with a broom and vacuum cleaner. Often it’s best to vacuum first to get rid of the larger bits that can cause scratching. Just make sure to use a brush attachment appropriate for hard surfaces. You can sweep up the finer particles with a soft bristled broom that’s used exclusively indoors. Finish the job by using a smaller vacuum attachment to get into tight corners and along the edges of the floor.

Damp Mopping

“Damp” is the operative word here. Your mop should not, by any means, be dripping wet. You’ll want it to be wrung out as much as possible so that no liquid leaks out when pressed hard with your finger. There are a lot of microfibre mops on the market these days that come with a bottle of floor cleaner attached to the handle. Although these can work well for cleaning laminate hardwood flooring, it’s still possible to use too much cleaning fluid and damage the floors. Practice restraint with this liquid. Damp mopping will take up all the finer dust particles. If there are stains or crusted on dirt that aren’t easily removed with the mop, it’s best to spot clean them with a damp, non-abrasive cloth. Once again, use any cleaning liquid sparingly.