When a homeowner purchases laminate flooring and have it professionally installed, the company will provide a special cleaner. This should be safe to use, and sometimes one can order refills of the product through the flooring dealer. However, one might wonder what cleaners are safe for laminate floors, and how to best maintain the floor on a daily basis. Here, we discuss whether one should use a commercial cleaner or not, and other techniques for maintaining a laminate floor.
First of all, homeowners should avoid using a cleaner that is soap or citrus based. These cleaners often leave behind a film that coats the flooring and robs it of its shine over time. Avoid abrasive cleaners, and never use steel wool or any cleaning tool that could scratch the flooring and also dull its shine and mar its overall appearance.
For larger spills and stains that require damp mopping, homeowners might want to consider these two laminate floor cleaner alternatives, which are vinegar and water or some household ammonia and water. Both of these will not harm the floor, but they are effective at cutting grease and grime. When damp mopping, homeowners should be careful the mop is only damp with the cleaning solution, but not soaking wet.
Standing water can cause damage to this type of floor. This is due to the fact the floor has a thin wear layer over top the image layer (where the picture of the wood grain is), and below that it has a thin core layer similar to cardboard. So, excessive water can get into this core layer over time and cause unsightly warping of the floor, which can result in the need to replace the floor.
For dry mopping and daily cleaning, a dry mop that has an electrostatic-free head, like those found in the Swiffer line of products, makes a great daily laminate floor cleaner. If a homeowner lives in an environment that has a lot of static electricity in the air constantly, this type of dry mop is great for attracting dirt and hair, ensuring one isn't chasing the debris all over the floor instead.
For most spills and stains, try to wipe up the excess liquid immediately, so it does not soak into the floor, and use a cleaner that is soap and citrus free. Also avoid wax-based cleaners on a laminate floor. Ultimately, a home owner's best choice is probably daily sweeping to keep away dirt and debris, dry mopping, and using ammonia or vinegar and water to wet mop when needed.
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