Laminate flooring is also referred to as floating wood tile, is becoming a more common floor. This is because it’s easy to clean and maintain. All you need to know is how to clean it.
The basic steps for cleaning this type of flooring are dust, vacuum, mop then shine.
There are various ways to get this done depending on the stain you are cleaning. There are also natural cleaners that can be used instead of buying laminate cleaners.
Here are some ways to clean laminate flooring. Remeber that you can always look for a local cleaning company if you don’t have the time to do it yourself.
Every couple of months or when you notice that the floor is dirty, use luke-warm water to clean your floor. Water is a mild cleanser and when done correctly cleaning with it leaves no streaks. It also does little or no damage to the protective coating.
Simply dip the mop into the lukewarm water and wring till mildly dump. Mop the entire floor from the center out or from one side to the other. Dip the mop back into the water severally as you cover the area you are cleaning.
If the floor is barely moist, allow air-drying. If not, use a dry non-abrasive cloth to dry it. Avoid situations where water sits for long periods on this floor.
Faded and dull floors do well when cleaned with vinegar. On its own, Vinegar is too harsh so diluting it with water is necessary. Dilute 60ml of white vinegar in a liter of warm water and shake well.
Put the solution in a spray bottle and spray small areas at a time. Vinegar can eat away at the protective coating, so it’s important to spray over small areas and immediately wipe off the solution with a damp cloth or sponge. Keep the floor as dry as possible at all times to avoid warping.
Use an appropriate amount of laminate cleaner. Too much of it feels like it will clean better, but it leaves a residue that makes your floor look dull. Mix in the cleaner with lukewarm water till it is slightly soapy. Dip a mop or microfiber cloth into the solution. Wring till slightly damp and mop. Make sure to work from the center of the room outward or from side to side to avoid walking over your newly cleaned floor when leaving the room.
When done with cleaning the entire space, dry the room using a microfiber cloth if the floor hasn’t air-dried yet. You must remember that water should never sit on a laminate floor. It causes damage to it.
It may sound strange, but surprisingly, baby shampoo and dishwasher work just as well as any laminate floor cleaner. A few drops diluted in your cleaning water does the trick. As per previous instructions, ensure that the mop or cloth you are using is only slightly damp and clean your floor. Remember to dry the floor thereafter to avoid ruining it.
You need to know how to handle any kind of stain on your laminate floor. Here are some proven ways you can use to remove various stains.
As with all stains, the sooner you attend to it, the easier it is to remove.
One way to remove blood stains is using window cleaner. Simply spray some window cleaner directly on the stain. Wipe off vigorously using a warm, damp microfiber cloth.
You will require mineral spirit to get rid of this type of stain. Simply dampen a microfiber or cotton cloth with the spirit or turpentine. Rub the stain off till it is gone.
Dampen a microfiber or cotton cloth with acetone polish remover and vigorously rub on the stain. After getting rid of the stain, wipe the area over with clean water and a different cloth.
Scrape the gum off with a plastic knife. Place an ice pack on what’s left of the gum, if anything, to solidify it. Scrape it off some more. Finally, wipe with a cloth damp with mineral spirits.
Rub an eraser over the marks. They will easily lift off of the flooring and leave it looking good as new.
Finally, shine your floor with dry cotton or microfiber cloth. There you go; you can now clean your laminate floor spotless!
