Keeping Your Laminate Flooring Clean
Laminate flooring can be an inexpensive eco-friendly flooring option. It comes in a variety of shapes and sizes that can fit perfectly in to any home’s décor scheme. Another wonderful attribute to laminate flooring is how easy it is to keep clean. Only a few steps will help to keep your laminate flooring looking new for years to come. Here are some tips to keep your laminate flooring clean and in tip top shape:
- Sweep and Go – One of the reasons homeowners choose laminate flooring is because it is so easy to take care of. Often times, all you will need to do is sweep it and go! Using a soft, non-scratching broom or dry mop, collect the dust and build up and toss it away. You can also vacuum laminate floors. Just set the vacuum to a low carpet mode or a wood floor mode if available. If further cleaning is needed you can move on to the next step.
- Gentle Cleaners – Laminate floors should not be cleaned with harsh chemicals, waxes or shining products. These products can cause a build up to form on your flooring that can make it slippery, sticky, or streaky looking. Instead keep it simple by cleaning your floors with products specifically made for laminate flooring. You can also use gentle cleaners like water and ammonia, or water and white vinegar. Those products both clean and disinfect without leaving behind a residue.
- Wet and Wild – Be sure you never let water stand on your laminate flooring. This can cause warping and damage the look of your flooring. When you clean your floor make sure to use a minimum amount of water and to dry the floors quickly. This will prevent any damage from occurring.
- Spot Clean – If a stain should appear on your floors you do not have to get upset. There are many ways to get stains out of your laminate flooring without further damaging it. Finger nail polish remover can usually get off tough stains like paint, blood, or wine. Test on a hidden surface first to make sure it does not discolor the flooring. For sticky messes like gum, use ice to harden it and then carefully scrape it up, making sure not to scratch the laminate flooring.
- Scratch Free – Never use scouring pads or abrasives when cleaning your laminate floors! Scratches are the number one concern when it comes to laminate floors and there are many ways to avoid getting them. Make sure your pet’s nails are kept trimmed to avoid them scratching the floors. Place mats at the entrances of your home to prevent scratches from rocks, pebbles, or dust that are stuck in the soles of visitor’s shoes. Placing a rug in high traffic areas or under furniture that is often moved, like dining areas, is a great way to avoid scratches as well. Rugs or padding under heavy furniture is also recommended.
- Humidity – Humidity plays a big part in warping over time. Laminate floors prefer a climate in which the humidity stays relatively constant. This may mean you need a humidifier or air conditioningsystem to keep your floors looking like new. During the dry winter months heat can lead to cracking. Keep the humidity up with a humidifier. During the wet summer months an air conditioner or dehumidifier can help to keep your humidity levels constant and prevent swelling and buckling.
- Replacement – Should something happen to your floors it is usually easy to replace a portion of them. If you can find the matching type, simply add in the replacement boards along the walls. This will help the new boards not to show up due to a difference in wearing.
As you can see, laminate flooring is very easy to keep clean and maintained. It is just a matter of sweeping it regularly and keeping the scratches off of it. Depending on where you live, such as near a beach, you may have to sweep or vacuum more often, but the floors should last you many years.
Author Bio:
This post is contributed by Linda Bailey from housekeeping.org. She is a Texas-based writer who loves to write on the topics of housekeeping, green living, home décor, and more. She welcomes your comments which can be sent to b.lindahousekeeping @ gmail.com.