Deep cleaning laminate floors isn’t very exciting, especially when other household chores need tackling. Thankfully, due to its top-coating, laminate flooring is durable and excellent at repelling stains and harsh chemicals, so there’s not much upkeep needed. However, when your floors become sticky or grimy, a thorough cleaning is necessary.
Having said that, a deep cleaning schedule and routine maintenance is required from time to time, especially if you notice your laminate floors becoming dull and streaky to time.
Uncovering what steps, products and technique to use is of great help for cleaning the surface of laminate floors and repelling stains. And most of all, the process doesn’t have to be tiresome either.
Here is how you can deep clean laminate flooring in an easy and professional way without streaks, while at the same time having fun doing it.
“The key to deep cleaning laminate floors is to prevent excessive water from soaking into the grooves and seams which can cause swelling, warping or delamination. Always use a microfiber mop or a vacuum cleaner specified for hard floors. Trust me when I say less is more when it comes to cleaning solutions or water – a light, damp cleaning can go a long way without the risk of damaging your laminate floor.”
Lorenzo Peralta, Certified Floor Care Specialist
Before Cleaning Your Laminate Floors
Before cleaning your floors, take a look around your home. Have you already cleaned the area, vacuumed your rugs, removed dust from the shelves and collected spider web on the ceiling? You want to clean your home quickly before you actually start the cleaning process for your laminate floor. Preferably, a vacuum with a water or HEPA filter. Mopping is also very important, you really want to get rid of all the debris to avoid surprise scratches, use a microfiber mop to be sure that the area is 100% clear.
Deep cleaning has many merits and enables you to live and breathe in the clean environment that’s safe for your health. This involves deep cleaning your mattress and floors, among other parts of the home. You should deep clean your home once every two to three months and make it a routine. Here are a few tips.
Make Your Clean Tool Kit
The first thing to consider are the products you should use. Here is a list of natural cleaners, bought cleaners and cleaning tools to make your cleaning kit. Every laminate flooring is different, buy things that will not damage your wood or tile.
⓵ Natural cleaners
Personally, I tend to use homemade, natural cleaners such as the following ones:
If you make your own cleaning products, you control the ingredients and you save some money, too. For instance, you can combine vinegar and water solution by mixing three parts of water and one part vinegar, which can be effective for cleaning various floor types, including laminate.
Besides, there are fewer toxins which make the environment more pleasant and safer for pets and children. Finally, you reduce the probability of triggering allergies and/or asthma for some people.
⓶ Store-bought cleaning products
Store-bought cleaning products seem like an easy method to choose from, but not all of them are good.
AVOID:
Instead, opt for products that are specifically designed for cleaning laminate floors and removing stains and spots.
⓷ Required Cleaning Tools
Here’s a list of cleaning products you will need in order to keep the surface of your laminate floor clean:
PRODUCTS:
Avoid steam cleaners at all costs, even though they are great at removing stains and sanitizing, they produce too much moisture and will get under the laminate and damage it. This also means avoiding using a steam mop. There are some great hardwood floor machines that don’t use steam.
Steps To Take During The Cleaning Process
There are several steps to take before you start your cleaning process and as if often the case, the order of preparation before starting the process will not only improve the cleaning process, but will also help get the job done quicker.
【1】Make space
Now that you’ve got your kit assembled, let’s see how to deep clean laminate floors.
First, remove any furniture. Lift chairs or bar stools onto a table or remove them from the room altogether. You don’t want to miss any areas when you clean. This step is crucial whether you’re cleaning laminate, wood, or tile floors.
Pick up any door mats or rugs, shake them outside or leave them outside to air. This will make it easier for you to clean your laminate floors.
【2】Sweep the floor
The next thing you want to do is sweep the floor using a soft bristle broom to avoid any scuff marks. Try to get into every corner of your home. Alternatively, you can collect dirt and dust by using a vacuum cleaner.
【3】Vacuuming the floor
Regular vacuuming is crucial. Don’t forget to flip any rugs and carpets over and vacuum the undersides to remove as much dust and dirt as possible in order to avoid recontaminating the floor surface after cleaning it.
Do a once over the laminate flooring with the vacuum cleaner. Ideally, you want to use a soft brush attachment so as to minimize the risk of scratching the floor.
In any case, make sure your floors have no dirt or dust on them before you continue with the deep cleaning process.
【4】Organization & preparation
Get all your tools ready, which is the kit you have previously made. When it comes to using water, try to limit it to the absolute minimum since wood laminate floor and even water-resistant laminate floors are susceptible to water.
That said, opt for products specifically designed for laminate floor cleaning. Avoid using oil-based products too. Get your microfiber floor mop which will absorb any excess water from the floor.
【5】Break up it into smaller sections
It is easier to think about the floor in sections. Visualize a square in every corner, starting from the one that it is the furthest from the door. You will spot more issues this way.
This will make you more motivated to clean the floors because you can check a mental box saying “Corner 1-Done”. Doing this in manageable sections prevents overwhelm as you are completing mini tasks.
【6】Get cleaning
After removing dust and dirt from the floor, it is time to get wet (but not too wet). There are two methods to do this depending on the kind of mop you have.
Modern dust mop
Ideally, your laminate floor mop should have a small plastic bottle attached to it which you can just fill with cleaning solution.
If that’s the case, simply pour your laminate floor cleaner solution in the bottle, attach it back to the mop, spray the floor and mop until dry. This cleaning method is the best for keeping laminate floors clean and free of streaks, while saving your time and money. No rinsing off is necessary.
You can simply go over the floor again with a dry microfiber cloth, but this step is optional.
Traditional mop
Now, if you are using a traditional mop, you want to fill a bucket with warm to hot water and dissolve a laminate floor cleaner of your preference. Dip the mop into the bucket and try to get as much excess water off as possible.
Then, use the wet mop and start cleaning the floor. At this point, you will see floor streaks and excess liquid and that’s completely okay.
Having mopped the entire laminate floor, it is time to use a dry microfiber cloth and wipe the floor dry with it. Make sure it is dry and not a damp cloth because you want to dry the floor and eliminate any streaks. Alternatively, you can use a dry microfiber mop because it is easier on the back and knees.
Keep windows open
Always keep windows open when cleaning so your floor will dry out faster and any air-borne toxins can escape instead of sticking out your house.
Use floor shine
One final step, making the floor shine. Make sure the product you are using is specifically designed for laminate flooring. It’s important to check it doesn’t contain any formaldehyde, strong fragrance or ammonia.
AVOID:
Simply squirt your floor shine product onto the floor and spread it with mop until you see your own reflection clearly. This will give your laminate floors a protective coating and a lovely shine to it!
Violà, there you have it. Your floor should be ready for rolling the red carpet onto it.
What If You Spill…
Cleaning laminate floors with no marks or spots on them seems fairly easy, right? Now, what if you spill nail polish or paint and leave it to dry? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Nail polish
When painting our nails, we can occasionally get it on the furniture or floor. Using an acetone nail polish remover will remove the stain easily in most cases. This is very effective on stainless steel, mirrors or glass. You can use clear polish to remove scratches, and then acetone for a complete recovery. Microfiber is great to finish the job.
However, if you spill it on the rug or upholstery, then you have a bigger problem. The go-to product is, believe it or not, window cleaner. Apply it directly to the stain and remove it using a white cloth while doing circular motions. Rinse with warm water afterwards to remove the residue.
Paint stains
Now, paint can be a tricky problem to tackle on the hardwood floors if you leave it for a few hours to dry.
It will normally come out with ease using washing-up liquid by rubbing it first with a cloth or a damp mop and then leaving it for 30 minutes. Wipe with a dry white cloth afterwards.
Alternatively, grab your microfiber cloth and combine equal parts of vinegar, water, rubbing alcohol and a few drops of dish detergent in a small bucket. Dip it and wipe the paint stain using the damp microfiber cloth.
Final Word
Cleaning helps not only tidy up your house but also your life. It helps to reduce stress, increase productivity, relieve tension, alleviate allergies, improve safety and deter pets among others. Besides, cleaning keeps you fit. Every part of your house needs a different approach, joust in your kitchen you will have to do something different for your counters, stove, oven and fridge.
Finally, create a cleaning calendar, choose a time of the day when you feel fully motivated to clean the floors, remove any distractions and listen to music. This will help you sustain your motivation for cleaning the laminate floors regularly and make the most of your cleaning efforts. You also want to perform a deep cleaning at least 2 times per year.
If you’re overwhelmed by the cleaning process, breaking it into small parts, like focusing on one room at a time, can make the task less daunting.
As someone in the cleaning business, I’d argue that even with laminate floors, it’s not just about deep cleaning once in a while but maintaining cleanliness regularly to ensure longevity.
As an obsessive cleaner, I found that creating a cleaning schedule and sticking to it consistently takes the mental load off when dealing with laminate flooring.
As a veteran in floor installation, I’m intimately acquainted with how essential regular maintenance is to laminate floors. Deep cleaning need not be so exhausting if it’s done frequently enough – this reduces accumulated grime and simplifies the overall process. Besides using commercial cleaners, I also found that a mild solution of vinegar and warm water can be quite effective for light cleaning tasks.