What is proper laminate flooring maintenance?
When it comes to specific care requirements for your new laminate floors, we always recommend referencing your product’s warranty and your manufacturer’s care & maintenance guidelines. That said, there are some basic general tips than can be applied to most laminate floors. We’ve assembled some of those for you here in our laminate cleaning guide.
Routine Laminate Care
Consider the following advance when developing your laminate flooring maintenance routine.
- Prevent accumulation of dirt & grit that can scratch or dull your floor’s finish by sweeping, dusting, or vacuuming the surface regularly using your vacuum’s hard floor attachment (with the beater bar detached).
- Periodically clean your floor with cleaning products made specifically for laminate flooring.
- Never wash or wet mop the floor with soap, water, or any liquid detergent. These can cause swelling, warping, delamination or joint-line separation, all of which could void your warranty.
- Never use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, ammonias, or chlorinated cleaners.
- Never use any type of buffing or polishing machine.
Dealing with Spills & Stains
When spills occur, use a clean, camp cloth to blot them up as soon as possible. You should not allow liquids to stand on your floor, as this can lead to swelling, warping, delamination or joint-line separation. These types of damage may end up voiding your floor’s warranty.
For tough spots caused by oil, paint, markers, makeup, ink, tar, candle wax, or chewing gum, you may not be able to blot them up as easily. Consult your manufacturer’s care guide for specific details about tackling these spills without scratching your floor’s surface.