How to clean laminate flooring

Laminate flooring is largely preferred because it provides for a beautiful, natural look and is a solid option for just about any home. With endless possibilities in colour and style, it becomes clear that laminate is always an option for your home.

If you have decided to go with this flooring choice, keep in mind that it requires a slightly different approach to cleaning. It would be a mistake to assume that you can follow the same procedures you normally do when it comes to cleaning other types of floor. That could lead to potential damage to the wood and its finish. To avoid that, you will do well to educate yourself on effective laminate floor cleaning methods so that you don�t ruin your floor. Here is what you should keep in mind:

• All you will ever need - when it comes to effective floor cleaning, people usually think that they will need to arm themselves with a large selection of specialised gear. Luckily, that is not the case with laminate flooring. Forget about specialised tools, because all you really need for an effective floor clean is a microfiber mop and a cleaning solution, either commercial or a homemade product. Possibly a vacuum cleaner too. And that is all.

• One of three ways to start - the first thing you need to do before you start your floor cleaning session is to get rid of the big spots. Mopping with solid particles still on the floor can lead to scratching delicate finishes. That is why it is wise to get rid of the dust before you proceed. You can either: A) vacuum clean with a proper attachment, B) run your dry microfiber mop or C) dust with a swiffer sweeper. Pick whatever works best for you.

• Simple procedure - you don�t really need to invest a lot of time and effort in laminate floor cleaning. The first step of a very easy process is to dry mop the floor. You can use your vacuum cleaner as well, as long as you remember to put on a proper attachment. The goal is to remove all of the solid particles of dirt, dust and hair. Dampen a mop pad with a cleaning solution of your choice and mop the floor. As you do this, you will notice that the pad gets dirty. When that happens, take it off, rinse with water, put it on and continue with the process. It pays to mop in the direction the floor was laid, in order to ensure the dust particles are collected instead of getting trapped between the grooves.

• Get enough pads - the pad of your mop is the main doer of all the cleaning. Having just one is not ideal, since it will quickly get dirty and force you to stop your work and clean it. Let�s be clear on one thing: a washing machine is the best way to ensure your pads are 100% clean. Since a cycle in it takes time, having at least 2 or 3 replacements is the way to go. That way you don�t have to worry about mopping with a dirty pad.

• Avoid using a lot of water and liquids - when it comes to laminate floors, there is one very important thing to remember: you should not use excess amount of water and liquid solutions. The main problem is that water can penetrate into the core board and cause the wood to warp and bend. Some types of laminate feature airtight lock system, which is basically waxed edges that prevent this from happening. However, just to be 100% safe and not put your floor at risk, you should avoid cleaning it with a lot of water.

Caring for laminate floor can be the easiest thing as long as you remember these basics. You will be thankful you picked this type of flooring once you see how easy it is to keep it clean.