Laminate Care
Laminate floors are some of the most durable and stain-resistant flooring options available. However, like all types of flooring, laminate floors require regular maintenance and cleaning to keep them looking their best. When you follow simple maintenance and cleaning tips, you are ensuring that your laminate floor will have the longest lifespan and best appearance possible.
Preventative Maintenance
Some preventative maintenance tips for protecting your laminate include:
- Ask for instructions – Before you clean your laminate for the first time, ask one of our experts or consult the manufacturer to learn about the best cleaning techniques. In some cases, you will need to wait 48 hours or even longer before you begin cleaning your floors.
- Use mats and rugs – Place mats or rugs in your entryways to prevent people from tracking oil, sand, dirt, and other debris onto the laminate. All of this debris can dull the finish of the laminate or scratch it, so it is best to limit debris as much as possible.
- Be careful with furniture – When you move furniture across a laminate floor, it can cause damage. Protect your floor from furniture by placing felt pads or other barriers on the feet of furniture. It is also best to lift furniture off the floor when it is being moved from one place to another.
- Keep pets’ nails trimmed – Pets with long, sharp toenails can damage your laminate floors. Keep your pets’ nails trimmed to prevent scratches and other wear.
- Fix scratches, if possible – If your laminate gets scratched, you may be able to obtain a repair stick from the flooring manufacturer.
Regular Cleaning
Cleaning your laminate flooring on a regular basis is important to prevent wear and tear related to dirt and other debris. Use a vacuum or dry dust mop to remove debris. Use a damp mop for debris that cannot be removed without moisture. Avoid using wet mops or allowing water to stand on laminate flooring, as this can cause swelling, warping, and other problems. Do not use wax, polish, or any abrasive cleaners on your laminate flooring.
Addressing Spills
When something is spilled on your laminate flooring, it is important to clean up the spill immediately. Any liquid standing on the floor can seep into the deeper layers and cause problems.
In most cases, laminate flooring will be resistant to stains. However, if you encounter a more difficult stain, you may need to use a specialized cleaning method to remove it. For example, if your laminate becomes stained with chocolate, juice, wine, beer, blood, or grease, it will usually come out with mild detergent and warm water. For nail polish, cigarettes, asphalt, tar, crayons, lipstick, markers, pain, oil, ink, or shoe polish, you can remove the stain with denatured alcohol, acetone and/or mineral spirits. If chewing gum or candle wax gets stuck to the floor, use ice to harden the substance, and then use a plastic scraper to remove it. Be sure to wipe the laminate down with warm water when you are done with the removal process.
Contact Hiltons Flooring if you have any further questions regarding your laminate floors.
