You can’t treat your laminate flooring like you treat hardwood. They need special care and attention because their surface can’t be left unfinished if scratched or stained. If you want your laminate flooring to have a good life and maintain that same look it had at installation, then regular mopping and sweeping aren’t going to cut it. Here are some tips you can make use of to take care of your laminate floors.
Check Out The Instructions That Come With Your Flooring.
Most laminate floors have instructions provided by their manufacturers instructing homeowners on how to clean and take care of the floor, and it’s your responsibility to read these instructions and follow them if you want your laminate floor to look as good as new.
Clean The Floor Regularly.
You must clean this floor as consistently as possible with clean cloths and mops to avoid damaging the laminate. You can do this every 2 weeks, and you’ll quickly find your floor with a nice shine. But too much and you’ll start damaging it.
Be Mindful of The Cleaning Products You Use.
You can’t just clean laminate floors with any product. They have to be ones approved by the manufacturers and ones that won’t leave stains on it. It’s advisable not to use cleaning products based on oil, as they can cause residues and streaks to form on the floor. They damage the floor sealant, which will make the repair even more expensive.
Avoid Making Use of Rough or Abrasive Tools.
Laminate flooring is different from hardwood flooring, which can withstand abrasive cleaning materials and tools. Your laminate flooring will begin to have scratch marks all over if you make use of abrasive tools to clean the decor layer, even though most recent laminate floorings are scratch-resistant. Don’t use abrasive implements like steel wool or sandpaper to polish the floor.
Be Mindful of The Amount of Water Used For Cleaning.
An important detail to remember is that laminate planks don’t like water. It’s not much of an issue in small quantities, but in large quantities, water from spills or for cleaning can be bad, even for those laminate floorings that are water resistant. This is because water and liquids in general can easily permeate through the installation, damaging it from within and discoloring its surface in the process. If care isn’t taken, then you’ll quickly find yourself paying extra costs for replacing the laminate planks.
Don’t Stain The Floor.
In particular, don’t let stains remain on the floor since once this spilled oil, food, or beverage remains on the floor for an extended period, it will permeate the flooring and leave a semi-permanent stain on your laminate flooring. In case you spill something, pick up a soft rag or sponge and quickly clean off the spill. The sponge does not have to be wet, but a small amount of soap and dampness will go a long way in removing oil stains.
Doormats Help A Lot.
One last thing that can help prolong the life of your laminate flooring is by making use of doormats. Doormats help scrape off dust or stains that could have accompanied you into the house. This dirt can be quite abrasive sometimes and can quickly damage the decorative layer of the laminate. Meanwhile, things like mud will not only leave hard-to-remove stains but also damage the surface of the laminate. If you’re the type with pets, then make sure you trim their nails frequently, as they can easily scratch your flooring with them.
Choose Joe Gray’s Flooring For Your Laminate Needs In South Florida
Maintaining laminate flooring can be a hassle in South Florida, but Joe Gray’s Flooring makes it easy with durable, water- and scratch-resistant options. Contact us at 561-767-6092.