There is no doubt that a high-quality laminate floor can give a room an impressive look. Durable, clean and relatively easy to maintain, laminate floors are a combination of wood, plastic and resin, and they are growing increasingly popular with householders throughout the world.
Laminate is a great alternative to real wood flooring. Not only is it cheap, it’s easy to fit, maintain and clean. But this durable type of flooring isn’t indestructible. It can still be scratched, and if water gets into the joins catastrophic damage can result.
To clean your laminate flooring without causing damage, a few procedures and precautions must be taken.
Prevention is the best cure
Keeping your floor clean at all times is the best way to prevent scratches, water damage and general wear and tear. The tiniest of dirt and grit particles can cause severe scratches, which might eventually allow water to seep in. Protect your floor by insisting people take off their shoes before stepping onto your laminate.
It’s also a good idea to use mats and runners in high-traffic areas, as dirty shoes can do untold damage to laminate over time. Also, place a non-slip mat at each entrance to your home. And if you ever have to move furniture, place rubber stoppers on feet to prevent severe scratching.
Can you vacuum laminate floors?
The short answer is yes. In fact, some careful vacuuming should be performed on your laminate floors every day. Once you’ve chosen a vacuum, make sure you use it daily — even if your floors look OK. Choose a model with a hard floor mode, as this will increase performance and provide added protection.
How to clean laminate floors without damaging them
It’s important to remain vigilant when it comes to droppages and spillages. Clean your floor as soon as you notice something with microfibre cloths and a natural cleaning solution. For example, a mild solution of vinegar and water is all you need to clean and sanitise everyday spillages.
Check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions before cleaning laminate with vinegar. Acidic substances can remove the protective seal on your flooring if used in sufficient quantities.
Once a week, fortnight or month — depending on your home — you will probably want to perform a more thorough clean. A simple wet mop could cause serious damage to your laminate, however, as it drenches floors in water. Use a squeegee mop, or better still, a steam mop. The latest steam mops use water efficiently, and leave floors almost dry afterwards.
Don’t waste money on expensive chemicals. Water, a little dishwashing detergent and some vinegar are all you need to make your laminate sparkle.
How to clean laminate floors using a Shark Steam Mop
Despite its hardwearing nature, care must be taken when cleaning laminate flooring, as an excessive use of water can result in moisture finding its way between even the tiniest of cracks and crevasses. Using a Shark steam mop, however, will utilise the optimum level of heat – and just enough water – to leave your laminate floor gleaming without being compromised.
Why use a Shark Steam Mop for laminate flooring?
One of the main issues people encounter when cleaning laminate flooring is the residue that is often left behind afterwards. There are some very effective cleaning agents on the market, but they can leave an unsightly film on laminate long after it has been cleaned. Not only can this affect the beautiful look of your floor, it can create a slippery surface and a potential slip hazard.
A Shark steam mop doesn’t require the use of any chemicals; instead, it applies evenly distributed steam along all of the mop head. Depending on the nature of your cleaning job, there are three heat settings to choose from.
Before you start
Clearing the floor of debris and loose dirt before you start your steam clean is absolutely essential. Use a soft, indoor brush to sweep the floor, and make sure that it is completely clear of debris.
Choose a setting on your Shark steam mop that is appropriate for the condition of your floor – the ‘scrubbing’ setting is ideal for particularly dirty surfaces with ground-in dirt. Fill your steam mop with water – as directed by the usage instructions – and wait for it to reach temperature.
Effective cleaning methods
For the best results, it is best to tackle your floor in small sections. Push your steam mop over the surface of the laminate in the same way as you would with a standard mop. Shark’s innovative steam distribution technology will ensure that every part of the mop head is clearing away grease and grime. However, check the head regularly to ensure that it is clean and free from debris.
Laminate is made with a resin that stops water from penetrating it. However, in some rare cases water can find its way into the tiny cracks between laminate panels. The best way to ensure that doesn’t happen is to mop along the panels, and not against them. Staying with the ‘grain’ will deliver exceptional results without compromising the quality of your floor.
A combination of minimal water and a sufficiently high temperature means your floor should look completely dry and spotlessly clean within a few seconds. You can dry it with a clean cloth if you feel it is necessary, but this could affect the incredible sheen that Shark steam mops can create. However, resist the temptation to use any floor cleaning chemicals, sprays or waxes – your Shark steam mop is all that is needed for gleaming laminate flooring.
Laminate is hygienic and highly resistant to everyday wear and tear. However, its primary enemy is liquid, which can make cleaning it tricky. Because the Shark steam mop regulates both steam flow and how much water is applied to your floor, you can keep your laminate looking like new without undermining its effectiveness.
Expert tips for protecting your floors
It’s important to remember what you can’t do to your laminate floors, and how to prevent premature wear and tear. For example, forget about using substances to add a shine to your flooring. They often cause waxy accumulations that prove very difficult to remove. Just a mild vinegar solution and some elbow grease will always suffice.
- Keep your pets’ nails short — they can cause scratches
- Ban high heels
- Avoid pine-scented cleaners — they leave a residue behind
- Sweep or vacuum every day
- Never use ammonia-based cleaners — they can break down protective sealant
- Laminate is naturally shiny, so nothing more than a polish with a microfibre mop or cloth is required
- Use the soft-brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner to reach awkward areas
- Clean up spillages immediately — before they get a chance to work their way into the joins between length
Looking after laminate flooring is all about common sense. Shoes, dirt, furniture and water are the enemies of laminate, so protect your flooring from them at all times.