In order to prevent laminate flooring from becoming scratched or damaged, it’s important to keep it clean with regular sweeping and mild cleaning – harsh cleaners can damage the laminate surface, as can steam cleaners or buffers.
Daily cleaning
Use a dry mop, soft broom or the soft brush attachment on your vacuum on the laminate wood flooring each day, this will stop the build-up of dust, hair and other debris which if left on the surface could cause scratches – a stiff floor brush could also damage the surface. Sweep/vacuum in the direction of the boards. This will help remove anything that has fallen into the grooves between the boards, however, this might not be possible if you have a herringbone pattern such as the one shown here https://www.irwintiles.ie/wooden-flooring/laminate-flooring.html.
Monthly cleaning
After you have carried out the ‘daily cleaning’, with hot water and a sponge mop which has been wrung out so it remains only just damp, mop the floor thoroughly, rinsing the mop as necessary. The floor should not be wet but only slightly damp – leaving the floor to air dry is the best option, alternatively a soft dry cloth can be used.
Liquid spills
Ensure all liquids are removed from the laminate wood flooring promptly; even plain water can damage the protective surface of the flooring. Soak up the liquid with a dry cloth or kitchen roll, spot-clean if necessary to remove any remaining residue and then ensure the floor is completely dry with a soft cloth.
Common stains
The first choice has to be vinegar mixed with water (4 tablespoons to 1 litre of plain tap water) – you could also add a couple of drops of washing up liquid to this mix. Using a spray bottle, lightly mist a small area at a time and immediately wipe with a soft dry cloth – do not allow the water to sit on the laminate.
Blood – spray with a window cleaner, wipe clean and then again with a clean, damp cloth.
Heal marks – a normal pencil eraser rubbed over the affected area.
Chewing gum – remove the bulk of the gum with a plastic knife and then clean any residue with a soft, damp cloth.
Nail polish/shoe polish – use a small amount of nail polish remover on a dry, soft cloth and wipe immediately afterwards with a damp cloth.
