One of the greatest advantages of laminate floors is that they require minimum effort to clean and maintain but can look great for years. Most laminate manufacturers warranty their residential flooring for 10 to 25 years against staining, wearing and fading. All you really need for cleaning are a vacuum cleaner, a dry mop and a damp towel for more difficult stains. Laminates are built to stand up to wear, but to keep them looking like new, here are a few recommendations.
Large pieces of sand or rock can cause visible scratching. These are usually easy to catch by having floor mats and foot brushes at outside doorway entrances. Dirt which gets past the mats and brushes can cause invisible scratching that eventually leads to dullness. So, vacuum and mop regularly to keep grit off the floor. For dry cleaning, vacuuming or sweeping is usually sufficient. Using a dust mop or polisher (FULLER D.C. Polisher) on a regular basis also helps reduce the scratch-causing crumbs. Never clean with abrasives, scouring powder or steel wool.
Damp clean laminate flooring using a vinegar or ammonia-based solution (Labor Saver Floor Cleaner by FULLER). You can also make a homemade cleaner for your laminate flooring by pouring 1/4 cup of vinegar into a 30 to 32 ounce empty spray bottle then fill with plain water for a quick solution. Then, dampen a mop with water and mop, spraying the floor as you go along. When damp mopping, avoiding standing fluids so you do not saturate the floor. Wipe immediately! Other possible cleaning fluids that have been suggested include:
?vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and water (equal parts)
?1/3 white vinegar, 1/3 rubbing alcohol, 1/3 water, and 3 drops dishwashing liquid (1 quart total)
?Windex
Spot Cleaning Tips
?To remove oil, paint, permanent marker, tar, rubber heel marks, use a neutral cleaner on a clean light colored cloth. If needed, use alcohol or a nail polish remover containing acetone.
?To remove blood, fruit juice, wine, beer, soda pop, pasta sauce, use warm water. If needed use a neutral cleaner on a light colored cloth.
?To remove candle wax or chewing gum, first harden with ice and then scrape very gently. Wipe the rest with warm water on a clean light colored cloth.
If your laminate is scratched, see if you can buy a touch up stick from your manufacturer. The area you repair will look, hold up to traffic and wear just like the rest of the laminate floor. If your floor manufacturer does not offer a touch up kit, check your local home improvement or hardware store for wax sticks made for floors. If you still can't find a fix-it-stick, pick up a large box of quality crayons from the art and craft section of your favorite discount store. Whether using a wax stick for flooring or a crayon, that matches the color of your floor, you'll need to move the stick in the same direction as the scratch, then buff with a soft cloth.
In case of more severe damage, which is unlikely to take place in most of the homes, a trained professional can be called to replace a plank. The new plank should be almost indistinguishable from the rest, if done properly.
Cleaning Wood Laminate Floors
When you walk into a home, you will likely notice the color of the walls and ceiling and how well the floor fits with the room. But did you know that the floor type, especially a wood floor, can add ten times the value to a home over a trendy color of paint on the wall? Eventually you'll probably sell your home and the investment you've made in your wood floors, both in money and time, will be returned.
If you're used to carpet and this is your first wood floor you've had to care for, you will likely notice how often it needs cleaning?much more often than carpeted floors. It doesn't attract dirt or dust more than carpet, it just has no where to go, unlike those handy fibers in the carpet. It doesn't get dirtier, you just see it more. This is one reason wood floors are better for those with allergies than carpet.
The first tool you will need for cleaning wood floors is a broom and dustpan (FULLER Angle Broom or FULLER Household Broom and FULLER Upright Dustpan). Sweeping daily is not unheard of with a wood floor.
The second tool you will need for your floor is a mop. Depending on your preference, good mop choices include spatter mops and sponge mops (FULLER Spatter Mop or the FULLER Sponge Mop). Use the mop of your choice to soak up any liquid spills as soon as they occur. Wood floors, especially unsealed wood floors, will warp and stain very quickly if fluids are allowed to stand. When you mop with a wet mop, make sure the mop is rung out well.
You will also need just a couple cleaning chemicals. If your floor is unfinished wood flooring, you'll want a mild, non-oil soap (FULLER Wood Floor Cleaner & Polish). For sealed wood floors or laminate wood flooring, you should purchase products specifically made for wood floors or multi-floor cleaners (Wood Floor Cleaner and Polish or FULLER Multi-Floor Cleaner). For those unexpected scuffs, scratches and tough stains, however, you might need to look into a cleaner designed for those difficult problems (FULLER Wood Floor Easy Clean Mist).
Some steel wool and a polisher (FULLER D.C. Polisher) will also come in handy.
?Sweep as often as needed, even daily
?Use a mop to get up wet spills as quickly as possible
?Mop with a barely damp mop and cleaner as needed
?Clean up exceptionally tough spots using one of the processes below
Even if you have taken great care to prevent water marks, furniture marks and sun bleaching, you will likely find blemishes on your wood floor from time to time.
To remedy heel marks, water stains, scuffs from dragged furniture, cigarette burns, ink stains and dark spots, use a mild soap formulated for hardwood floors (FULLER Wood Floor Easy Clean Mist) and steel wool. Apply a small amount of soap, rub with the steel wool and rinse with water, and then dry completely.
Chewing gum and wax can be removed by placing ice in a zipper-sealed bag filled with ice on the effected area for about 20 minutes. Deposits then become brittle and should break off. Multiple ice treatments may be necessary if the gum or wax area is large. Once the mass is gone, treat with a mild hardwood floor soap (FULLER Wood Floor Easy Clean Mist) and a damp cloth. Dry completely.
Vincent has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Improvement, Sales and Negotiation and Cars. Author Vincent Platania represents the Stanley Home Products.Stanley Home Products has been in business since 1936, and offers high quality home and personal care products to keep your home and your body clean.Visit. Vincent's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
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