Laminate
Flooring Care and Maintenance
Section 1 -
9 tips for your laminate floors.
- Vacuuming, dusting with a clean dry cloth, or
damp mopping the floor regularly to prevent loose
dirt or grit from scratching the floor's finish
is the routine way in caring for your laminate floors.
Using "soap free" cleaners on a regular basis will
help to keep the laminate floors looking beautiful
for many years to come. Abrasive cleaners and pads
including Comet, Soft Scrub, steel wool and nylon
scouring pads should not be used on laminate flooring
because it can damage the finish.
- Use a slightly damp mop with a rinse free, or
non-sudsy ammonia mixed with water according to
the ammonia's instructions for normal cleaning.
- Footmarks and most stubborn dirt can be removed
by damp mopping the floor. Just be sure that the
mop has been wrung out thoroughly. Excessive amounts
of water or wet mopping should never be done on
your laminate floor. You can also wipe these messes
up with a damp cloth that has been wrung out very
well.
- Wipe up any liquid spills immediately to avoid
liquid penetration into the seams of the flooring.
- Refrain from using mop-and-shine products, due
to that they will leave a dull film. Do not wax
or polish the laminate flooring.
- Acetone nail polish remover or other mild solvents
containing alcohol can be used to remove marks and
stubborn stains. This can also be used to remove
hardened glue left over the laminate floor after
it has been installed or special glue solvents can
also be used.
- Use non-staining, walk-off protective mats at
exterior entryways, and in heavy traffic areas to
keep dirt and grit from scratching the floors.
- If moving large appliances such as ranges, refridgerators,
ect, be sure to use caution so the flooring does
not get scratched or torn.
- Recommended is the use of felt pads and protectors
on the base of all furniture legs, and drip trays
are also recommended for under any potted plants.
Wide rubber rollers should be affixed to any moveable
furniture, instead of hard plastic or metal rollers.
Section 2 -
Maintainence on your laminate floors
In this second part we will be going over
how to maintain your laminate flooring.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please take note
to always follow the manufacturers recommended product.
Common cleaning products such as floor polich, soap,
steel wool, scouring powder, ect. are not
recommended for use due to that it can
damage the flooring wear layer. If you are unsure of
any product, test it on small, less visible area first.
Mopping Up
When cleaning the floors, remove any stains
by spraying with a cleaner that comes recommended for
laminate floors and then mop. Make sure the mop is damp,
not wet, to keep water from entering the joints.
Filling Small
Dents
Due to that marks and dents are sometimes
unavoidable, laminate flooring manufacturers sell fillers
for small surface repairs. Most of these fillers are
types of finishing putty, that is color-coordinated
to match the flooring. They are made to resist moisture
and wear just like the flooring does. If fillers have
to be used, first clean and dry the area that is going
to be repaired.
Clear plastic tape can be used to protect
the surrounding area. Fill the dent with the putty,
and before it can harden, wipe the excess with a cloth
dampened with acetone or water, following the manufacturer's
instructions. When that is done, then remove the tape
if any was used. Take note that dry putty is nearly
impossible to remove, so you will want to clean up the
area well while it is still wet.
If more serious damage is down to the
palanks, they might have to be replaced altogether,
hire a professional laminate flooring installer in those
cases.
Stubborn Stains
Lastly, in the event that you might encounter
more stubborn stains that require more than just elbow
grease, in a lot of instances, citrus-based cleaner
work well for stains that water alone can't handle.
Check with your manufacturer or dealer if unsure. Below
we have listed a few helpful suggestions:
- Candle wax on flooring - Let it harden
first, and then it usually can be removed with a
plastic scraper. Automobile ice scrapers have been
found to work well.
- Tar on flooring - With a citrus-based
cleaner or acetone on a dampened cloth, rub the
area and then wipe clean with a clean, damp cloth.
- India ink, or paint on flooring - With
a citrus-based cleaner or acetone on a dampened
cloth, rub the area and then wipe clean with a clean,
damp cloth.
- Chocolate on flooring - A cloth dampened
with lukewarm water and a manufacturers recommended
cleaner can be used.
