Laminate Maintenance Guide

Laminate flooring is easy to clean, which is part of its appeal. Cleaning up spills and smears is as simple as wiping with a damp cloth. Below are some other tips to keep your floor looking great for years:

Routine Care
For small and basic spills, wiping with a damp cloth and mild soap should be enough. For darker, more stubborn stains, use a brush with a household cleaner. Continue brushing the area until the stain lifts. If there is still no result, try applying a paste made of baking soda and water. Limit your brushing to 20 strokes though, as baking soda is mildly abrasive and could damage the finish with excessive brushing.

If none of the methods above work, you may want to use a small amount of bleach or nail polish remover. Apply either of them directly to the stain, but do not let them sit longer than two minutes. Rinse with a towel and dry. If you see any progress with the stain removal, repeat this step. However, limit the amount of exposure, as long term contact with these products could damage the finish on your laminate floor.

Be careful with hot pots and pans as well. Never set them directly onto laminate. Instead use a trivet. If direct contact occurs, it could leave a burn or scorch mark.

Cleaning Tips
Choose the cleaning solution you use carefully. Acidic cleaners can cause damage to the laminate surface, and drain cleaner with lye will damage the surface permanently. Also stay away from harsh cleaners like rust remover, toilet bowl cleaner, and oven cleaner. If any of these happen to spill onto your laminate, wipe them up immediately. Hair care products can often stain laminate, so avoid spilling these as well. Also, stay away from steel wool and other abrasive cleaning pads. They can damage the surface of your laminate too.