Maintenance tips for laminate flooring

Laminate flooring is as easy to maintain as it is to install. It’s made of a layer of agglomerated wood fibers or particles covered with a decorative layer printed to look like another material such as wood, stone or ceramic.

Unlike wood or ceramic, laminate flooring is not stuck directly to the subfloor, but is instead laid on top of an underlayment and held together with a system of interlocking panels.

(A) Protective layer - (B) Decorative layer - (C) Core layer - (D) Base layer

Follow these simple steps to clean your laminate floor effectively with just a little time and effort.

To prevent dust and dirt build-up, regularly vacuum or wipe your floors with a microfibre cloth, going with the grain of the planks. This will remove any hairs, pet fur, crumbs and dirt to keep it from getting lodged in the interlocking parts.

Pro tip: Don’t use brooms and brushes with hard bristles that could scratch your laminate flooring. Instead, opt for soft-bristled brushes to remove dirt without leaving a mark.

Getting your floating laminate floors too wet is the worst thing you can do to them. Excessive moisture can cause swollen planks, separated joints and faded coloration on the decorative layer. Use water sparingly and always wring out your mop before it touches the floor. Ideally, only mop every two to three months.

In the same vein, you don’t want to use steam cleaners on laminate parquet. While they are highly effective on some surfaces, they’ll do more harm than good in this case!

Pro tip: Be careful about placing flower pots or vases directly on the floor. Use watertight planters or saucers so that the floor doesn’t get wet when you water them. If you spill, wipe it up with a dry cloth right away.

The older a stain gets, the harder it is to remove. For stubborn stains that can’t be removed with hot water, add about a teaspoon of cleaner to a gallon of water. Try to get stains out as quickly as possible and only use products recommended by your flooring manufacturer.

Don’t use furniture varnishes and cleaners with additives such as waxes, oils and solvents, as these are not designed for laminate flooring maintenance. They can leave a residue and make your floors slippery. The same goes for polishing pads, which can damage laminate flooring.

Pro tip: Only use gentle, non-abrasive cleaners. If recommended by the flooring manufacturer, you can get perfectly good results with just dishwashing soap, rubbing alcohol or white vinegar.

There are a few simple things you can do to prevent marks and scratches on your laminate parquet:

• Put peel-and-stick felt pads on the bottom of your table and chair legs
• Have doormats at all your home’s entrances
• If you have pets, decorating with rugs can protect floors from scratches
• Place a mat under your office chair
• Don’t drag heavy furniture across your floors
• Take your shoes off inside the house

Laminate flooring maintenance is relatively easy. It takes a little effort, but the result is well worth it. With these easy tips and tricks, you can say goodbye to dust, stains, scratches—and most of all, that sinking feeling you get from every little spill.

To find the right brushes, cloths and cleaning products for your laminate floor, visit your local BMR  or shop online.

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