The laminate flooring has become increasingly popular in recent years. Due to its affordability and ease of installation, it has become a very widespread flooring option nowadays. Moreover, the models offered on the market today manage to match the aesthetic quality of some more noble and expensive materials. But what should we pay attention to when maintaining laminate flooring?
How to maintain laminate flooring?
Laminate flooring definitely needs maintenance to keep its shine and natural appearance. But to avoid damaging the flooring during maintenance, some practices should be avoided. Here are five things not to do:
Waiting too long before cleaning
Time is your enemy; the older the stain, the harder it will be to remove. Unlike other types of materials, laminate flooring should be cleaned as soon as a stain appears. This will prevent marks from becoming permanent. Whether it’s wine, oil, ink, or any other form of dirt, cleaning should be done as quickly as possible to have the best chance of getting rid of it.
Exposing the floor to liquid
You should minimize your floor’s exposure to water. Laminate flooring resists moisture quite well compared to other wood coverings, but that doesn’t mean it’s waterproof. In fact, like other types of flooring, it’s not recommended for very humid areas such as bathrooms and basements. Exposure to water or any other liquid should therefore be avoided, as the material tends to warp. Moreover, if one of the boards is cracked or if the boards are not well anchored to each other, water accumulating under the floor could lead to mold.
Maintaining laminate flooring with the wrong products or inadequate equipment
You should never use corrosive products that could damage the surface causing irreparable harm. For daily floor cleaning, a mixture of warm water and mild soap removes most stains.
Otherwise, for more persistent marks, concoct a mixture of vinegar and warm water and scrub with a brush. In both cases, you need to wipe off the product and do everything to ensure rapid drying to prevent a film from forming on the surface.
In addition to using the right products, you also need to have good cleaning equipment. For example, abrasive sponges and cutting tools (scraper, blade, knife) should be avoided. When cleaning, you should always press gently, even when using soft cloths.
For daily cleaning, it’s preferable to use a broom with bristles that are neither too stiff nor too soft. You can also vacuum using a soft attachment.
Using the wrong cleaning technique
To obtain a uniform result, laminate flooring maintenance is done in the direction of the floor planks. Moreover, as mentioned above, laminate flooring doesn’t like water. The technique of pouring a large amount of water on the floor and then spreading it is therefore not recommended. Instead, the mop should be very well wrung out, and ventilate the room to dry the water quickly enough.
Waxing and stripping laminate flooring without taking precautions
It is possible to wax and strip laminate flooring. But the instructions are not the same as for hardwood floors, as laminate flooring is thinner and therefore more fragile. To avoid any irreversible mistakes, the expertise of a professional is more than advised. Only they will judge the type of treatment to apply according to your floor type.
Conclusion
The previous tips are easy to apply and help maintain the beautiful appearance of the floor. This will also result in extending its lifespan.
For the bravest, ideally, on a daily basis, the occupants of the house can also adopt certain behaviors. As is the norm in many countries, one never enters inside with shoes on. To reduce the amount of dirt that accumulates on the floor, it’s radical but effective. You can also get felt pads to put under the feet of furniture to avoid marks.
If, however, the damage is done and your hardwood floor has suffered from poor maintenance, or if it simply bears the marks of time, opt to contact flooring professionals who will know how to restore it to its former glory.
