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Jul 24, 2023

How to Clean Laminate Wood Floors the Right Way

Here's everything you need to know about cleaning laminate wood floors. Mary Marlowe Leverette has over four decades of experience and has been writing and consulting for more than 20 years sharing

Here's everything you need to know about cleaning laminate wood floors.

Mary Marlowe Leverette has over four decades of experience and has been writing and consulting for more than 20 years sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, stain removal methods, and textile conservation.

While laminate flooring often looks like a hardwood floor at a first glance, it’s quite different. Laminate is much less expensive than hardwood, easier to install, more durable, and requires less maintenance. Made from pressed layers of composite wood, a printed design layer, and then topped with a thin, scratch-resistant wear layer, laminate flooring delivers a bit of bounce that makes it comfortable underfoot.

The downside is that liquids and laminate flooring don’t mix. If exposed to too much moisture, the high-density composite wood begins to swell and warp. We'll explain how to properly clean your laminate floors and keep them looking like new for years to come.

How often your floors need to be cleaned depends a great deal on your lifestyle. Clean up spills and muddy tracks immediately, and remove grit, crumbs, and dust at least weekly. If you have pets, kids, or lots of foot traffic, vacuum or dry-mop more frequently to remove particles that can scratch the surface of the laminate and leave it looking dull.

To capture grit, dust, and dirt on laminate floors, use a dry dust mop, electrostatic disposable mopping cloth, or vacuum. If vacuuming, choose one that's suitable for hard-surface floors with the beater bar disengaged. A traditional broom is not the best choice because it can leave grit in the cracks between the laminate boards. Don’t forget to remove any throw rugs or mats and clean under them!

With dozens of commercial laminate floor cleaners in the marketplace, check the labels to ensure you're using one suitable for laminate flooring. Do not use hardwood floor cleaner or wax on laminate floors, unless it is something like Zep, which is formulated for both hardwood and laminate.

To save money and still get a clean, streak-free floor, make your own laminate floor cleaner by mixing 2 quarts water with either ¼ cup distilled white vinegar or ½ cup isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Pour the solution in a spray bottle and label it for easy use.

Lightly spray a small area of the freshly vacuumed floor with the cleaner you’ve chosen, being careful not to over-wet the floor. (If the floor doesn’t dry within a minute or so, you’re using too much.) Using a microfiber mop, work in a grid pattern starting in one corner of the room so you don’t miss any areas. If the floor is really dirty, rinse the mop head as needed and wring it until just slightly damp.

To create a shine once the floor is clean, buff it with a microfiber cloth in one of three ways:

Whichever you choose, work in small circles and buff the floor to create a shine.

Remove scuffs from shoes and furniture by buffing the area with a slightly abrasive microfiber cloth or a clean tennis ball. Alternatively, try a new art gum or pink school eraser. Dampen the scuff and erase it away.

The best way to prevent filmy streaks on your laminate floors is by carefully selecting your cleaner and determining the right amount of it to use: