If your floor has developed a slight film or waxy buildup on it (which happens over time when the wrong cleaning products are used), you can instead combine a gallon of hot water with a cup of white vinegar. Vinegar, which is a natural cleaning agent, will break down the film without hurting the laminate surface.
The best way to clean laminate floors is to use products made especially for them. If you don't have laminate floor cleaner, you can use a teaspoon of unscented clear dish soap in a gallon of water. A teaspoon of baby shampoo in a gallon of water will also work. Be careful not to soak the floors.
Avoid the use of vinegar on laminate flooring, as the acidic properties can dull the finish over time. (Furthermore, mopping laminate even with water can damage the flooring.
What not to use to clean laminate floors? It's important to steer clear of harsh tools and abrasive cleaners, such as bleach and ammonia, which can cause irreversible damage even if heavily diluted. You'll also want to skip acetone and nail polish remover, even if you think it could get rid of a stain.
Avoid Using Too Much Soap
Soap only lifts dirt and oil into water, making them suspend in water. Therefore, the more soap you use, the more your mop gets saturated with dirt. So, if you do not remove all the soapy water from the floor, the dirt remains, forming streaks on the floor.
Never use any cleaning product not designed for laminate flooring. For tough stains, a 5-1 mixture of baking soda can provide powerful cleaning. Mix 1 part baking soda to 5 parts warm water, and stir. Apply the mixture directly to the stained area, and allow to the solution to sit for 10 minutes.
There's no need to rinse your vinegar-mopping solution from your floors. Keep in mind that your floors should be drying very quickly if you've wrung out your mop sufficiently.
Vinegar is acidic and can dull or damage the finish on hardwood floors. Trying to get hardwood floors to shine can be one of the most challenging issues to tackle, but over time, vinegar can make your floors shine less. Opt for a hardwood floor cleaner that will enhance and protect the shine and surface of your floor.
Unfortunately, no. Laminate flooring is sensitive to heat and moisture, so the humidity from your steam mop can cause harm. It won't cause as much damage as a wet mop, but could eventually cause your floor to warp, loosen or peel.
For a natural DIY solution, the most popular is mixing water and vinegar. Keep the solution in a bucket so you can dip your mop, or in a spray bottle. We recommend mixing one cup of vinegar with one gallon of water.
When cleaning laminate floors, it's important to use a cleaner that won't damage or warp the laminate. Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner is great for cleaning up spills and scuffmarks, and tackling dirty floors.
Experts recommend vacuuming or dry-mopping laminate floors daily (the perfect task for the best robotic vacuums), and mopping and immediately drying laminate floors weekly—more often for high-traffic areas.
Laminated floors require a hard floor vacuum that won't scratch the surface. The Dyson hard floor Omni-glide™ vacuum has an omnidirectional Fluffy™ cleaner head that is made with anti-static carbon filaments to pick up fine dust without causing damage to the floor.
Use a gentle cleanser to spot-clean visibly dirty areas, and always follow up by wiping the area with a dry, absorbent cloth. One simple cleaner that works well with laminate is: 1 part rubbing alcohol + 3 parts water + a squirt of dish soap, applied using a lightly dampened cloth.
For stubborn spots or areas of buildup, some people turn to glass cleaners like Windex. This method is helpful in a pinch, but use it sparingly and only in small areas. Spray the glass cleaner on a microfiber cloth and rub the floor clean, going with the grain whenever possible.
Combine a teaspoon of dish soap with a gallon of hot water. This cleaning solution is perfect for regular use and keeps your floors looking new. If your floor has residue on it, combine a gallon of hot water with a cup of white vinegar.
Since vinegar is an acid, it will actually break down the finish on the surface of your floor, and over time it will reduce the shine, and leave a dull appearance. Using vinegar and water to clean floors can also lead to an excessive amount of water on the floor, which can cause swelling and discoloration.