Maintaining Your Laminate Floors

The allure of laminate flooring lies not only in its representation of real hardwood, but also due to its incredible durability and ease of maintenance. Laminate floors are treated with Aluminum Oxide, which is applied to the laminate surface, making the product extremely scratch and dent resistant. Laminate floors are designed for active households, and require less routine maintenance than most other types of flooring.

Laminate floors will not stain, fade or discolor when subjected to every day wear and tear and the laminated surface is engineered to withstand topical liquid spills. The addition of wax to the tongue and groove will ensure that topical liquid spills will not penetrate the laminate core.

Soil and dust particles have sharp edges and will scratch the laminate surface if not cleaned regularly. In this regard, it is prudent to place door mats at all entrances and exits, in order to prevent the tracking in of dirt, as well as placing furniture pads under all furniture legs. Routinely sweeping your floor will ensure that soil and dust particles are kept to a minimum, thus reducing the occurrence of scratches. Use only a suction or soft bristle rotating brush head vacuum, as vacuums that utilize a beater bar may damage the floor, and always remember to set the brush head to the appropriate setting for cleaning a hard surface floor.

Aside from routine sweeping, laminate floors can be cleaned using a non-corrosive soap and water solution. However, do not use any of the following products on your floor: ammonia based cleaners, acrylic finishes, wax based products, detergents, bleach, polishes and oil soaps, or abrasive cleaning soaps. When mopping the floor, always ensure that the mop has been sufficiently dried of excess water, as excessive water will damage the floor beyond repair, and thus it is also imperative never to pour water onto the floor during the cleaning process. Refer to the manufacturers recommended guidelines for permitted use of cleaning chemicals and recommended cleaning methods.

Spills must be mopped up immediately and sticky substances such as gum must be allowed to dry and then scraped off using a plastic scraper. For more permanent marks, the use of acetone nail polish remover is permitted; however refer to the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions in this regard.