Laminate flooring is a popular choice for busy Australian homes because it is durable, practical and relatively easy to look after. But like any flooring, a few simple care habits can make a big difference to how your floor looks over time.
The good news is that laminate flooring doesn't require complicated cleaning routines or lots of expensive products. The key is using the right cleaner, avoiding excessive water and protecting the surface from unnecessary wear and tear.
Here are some simple tips to help keep your laminate flooring looking its best.
Protect Your Laminate Floor from Furniture
One of the easiest ways to prevent scratches and unnecessary wear is to use furniture protectors.
Place suitable protectors underneath chairs, tables, couches, beds, pot plants and anything else that sits on or moves across your floor. Without protection, the bottom of furniture legs can rub against the surface and effectively act like sandpaper.
This is particularly important for chairs and other furniture that are moved regularly. Over time, repeated movement can dull the surface and create scratches.
Furniture protectors are inexpensive and simple to use, but they can save your laminate floor from a lot of unnecessary wear.
Clean Up Spills Promptly
Spills are a normal part of everyday life, particularly in busy homes with children and pets.
If you spill something on your laminate floor, clean it up as soon as you notice it. Modern laminate products can offer excellent resistance to stains and moisture, but it's still good practice not to leave spills sitting on the floor.
For older laminate flooring that doesn't have waterproof joins, prompt clean-up is particularly important. A dry cloth or paper towel is usually all you need for a straightforward spill.
For something sticky, use a slightly damp cloth to remove the residue.
The quicker you deal with a spill, the easier it is to keep your floor looking clean.
Vacuum or Sweep Before Mopping
Dust and grit might seem harmless, but they can cause unnecessary wear when they become trapped underneath shoes, furniture or cleaning equipment.
Those small particles can act like tiny pieces of sandpaper against the surface of your laminate floor, potentially contributing to scratches and scuffs.
Before mopping, give the floor a quick vacuum or sweep to remove loose dirt and grit.
If you're using a vacuum cleaner, make sure the soft bristles are down so you're not dragging a hard surface across the floor.
For everyday dust and fluff, a dry static mop can also be a convenient way to keep your floor looking tidy between more thorough cleans.
Are Robot Vacuums Safe for Laminate Flooring?
Robot vacuums can be used on laminate flooring, but it's worth checking the cleaning head regularly.
Make sure there isn't any dirt, grit or other debris trapped underneath that could potentially scratch the floor as the robot moves around.
If your robot vacuum also uses a cleaning solution, be careful not to overdo the cleaner. Because these systems generally use much less water than traditional mopping, using the same amount of cleaning product can result in streaks or residue.
For a thorough clean, a traditional mop and bucket can still produce better results.
Should You Use a Steam Mop on Laminate Flooring?
Some modern laminate flooring products are warranted for use with steam mops. However, steam is extremely hot, and heat and moisture can potentially find their way into weak points in a flooring system.
For this reason, a simple damp mop used with a suitable laminate floor cleaner is a straightforward alternative.
A properly wrung-out mop gives you the moisture you need to clean the surface without leaving the floor soaking wet.
Choose the Right Floor Cleaner
One of the most common causes of cleaning problems isn't necessarily the laminate itself — it can be the cleaning product being used.
Not every general-purpose floor cleaner is suitable for laminate flooring. Some products can leave behind waxes, silicones or other residues that build up over time.
This can leave the floor looking dull or make it feel sticky or slippery.
If you've noticed marks, smears or footprints that seem to reappear no matter how much you mop, your cleaning product could be part of the problem.
A Simple Residue Test
There's a quick way to check whether cleaner residue may be sitting on your floor.
Rub your fingers over the surface. If you notice a silver-coloured residue transferring to your fingers, there may be a build-up of product on the floor.
Changing to a suitable floor cleaner and sticking to a consistent cleaning routine can help remove that residue over time.
How We Recommend Cleaning Laminate Flooring
For laminate flooring, we recommend using a suitable floor cleaner such as Loba Floor Cleaner.
It is a gentle, pH-neutral cleaner designed to clean without leaving streaks and is suitable for a range of hard flooring surfaces.
To clean your laminate floor:
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Fill a bucket approximately halfway with hot tap water.
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Add one to two capfuls of floor cleaner.
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Wet your mop thoroughly.
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Wring the mop out well — around three or four times is usually enough.
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Mop the floor with a damp mop rather than a dripping-wet one.
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Where possible, mop in the direction of the floorboard grain.
The aim is to clean the floor effectively without leaving excessive moisture behind.
How Much Water Should You Use on Laminate Flooring?
This is one of the most common questions we get asked, and the simple answer is: less is more.
Your laminate floor doesn't need a bath.
When you're mopping, your mop should be damp rather than soaking wet. Excess water can leave marks and residue, and with laminate products that don't have waterproof technology, moisture can potentially get into areas where it shouldn't.
A simple test is to give your mop a really good wring out and then flick it.
If only a few drops of water come off, you're on the right track.
A good laminate cleaning routine is about using enough moisture to clean the floor effectively without leaving it wet.
How Often Should You Mop Laminate Flooring?
For most homes, mopping once a fortnight is generally plenty.
Of course, this can vary depending on how much traffic your floor gets and what's happening in your household. Homes with children, pets or particularly high foot traffic may need more frequent cleaning.
You don't need large amounts of cleaning product either. On average, a one-litre bottle of cleaner should last around 12 months when used as part of a normal household cleaning routine.
Regular light maintenance is generally much easier than trying to remove a large build-up of dirt or cleaning residue later.
How to Deal with Scratches and Minor Damage
Laminate flooring is tough and designed to cope with everyday household use, but it isn't completely immune to damage.
Sharp or heavy objects dropped onto the floor can cause chips or scratches, particularly if they land on a sharp point.
The good news is that many minor scratches and areas of damage can be repaired using a suitable wax repair kit.
These kits can be a useful addition to your flooring maintenance supplies and can allow you to deal with minor damage yourself.
The Key to Looking After Laminate Flooring
Looking after laminate flooring really comes down to a few simple habits:
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Use the right cleaning products.
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Don't use excessive water.
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Vacuum or sweep before mopping.
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Keep grit and dirt from being dragged across the floor.
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Use furniture protectors underneath furniture legs.
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Clean up spills promptly.
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Check robot vacuum heads for trapped dirt and grit.
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Avoid unnecessary exposure to excessive heat and moisture.
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Deal with minor scratches and damage before they become a bigger problem.
Laminate flooring is designed to be practical and hard-wearing, and with the right care it can continue looking great for years.
If you're unsure which cleaner is suitable for your laminate floor, how much water you should use or how to deal with a particular flooring problem, get in touch with us here at Town and Country Timber Flooring. Our team is always happy to provide advice and help you look after your floor.