Can dogs scratch laminate floors? By its very nature and construction, laminate flooring products are durable and able to withstand scratches from even the biggest dogs.
Your wear layer is designed to keep any damage occurring to your laminate's design layer. A quality product's wear layer will keep your dog's claws from scratching your laminate flooring to high heaven. Less expensive laminate brands will not last against the nails of your dog.
Pet Friendly Laminate Flooring
Flooring like treated hardwood, ceramic floor tile, porcelain flooring, vinyl, and laminate are perfect for pets—their texture keeps paws from slipping, they are water resistant to prevent damage from accidents, and they protect against scratches and dents from long nails.
Cover the Top Coat With Polyurethane
One of the best materials to use as coating floors is polyurethane. Aside from protecting floors from water damage, polyurethane provides your floor with a glossy, smooth finish. This is great for laminate floors that mimic the look of hardwood floors.
Avoid abrasive scrubbers, like scratchy sponges or steel wool. Even baking soda, when applied and rubbed aggressively, may damage laminate floors. Vinegar, though a popular ingredient in homemade cleansers, is highly acidic and can break down the surface of the laminate when used in high concentrations over time.
Laminate floors are durable, but they can scratch or scuff, so avoid things like steel wool as well. Although laminate is a hard floor, you want to avoid steam cleaning to tackle tough stains as it can loosen that top protective layer and damage the surface.
Unless you are a quick draw on the mop; dog urine will damage laminate flooring, real wood flooring, engineered wood and tile grout. Unfortunately with a lot of flooring the pee will be absorbed into the floor itself or underneath and this is what can make the issue very difficult and expensive.
Laminate is another sensible choice for pet owners because of its water-resistant, easy-to-clean properties.
Scraped or textured laminate flooring is the best for dogs, especially if they're active or older. They look beautiful, and the texture helps with traction. It will ensure that dogs can keep playing for many years ahead.
Put mats by exterior doors, runners or area rugs in high-traffic rooms, and floor protectors beneath the feet and corners of heavy furniture. These steps will help prevent your laminate floors from accumulating wear over time.
The ingredients in toothpaste are perfect for rubbing out scratches from your high-gloss laminate flooring. You dab some toothpaste onto a spare cloth or kitchen rag and begin rubbing.
Understanding what is behind the fear: why dogs slip
Hardwood floors and smooth surfaces such as tile don't play to your dog's natural gripping abilities. Your dog's paws were made for gripping the earth. The nails “dig” into the ground for traction like soccer cleats. “dig” into the ground for traction.
Laminate flooring is scratch resistant, as long as you properly care for it. It is important to take time to maintain your flooring and avoid dirt from gathering on the surface, which will dull your floor out over time.
If your laminate flooring is glossy, you need to clean it frequently, using a microfiber dust mop, along with warm water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Highly glossy laminate flooring often shows prints and the chances increase if you have a dog or pet in house.
Vinyl flooring is durable and cost-effective, making it a good choice of material for homeowners with pets. A range of different options, from commercial grade vinyl to antimicrobial vinyl, are available.
Which is better for dogs: laminate or hardwood? Laminate flooring tends to be cheaper, easier to maintain, and less damage-prone than hardwood flooring, making it a better option for many dog owners.
Water-Resistant Laminate
Laminate flooring is an affordable, practical option for pet owners seeking the appearance of wood, stone or tile. Laminate flooring has four layers: melamine backing, a fiberboard core, a design layer printed with an image of wood and melamine wear layer.
The Best Floors for Dogs that Pee Often
Tile or LifeProof laminate are two of the top contenders. Vinyl plank flooring has come a long way and can look just like hardwood. Plus it's waterproof and simple to wipe down if there are any accidents.
Sprinkle Baking Soda on the Floor
For the best results, you want some light abrasion so the cleaning solution picks up accumulated grime. As previously stated, the top layer of laminate is susceptible to scratches and scuffs, and using baking soda as an irritant gets the job done without risk of damage to your floor.
You should sweep and mop them regularly. Use a specialty mop to clean them without excess liquid. Though laminate floors are water resistant, if they are soaked in water, they can be damaged. The best way to clean laminate floors is to use products especially made for them.
Your cleaning schedule depends on how dirty your floors get. 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.
It's OK to sweep or vacuum your laminate floor as long as you don't vacuum with a beater brush.