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.
You'll want to remove any dust, dirt, or debris. These fine particles of grit can act like sandpaper and may dull the laminate. Follow with a floor cleaner and a damp, not wet, mop with a microfiber pad, Meska suggests. Then, dry mop to absorb any extra moisture on the floor.
Avoid Hardwood and Laminate Floors
Avoid using a steam mop on any type of flooring that should not have hot water on it or on adhesive tiles with lifting corners. It's common for steam-mop manufacturers to warn against using steam mops on "unsealed" floors, a vague direction.
The Bissell PowerFresh steam mop is a great buy as a laminate floor mop if you're willing to spend more on this cleaning tool. It comes with two washable pads and the mop itself is a joy to maneuver around your furniture, thanks to its swivel steering.
We do not recommend using a steam mop on laminate flooring because of the moisture being released. The moisture being released from the steam mop can ruin your laminate.
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.
The short answer is no. None of the laminate flooring manufacturers recommend using a steam mop on laminate surfaces. The moisture released from the steam mop can loosen the layers of the laminate, making it tougher to use and potentially damaging your floor.
Vinyl flooring comes in more formats, including VCT and sheet flooring. Vinyl flooring is also available in a wider range of designs. Laminate flooring has a flat, smooth surface that more closely resembles hardwood than vinyl, which often has a textured surface that makes it look artificial.
Steam mopping over a painted surface is risky, even if the paint layer is sealed. The heat from the steam can cause bubbles beneath the paint, which may then peel. Best to avoid steam mopping on all painted floor surfaces.
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.
Although it may be tempting to deep clean your hardwood floors with a steam mop, don't. “Drastic temperature changes and moisture may warp the wood,” says Steve Stocki, manager of marketing and merchandising at Lumber Liquidators. That's true whether you have solid or engineered wood floors, and for bamboo, too.
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.
Use a microfiber flat mop pad to mop your floor.
Not only do microfiber mop pads clean well with just water, they also prevent your floors from getting too wet which can cause streaks. Microfiber mops don't even require a bucket to get the job done, and are easy to rinse and wring out in the sink.
It's OK to sweep or vacuum your laminate floor as long as you don't vacuum with a beater brush.
Laminate flooring lasts between 15 to 25 years on average. The exact lifespan will vary depending on the product quality of your floor, how well you maintain and care for it and the overall wear-and-tear it receives. In some cases, laminate floors can last over 25 years.
Ease of cleaning, chances for scratches, traction, and moisture damage are all considerations in choosing the best flooring for homes with pets. Both laminate and luxury vinyl flooring are great choices but if the pet is prone to accidents, luxury vinyl is the way to go.
Vinyl flooring is more scratch resistant than laminate flooring, but LVT and LVP may be more prone to top-layer tearing.
Unlike traditional mops, the mop head absorbs the dirt, and the heat of the steam is able to kill most of the bacteria and dust mites on the floor. It is not only a faster means of cleaning but also a more sanitary one.
Steam mops are great for sealed hard floors like tile, stone, marble and hardwood, but heat and steam can penetrate some types of flooring and cause damage. Don't use a steam mop on unsealed wood, unglazed ceramic tile or vinyl plank flooring. If you're not sure, check with your flooring manufacturer.
Steam cleaners are a wonderful way to deep-clean many types of surfaces since they don't use harsh chemicals. Hard surfaces easily cleanable with a steam cleaner include countertops, kitchen & bathroom fixtures, some types of flooring, as well as other impervious surfaces.
Do not use steam cleaners or wet mops, which may cause irreparable damage to your floor. Use a damp cloth to blot up spills as soon as they happen. Never allow liquids to stand on your floor.
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.