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.
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.
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.
Sprinkle baking soda on the floor. Mix one gallon of hot water, one cup of vinegar and a few drops of dish soap in a bucket. Dip your mop in the solution, being careful not to create puddles. To avoid mopping yourself into a corner, start from the back of the room and working your way to the front.
The flat head microfiber mop. That's right! It's time to toss out every other floor mop you have ever owned and you'll soon know exactly why! This floor mop is what the pros use in almost every case and there's many reasons why.
Use a slightly damp mop, ensuring you don't over wet the floor – water can cause water spots or warping on laminate flooring.
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.
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.
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.
Our testing has found that all steam mops remove stains fairly well, with marginal differences, and are likely slightly better than a regular mop and bucket due to the heat and vapour produced by the steam.
Best overall: Rejuvenate All Floors Cleaner
You can use this floor cleaner on hardwood, laminate, tile, vinyl, and linoleum, making it a popular option for low-maintenance homeowners. The floor cleaner's pH-balanced formula won't leave behind a residue, and it's gentle on your floor's finish.
Most cleaning experts agree that Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner Spray is the best hardwood floor cleaner. The large refill bottle also happens to be the best-selling floor cleaner on Amazon. The spray bottle is ideal for spot-cleaning in case of spills or small accidents.
According to the Go Clean Co pros, Tide is safe and effective to use on hardwood, engineered hardwood, tile, laminate, vinyl planks, and linoleum floors.
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.
Clean laminate floors with a minimum amount of moisture. Use an extra well-rung damp mop, not wet . Or, lightly spray floor using a spray bottle containing 90% water /10% methylated spirits, or 90% water/ 10%Household Disinfectant and wipe dry using a Micro-fibre mop or dry mop.
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.
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.