Laminate flooring comes with a lot of pros. Appearance-wise, laminate floors are versatile. It can look like wood, stone, or other natural materials. It’s also easy to install and clean. Plus, it’s almost impervious to dents and scratches. Of course, even if laminate flooring is relatively low-maintenance, it’s not without problems.
A common complaint has to do with keeping it shiny, especially after mopping. But don’t worry: Shiny laminate flooring is possible if you follow these tips.
Don’t Use a Traditional Broom
Knowing the best way to sweep floors isn’t as good as using the right tools for the job.
For laminate flooring, you want to use a dry dust mop or a vacuum cleaner. That’s because a traditional broom has a tendency to leave behind a lot of particles. You don’t want these particles mixing with a wet mop. Doing so will leave streaks and residue behind.
If you prefer using a vacuum cleaner, don’t use the brush roll setting too much. Even if laminate flooring is scratch-resistant, brush rolls can damage the laminate over time.
There’s No Need to Use an Expensive Cleaner
If you’re loyal to a particular brand and don’t want to give it up, that’s okay. But if you’re not particularly convinced that the expensive cleaner you just bought is doing anything special, you can opt for cheaper alternatives.
Diluting your window cleaner (1/4 to 1/2 a gallon of water) is one option you can try. For a deeper clean, you can use a solution of equal parts of vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and warm water.
The only thing you need to remember when it comes to getting shiny laminate flooring is less is more. Using too much cleaner or soap leaves a residue that dulls the surface of your laminate flooring.
Spray, Don’t Slosh
Just like using too much cleaner, you shouldn’t use a ton of water to clean laminate floors. Heavy moisture can cause laminate flooring to swell and eventually break down.
If you need to spot clean, just spray a little water or cleaning solution on it and mop. You know you’re using too much if there’s a lot of water or liquid left behind even after mopping it. Use only as much liquid as you need, allowing your laminate flooring to dry after a minute or two of mopping it.
Buff It Dry
One of the ways laminate flooring saves time and money is that it’s easy to clean (as we’ve already mentioned earlier). But if you really want to keep it shiny, you’ll have to spend a few minutes more to buff it.
All you need is a mop head or any absorbent cleaning cloth. You can also use microfiber cleaning cloths. Remember to use gentle buffing motions until your floors sparkle.
Protect Your Floors
Rugs and mats aren’t just decorative accents. They can help protect your laminate floors. You should also follow general floor care tips such as cleaning up spills and messes as soon as they happen.
Don’t forget furniture protectors and, if you have indoor plants, make sure you don’t overfill them with water. Doing all of these will ensure that your laminate flooring keeps its shine for as long as possible.
Want Shiny Laminate Flooring?
If it’s time to replace your laminate flooring, don’t hesitate to call us at 262-653-1120. We offer free, no-obligation estimates for all our flooring and carpet installation projects. You can also leave us a message if you have any questions, and we’ll get back to you right away.
