Laminate Flooring is one of the most popular and versatile types of flooring in homes and offices today. If you’re trying to decide on a type of flooring for your home, you really can’t go wrong with wood laminate.
Not only is it affordable, but it’s also waterproof, stain and scuff-resistant, and easy to maintain. It might not last you a lifetime like hardwood floors, but if you can’t afford the initial cost of hardwood, laminate flooring is your next best option.
Learn how to keep your floors in top-notch condition with laminate floor care.
What Is Laminate Flooring, Anyway?
The funny thing about laminate flooring is that it looks just like real wood. It’s hard to believe that it’s not. But in reality, laminate flooring is not a natural product, it’s engineered to look that way.
This versatile type of flooring comprises three key layers. The first is a dense base layer made of plywood to give the flooring stability. This is also the reason it’s sometimes referred to as ”wood laminate”.
The second is a high-resolution image layer that mimics the look of wood, stone, tiles, or even metal. The third is a protective wear layer to harden the flooring and give it its durability.
Laminate Flooring Options
In today’s day and age, the world really is your oyster when it comes to choosing an option for your home. The options are limitless thanks to modern advances in high-resolution printing. This means that there are few types of flooring that laminate cannot imitate.
No matter your preference of wood color or texture, you can choose from almost any type of hardwood species. If you prefer the look of mahogany, the option is yours. If you prefer a lighter hickory style wood, there’s a laminate imitation out there.
Even if you’re looking for the look of tiles or metal, but don’t have the budget for the real deal, laminate flooring is your best alternative.
Laminate Floor Care & Cleaning Tips
When it comes to cleaning your laminate flooring, you don’t want to overdo it. This type of material is engineered to be tough, hard-wearing, and stain-resistant. In other words, it doesn’t need a lot of intense cleaning.
Here’s a breakdown of when and how to clean your floors:
Weekly Vacuuming
One of the best ways to maintain your laminate floors is by simply vacuuming them once a week. This is also a great form of preventative care to prevent them from scratching and scuffing over time.
You want to use the brush attachment on your vacuum to keep your flooring free from debris, dirt, animal and human hair. You could also use a dry dust mop on your floors instead of a vacuum. But make sure to avoid brooms with very hard bristles — you could scrape and scratch the laminate.
A top tip: vacuum or mop in the laid direction of the laminate so you can get into all those nooks and crannies and suck up all the dirt!
Bi-Weekly Washing
Every second week or so you should take some time to wash your laminate floors. Bear in mind that you don’t need any fancy products for this — just warm water. You want to avoid using soap, ammonia-based cleaning products, or anything with a heavy scent.
These products can actually strip and damage your laminate and leave a streaky layer over the top of it. It’s important to invest in a microfiber mop, dunk it in warm water, and mop in the laid direction of the laminate.
Dry your floors off with a microfiber cloth when you’re done.
Deep Cleaning
At least once every three months it’s time for a deep clean of your laminate floors. For this job, it’s best to use a flathead, microfiber mop, and a specific laminate floor spray cleaner.
You don’t need any water for this — simply spray the cleaner onto your floors and mop over it. Make sure to mop in the same direction as the laminate grain so you can avoid the look of streaks when you’re done.
Use a microfiber cloth to dry off your floors afterward.
Cleaning Up Spills & Removing Stains & Scuffs
As soon as you spill something on your laminate floors, make an effort to clean it up right away. This is the best preventative tool to keep stains at bay and prevent any moisture damage to your floors.
If you happen to miss a spill and you’re left with a stain, don’t fret, you can usually get rid of it. All you need is some white vinegar and some warm water. Dilute a quarter cup of the vinegar in four cups of water and spray the mixture onto the stain.
You don’t want to leave the mixture to sit for too long — wipe it off after a few seconds with a damp cloth. Try to spray over the stain in small amounts, don’t douse your floors in vinegar solution because you could damage the protective layer! Dry off the area with a microfiber cloth.
When it comes to more hardy substances such as wax or crayon, you can use some rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab to remove these stains — again, use a light touch so you don’t damage the protective layer. For candle wax or chewing gum, you can use ice to loosen it, then scrape it off gently with a blunt knife.
Yes, laminate is a hardy material, but scuffs can still happen — mostly due to heel scuffs and furniture markings. Luckily, these are easy to remove with a pencil eraser.
Laminate Floor Replacement
While laminate flooring is a brilliant investment for any homeowner, it’s worth bearing in mind that they don’t last forever. However, you can still get laminate flooring.
This depends on the quality of floor installation and how well you maintain them, too. It is known to last a lifetime, hence the hefty price tag. After all, you get what you pay for.
So just keep this in mind when deciding between the two. You may need to replace your laminate flooring in 15 years’ time, depending on how you care for it.
Find Home & Garden Hacks aA Plenty
The best thing about choosing laminate flooring is that laminate floor care doesn’t have to be complicated. They’re a long-lasting, low-maintenance, and affordable option. And honestly, what more could a homeowner ask for?
If you’re on the hunt for home improvement or garden landscaping hacks or inspiration, you’re in the right place! Explore the rest of this site for your daily fix.