Laminate flooring is preferred for its colour choices, low maintenance, durability and price over other types of flooring. However, it loses its shine as time passes, due to dirt and grime building up. You can’t wax this floor as you would a wood floor, nor can you use a soapy product because that will dull your flooring. But you know that if you had a good homemade laminate floor cleaner, it would definitely make a huge difference to the way your laminate flooring looks.
How to make laminate floors shine: For you, here are a few ways by which you can get the shine back on your laminate floor:
#1. Vinegar: Dip a rag in white vinegar and rub the floor till you get the original laminate shine back. Once this happens, your next step is to clean the floor well. If your flooring has lost its shine due to wear and tear, you will need to use a floor shine restoration product.
To clean the floor, vacuum the floor so that you don’t have any dirt particles that could cause scratch marks on the floor. To a bucket of hot water, add 3/4 cup of vinegar. Wet your mop in the hot water and vinegar solution and mop the floor until you get the original sheen of your laminate flooring back.
#2. Buff the floor: It takes just a few minutes to buff the floor. You can do this using a mop head or cleaning cloth, or better still, use microfiber cleaning cloths. Continue to buff your floor till you see a pleasant shine.
#3. Use floor mats to protect your floor: Instead of exposing your floor to all kinds of abuse, you can protect it by placing mats at the entrance of your home, both inside and outside. You can also ask family and friends to take off their footwear before entering your home. In case you have spills, wipe them immediately. If you have plants that are growing out of their planters, place furniture protectors.
#4. Clean the floor thoroughly: Sweep the floor, remove all crusts, pet hair, dust particles or other forms of dirt. Clean the walls and below your furniture since hair and small dust particles have a way of sliding across your laminate flooring. If there’s a slight breeze, any dust and dirt can get dislodged and settle onto your floor and make you sweep it all over again. Use a broom and dustpan or a vacuum cleaner for this.
#5. Use ammonia and water: Mix ammonia and water and make a solution of it in the ratio of 1:3. This solution works very well on laminate flooring, so if you prefer to buy a cleaner, ensure that it contains ammonia as this is specifically meant for cleaning laminate.
#6. Use alcohol: Now you know that alcohol isn’t just meant for drinking with friends, but it’s also meant to take away stains and clean laminate floors. Try it, you’ll be amazed by the results. Combine rubbing alcohol, white vinegar, dishwashing soap and lemon juice and spray it onto your floor. Mop it up immediately and see how your floor sparkles.
#7. White vinegar: Add one cup of distilled white vinegar to 3.8 litres of warm water. Dip a soft mop into this solution and clean your floor and get the best results. Don’t stop here. Empty the bucket of solution and fill it with warm water and clean the floor with this. It will take away the strong smell of vinegar and you will also not have any build-up on your floor. With a clean and dry lint-free cloth, dry your floor in a circular direction.
#8. Baby shampoo: This is gentle on your floor, so you can use it confidently to clean your laminate flooring. To a bucket of water, add a tablespoon of baby shampoo, dip your mop into it and mop your floors and wipe them dry.
#9. Laminate floor polish: Pour a little laminate floor polish onto the floor and then start mopping the floor, beginning with the utmost corner of your room. Spread the polish as far as possible using a lint-free mop or microfiber towel.
Work your way on the floor, applying polish in small parts, while you move backwards out of the room while polishing the floor. Let the polish dry for a while and then go on to apply a second coat just as before. For the next 24 hours, avoid using this room, or at least don’t walk on this polished floor for best results.
Laminate flooring stain removal: Often, laminate flooring develops stains of different kinds. Let us look at two kinds of stains–grease and crayon marks on your flooring and how best to remove them.
- Grease stains: Spot the grease stain on your laminate flooring and place an ice pack on it till it sets. Then, scrape the dried grease with a plastic spoon. Once the majority of the grease stain goes away, you can get rid of the remainder by spraying window cleanser on it.
- Crayon marks: Use a soft and clean cloth to get rid of crayon marks on your flooring. Wet it in turpentine and rub it on the stain so that the crayon marks go away.
Don’ts of maintaining your laminate flooring:
Dos:
- Use a microfiber dust mop along with a laminate floor cleaner. Spray it on the floor.
- Spray the liquid only on the dust mop, not on the floor.
- You can sweep or vacuum your laminate floor but don’t use a beater brush on it.
Don’ts:
- Don’t use any other cleaning agent that contains chemicals because it promises to give you a good sheen.
- Don’t scrub your flooring with steel wool or you might end up having scratches on your laminate flooring.
- Don’t treat your laminate flooring like wood, so don’t polish or wax it.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to treat your laminate flooring, depend on your homemade laminate floor cleaner and give your flooring a good shine.
