It's OK to sweep or vacuum your laminate floor as long as you don't vacuum with a beater brush.
Laminate floors can scratch, so steer clear of anything abrasive (steel wool, for example). You'll want to use a soft-bristle broom or dust mop to sweep up debris. If you're vacuuming, be careful to use an attachment without a beater bar or rotating brush, which could scratch the surface.
Sticking to a steady routine is the best way to clean laminate floors. Sweep regularly with a soft-bristle broom to collect pet hair and dust. An angle broom will be more helpful to get into corners and along baseboards. Vacuum weekly.
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.
Our pick for the best overall vacuum for laminate flooring is the upright Shark Navigator Lift-Away Pro. Besides the handy bare floor setting, the Shark Navigator has a beater brush with an on/off switch for easy transitions.
Yes, you can use a wet Swiffer or Swiffer WetJet on laminate floors. "The wet Swiffer is best for quickly cleaning small spaces," Forte says.
Because the Shark® steam mop regulates both steam flow and how much water is applied to your floor, you can keep your laminate looking like new without undermining its effectiveness.
Your cleaning schedule depends on how dirty your floors get. 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.
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.
Don't use cleaning products that aren't made for a clean laminate floor. Avoid cleaning products that aren't made for laminate. Oil-based cleaners can leave residue and damage to the protective sealant of the floors. Don't use wax or polishes on laminate floors.
Don't use a soaking wet mop on laminate; if water soaks through it can seep into and under the layers causing warping. Any spills should be dealt with using a damp cloth and the residue wiped up with a dry cloth immediately.
Most floor cleaners contain solvents to cut through dirt, and surfactants to suspend dirt and make it easier to wipe away, but they can actually be the culprit in leaving a sticky residue behind. If you're not diluting your floor cleaner properly, it can lead to very sticky floors.
Pine-Sol® Multi-Surface Cleaner is safe for use on laminate floors. Just choose your favorite scent — we like using Original Pine on laminate floors. Pine-Sol® Multi-Surface Cleaner also comes in other scents, like Lemon Fresh®, Lavender Clean®, Sparkling Wave® and Tropical Flowers™.
Laminated floors require a hard floor vacuum that won't scratch the surface. The Dyson hard floor Omni-glide™ vacuum has an omnidirectional Fluffy™ cleaner head that is made with anti-static carbon filaments to pick up fine dust without causing damage to the floor.
Dirty hard surface floors are usually caused by the environment, an overuse of chemicals, and a large volume of traffic. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to keep your floor looking and feeling cleaner for longer.
Avoid Water
The top layer of laminate flooring is water-resistant. Even so, water can seep through the cracks between planks if it's left to sit. This means you should avoid cleaning laminate floors with large amounts of water like with a traditional wet mop.
Things You Should Know
Fill a bucket with hot water and use a mop to give your laminate flooring a deep clean. Be sure to dry the flooring with a cloth when you're done. Spray a vinegar solution in small 1-foot (30.5 cm) squares and wipe the solution from the floor immediately with a damp terry or sponge mop.
It makes for streak-free cleaning! Rubbing alcohol – great for cleaning and removal of stains. Vinegar – is a great all-purpose cleaner, disinfectant, and shine improver. We only use a small amount of vinegar and never let it 'sit' on the laminate.
ZEP Commercial Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner
This powerful, ready-to-use spray removes scuff marks, stains, dirt, grime, and dust. It also has a quick drying time, restores shine, does not require rinsing, and leaves a fresh yet subtle scent.
The key difference between vinyl and laminate flooring is the materials they're made from. Laminate flooring is comprised of several layers laminated together, including a wood fiberboard core. Vinyl flooring, while also available with several layers, is limited to synthetic materials.
YES!! The DuoClean means that it has two brushes, One brush looks like a paint roller and then a separate carpet agitator brush. Mine works great on our laminate flooring! The vacuum has a setting for carpet or wood flooring, all with a simple push of a button.