When your laminate floor has a dull, cloudy finish, it is most likely caused by a buildup of floor cleaner, polish or wax. Dirt and debris easily stick to the excess product, making the floor look cloudy and dirty instead of having an attractive sheen. Dirt and dust on the floor can also make the flooring look dull.
If there is a light haze on the face of your laminate, use a vinegar and water mixture to mop it clean. A 50/50 solution will remove most hazes, on laminate as well as on tile and natural stone, that are a result of improper cleaning after the installation.
Mix a one-to-one ratio of water and vinegar, dampen a cloth, and rub off the hazy buildups. Rinse with another cloth dampened with clear water and dry the floor immediately with a third rag. Washing coupled with wear and tear can eventually make the hardwood floor look old and cloudy.
To get a dirty floor clean, you need water. The problem with laminate floors is that too much water seeps into the cracks between the planks and can cause swelling and damage that is irreversible. A little water goes a long way on a laminate floor.
Murphy Oil Soap is safe to use on all finished hardwood floors, ceramic tile, laminate, and vinyl floors. With It's 98% natural ingredients, it won't harm them but extend their life by using it on regular basis. You just need to rinse your mop thoroughly before cleaning.
CLEANING CAN BE NATURALLY SAFE
Another great response for how to clean laminate wood floors involves a bucket, hot water, a mop, Murphy® Oil Soap or a similar natural cleaner that's safe to use on laminate.
I put a 1/2 and 1/2 combination of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. If you do not like the idea of using vinegar to make your laminate floor shine, a cleaner specifically made for this type of flooring (Bona, etc.) is another good choice.
Bona offers a laminate floor mop and laminate floor cleaner that also works for stone and tile too!
Sweep or vacuum, then mop with a commercial wood floor cleaner or solution of a quarter-cup of dish soap and a gallon of warm water to lift any lingering grime. Give the floors a final pass with a clean, water-dampened mop to remove any cleaner residue. Dry completely with a soft, clean towel.
Bona's mop distributes cleaning solution more evenly than the Swiffer WetJet. Bona's mop head is significantly wider (15 inches) than Swiffer's (9 inches), which makes it easier to clean large rooms but more difficult to navigate in small spaces. Bona's spray mop comes with a reusable microfiber mop pad.
Although it's designed for natural hardwood floors, you can use Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner to clean tile, laminate, porcelain, vinyl, and engineered wood.
The best way to clean an entire room with laminate flooring is to use a damp microfiber or spray mop such as a Swiffer. These pick up dirt and grime without leaving streaks or pools of water. When washing a reusable mop head, don't use fabric softener, as this can leave residue behind the next time you clean the floor.
Can you use a wet Swiffer on laminate floors? Yes, you can use a wet Swiffer or Swiffer WetJet on laminate floors.
Wet Mopping Pads
While Swiffer does not have a laminate-only cleaning fluid, its Swiffer WetJet Multi-Surface Cleaner Solution does include laminate floors. Be care with Swiffers, though, as it is still possible to deliver too much cleaning fluid on the flooring.
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.
Why You Should Not Use (DIY Products Such As); Bona, Mop and Glo, Or Rejuvenate On Your Laminate Or Hardwood floors. Typical over-the-counter laminate/hardwood floor cleaners leave traces of residue behind, which over time, build up layer upon layer.
You Can NOT Use Wax on Laminate Flooring
Using wax on laminate flooring can cause a buildup of dirt and actually does the opposite of what it does on hardwood. Instead of the wax making your floor shine, wax makes your laminate flooring look cloudy and dull.
Water You Using to Clean Your Floors? You can safely use Swiffer products on hardwood floors. For a quick clean, try Swiffer WetJet Wood Starter Kit. With just the right amount of solution, it breaks up tough, sticky messes, brings out the natural beauty of your floors and won't damage them.
Do NOT clean your floors with Murphy's Oil Soap, Mop and Glo, Orange Glo, Swiffer Wet Mop, furniture polish such as Pledge, vinegar, ammonia, or any pine cleaners! All of these cleaners, over time, will dull and damage the finish.
Bona products are specially designed to protect floors and the environment. Bona cleaners won't dull your floors or leave behind any residue.
The Bona polish does not wear off completely, ever, and needs to be stripped to remove it completely.
Whether you're cleaning one area or all of your flooring, Murphy® Oil Soap is safe to use on hardwood floors.