Care and Maintenance
of Laminate Flooring
A clear surface layer protects the pattern of the laminate
underneath, making it highly resistant to wear, stains and sunlight fading, and
most household cleaning chemicals will not harm it. And because laminates are
specially engineered with layered construction, they can be installed almost anywhere
in the home. One caveat: unless specially treated laminate floors are very
reactive to water. Otherwise, performance and cleaning should be a breeze.
- Sweep,
dust, or vacuum the floor regularly with the hard floor attachment (not
the beater bar) to prevent accumulation of dirt and grit that can scratch
or dull the floor finish.
- For
tough spots, such as oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink, or tar, use
acetone/nail polish remover on a clean white cloth, then wipe the area
with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue.
- Periodically
clean the floor with cleaning products made specifically for laminate
floor care.
- For
spots such as candle wax or chewing gum, harden the spot with ice and then
gently scrape with a plastic scraper, such as a credit card. Be careful
not to scratch the flooring surface. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
- A more
frequent dust-mopping or vacuuming schedule may be required in very sandy
areas such as a beach home.
What NOT to do with your laminate floor:
- Do not
flood the floor with water.
- Do not
use soap-, water- or oil-based detergents, or any other liquid cleaning
material. This could cause swelling, warping, delamination and joint-line
separation, and void the warranty.
- Do not
use abrasive cleaners, steel wool, scouring powder or strong ammoniated or
chlorinated type cleaners, all of which may scratch your floor.
- Do not
wax, polish, sand or lacquer your laminate floor.
- Do not
let spills linger. Remove them promptly. Use a damp cloth to blot up
spills as soon as they occur.
- Do not
use any type of buffing or polishing machine.
- Do not
leave floor unprotected from your furniture. Use wide-bearing,
non-staining floor protectors, such as clear, hard plastic or non-staining
felt protectors for heavy furnishings.
- Do not
forget to leave doormats outside each entrance to your home to prevent
dirt, sand, grit and other substances from being tracked in.
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