Do you have a solution for my laminate flooring?
Asked by
Val123 (
12739
)
December 1st, 2009
We put in a wood-laminate floor four years ago. I asked the installer about caring for it and he said, “It’s made from the same thing your counter tops are made out of, so just take care of it like you would counter tops.” Well, to me, that just means soap and water. However, if I mop, when it dries it’s all dull and streaky with dull streaks. It looks like crap.
When I was at my daughter’s I commented on her wood laminate floors, which I know went in two years ago. They were shiny and spotless. I asked her what she used, she said nothing. She said she’s never, ever mopped…..wiped up spills, but never mopped.
So…how do I get all the old soap residue off and after that…do I just leave them be except for sweeping?
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13 Answers
Orange oil cleaner is great for shining up wood surfaces, because it’s best to buff them to make them shiny. Getting wood wet will probably only warp it and make the surface dull. The guy who put your floors in didn’t give you a great answer.
@Haleth Thank you but…it’s not wood. It just looks like wood…he said it’s made fromt the same material as your laminate countertops….
The best thing I find for laminate floors is a tiny squirt of washing up liquid and hot water
I’ve laid loads of laminate floor and we always recommended that to customers
I would use a floor cleaner designed for laminate flooring. Especially since you have to worry about warping a bit. Or try diluted vinegar to get rid of the soapy buildup.
Yeah, I was going to say vinegar, too.
@Val123 yeah just whatever you would normally do the dishes with (when not using a dishwasher)
@RareDenver But that’s what I’ve been using and they’re just…dull and streaky
@Val123 Oh… Um… Not sure then, that’s what I’ve always used and everyone I know has used on laminate and never had any problems. Are you maybe using too much washing up liquid and maybe leaving a film behind after the floor has dried? You really do just need a small squirt, I do our whole apartment with probably a quarter of what I actually use to do a sink full of dishes.
@RareDenver That really may be the problem…I’m going to try the vinegar thing to strip all the old off, then try using a tiny bit of soap in my water…..thank you.)
I was told never to use water on my laminate because it would warp it and/or cause the ‘picture of wood’ to separate from the stuff its on. Swiffer makes a cleaner but I think it sucks, is sticky and collects dirt. I recently folded back a carpet edge to paint and the difference between the covered floor and open floor is dramatic!! So I am very interested to see these answers. I have to wash it because of beasts.
@faye Most excellent answer, IMO. As I said, my daughter’s floor is immaculate after two years….and she’s never “mopped.”.... Parts of our flooring is warping from…IDK. Too much cleaning? I think I’m thinkin’, stay away from the water, unless absolutely necessary.
Swiffer sucked all the way around, in my opinion. Kitchen floors AND laminate floors. However, if you have a dry, swept, laminate floor, and only need to address literal “dust” under various pieces of furniture, it may have it’s uses…
(I have beasts too…but I’m wondering, how much of the beasty material can be swept up, and the rest spot-mopped with a wash cloth….)
@Val123 my beasts are all over my floor nothing is easy, grumble
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