When you look at a laminated floor, it’s hard to imagine that it’s just a photograph of wood underneath, but that’s exactly what it is.
In most cases, the picture is adhered to melamine, which is followed by particleboard, and finally, the entire strip is coated with aluminum oxide.
The aluminum oxide coating gives the floor the appearance of being made of wood, but according to the specialists at Lamanator Plus, it is actually four times stronger than wood.
Even though laminate flooring offers the same appealing appearance as hardwood floors but requires less maintenance, it still needs to be cared for on a routine basis in order to keep its shine. Read this post to pick up some useful hints and pointers on how to maintain the luster of your laminate flooring.
Protect the Laminate Floor
Put rugs with a rubber backing at any door that leads into a room that has laminate flooring. This will prevent dirt from damaging the floor by preventing it from making contact with it.
In order to protect the floor from scratches, they attached felt pads to the legs of the furniture that was already there, particularly the dining room chairs that are moved around the floor on a regular basis.
When you clean, use a dry dust mop or vacuum cleaner rather than a broom. Brooms can leave behind tiny scratches that, over time, can add up to create a cumulative effect that makes the laminate appear less shiny.
Keep it Clean
Regularly dust-mopping with a dry mop or vacuuming the floor will prevent the laminate from being scratched by dirt particles. Even though the scratches are very minor, they give the impression that the floor is dull from a distance.
It is possible that you will need to sweep or vacuum the floor every day, depending on the amount of foot traffic it receives and the nature of that foot traffic, such as from crawling babies or pets.
It is also helpful in preventing the accumulation of dirt in the floor’s scratches and grooves to use a damp mop to clean the floor.
Remove Built-Up Residue
If you clean the floor with a product such as oil soap, for example, it is possible that the product can build up over time and leave a residue on the laminate.
There are several cleaning agents that leave streaks, which reduces the luster of the surface.
Using a solution of one cup of vinegar to one gallon of water, remove any built-up residue. If the residual layer is especially dense, you might need to use undiluted vinegar applied to a cloth to remove it.
It is inconvenient to have to wipe the floor on your hands and knees, but the laminate will look brand new after the residue is removed.
Additional Tips
When cleaning the laminate floor, only use a mop that is barely damp because excessive water can leave streaks.
Following the use of the mop, dry the floor with a towel made of microfiber or terry cloth to absorb any remaining moisture and to buff the finish. When the towel starts to get wet, switch to another towel that is dry.
A putty knife or a plastic scraper can be used to remove stains such as candle wax or chewing gum off surfaces. Do not make deep incisions into the finish; rather, use a light scraping motion to remove the substance off the floor.
After that, wipe away any residue that may have been left behind with a towel that has been dipped in nail polish remover.
