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When it comes to flooring options that are economical, convenient, durable and good looking, nothing fits better than the laminates. They offer plenty of benefits and look elegant for any setting.
Also, the rightly chosen laminate floors give a rich appeal to a room and are relatively better than other floorings. All these factors make laminate flooring to popular and widely used.
Laminate floors are alike wooden floors in looks, but are fairly better in handling stains, splits and other mishaps. The protective coat prevents the liquids from seeping in and also keeps the dirt from spoiling the look.
Most of the stains are just on the surface and do not ruins the bulk of the flooring material. With that said, this does not mean you get a free ticket from cleaning.
Over time, the laminates become sticky and dirty, unless maintained properly. This, in turn, affects the appearance and kills the benefits.
But you don’t have to worry about it and you definitely shouldn’t consider replacing that flooring. As with these simple steps, you can fix it all.
Here is thehousewire guide on how to clean your laminate flooring and keep them safe from scratches and harsh stains.
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Regular Sweeping to Remove Dirt and Grit
Through the day, dirt and grit from around – your shoes, open windows or anywhere from matter, enter your house and settles on the floor.
These settlements if not cleared can accumulate and damp the look of your flooring. Thus, regular cleaning is essential.
Furthermore, you should be considerate of your sweeping practice. The use of wet mops can leave with wiping streaks or even scratch the surface.
Instead, use a dust mop or microfiber mop to clear these, or a vacuum cleaner with soft attachments.
The ones with rolling brushes might damage the flooring. Before working on the stains, it is important you remove these particles.
Get to it Before it Too Late
The best way to protect your laminate from stains is to get it off while you can. If you have spill wine, cream, paint, glue or anything for that matter, don’t let it rest.
Quickly grab an absorbent cloth and dab off as much possible. Just be careful – you need to dab off and not wipe, else you might spread it.
But, if you had somewhere else to be and now that the stain has dried up, the next best way is to try and scrape it off using a plastic (non-abrasive) scraper.
Using the Right Cleaner is Important
Just like every laminate flooring is different, so it is the cleaning products. Not all types of cleaning products would work on your laminate; instead, they could ruin it.
You might find a lot of options for cleaning agents in fancy bottles, but floor laminates have varying protective coats and chemical surface, which may react differently with the cleaner, leading to damages.
Be cautious in the products you use and how you use them.
Water and Laminates Aren’t a Good Combination
Water and liquids are bad for laminate flooring. If there is too much water or any other liquid, it seeps through the gaps or scratches and ruins the bulk of your laminates.
Also, liquids laying on the laminate surface for a long time can affect the glossy finish, leave tough stains and spoil the rich look of the surface.
Therefore, make sure you wipe off the liquids as soon as possible. Also, when cleaning, keep the use of water to the minimal and use sprays and damp cloth or sponge when cleaning stains.
Handling Stains with In-house Ingredients
For the daily life stains like ink and dyes, wine, oil, etc., you don’t have to run around looking for industrial cleaning products.
The remedy for these is available in your kitchen and garage. Rubbing alcohol and acetone are highly effective in removing such stains.
Simply spray some rubbing alcohol on the stain and use a microfiber cloth to wipe the stain. While working with these chemicals, make sure you put on gloves and mask to protect yourself against any fumes.
Don’t be too vigorous while rubbing off the stains, because if you damage the protective and gloss layer, the surface would become dull.
For quick cleaning, a 1:1 mix of water and vinegar is your best friend. So, if you have any small stains or patches use this mix and wipe it off.
For the tough ones, you can make a smooth baking soda paste and apply it on the stain for overnight. Just be gentle when wiping as baking soda can be a bit abrasive.
Though it may seem like a lot of work to maintain laminate flooring, it is all worth for the elegant look and convenience it offers. With a little care and caution, you can prolong the life of your flooring.
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