Guide · 2 min read
Cleaning and caring for laminate floors
How to clean laminate without damaging it, which products to use and avoid, and simple habits that keep a laminate floor looking new.
Laminate is one of the easiest floors to keep clean. The main rule is simple: as little water as possible, and nothing that leaves a film.
Daily and weekly cleaning
- Dry first. Use a soft broom, a microfibre dust mop or a vacuum cleaner with a hard-floor brush. Sand and grit are what scratch a floor.
- Then damp, not wet. Wipe with a well wrung-out microfibre mop. The floor should be dry within a minute or two.
- Use a laminate cleaner diluted as instructed, or just water. Too much detergent leaves streaks.
What to avoid
- Steam mops. Heat and steam push moisture into the joints and can make the edges swell.
- Wax, polish and oil. Laminate has a sealed melamine surface. Products meant for wood leave a sticky layer that attracts dirt.
- Abrasive cleaners and scouring pads. They dull the surface.
- Standing water. Even water-resistant laminate should be wiped dry after a spill.
Removing stains
| Stain | What to use |
|---|---|
| Coffee, wine, juice | Damp cloth, then dry |
| Grease | Lukewarm water with a little laminate cleaner |
| Shoe marks | Dry cloth or a pencil eraser |
| Paint, nail polish, glue | A little acetone on a cloth, then wipe with water |
| Chewing gum, candle wax | Let it harden with ice, then lift carefully with a plastic scraper |
Habits that protect the floor
- Put mats at outside doors so grit stays outside
- Put felt pads under chairs, tables and sofas, and replace them when they wear
- Use soft wheels on office chairs, or a chair mat
- Keep room humidity around 40–60%, especially in winter when heating dries the air
- Keep pets' nails trimmed
Small damage
Small scratches and chips can be filled with a repair kit of coloured wax sticks. A badly damaged board can be replaced; keep a few spare boards from the original order for that reason.
EasyFloors stocks cleaning and care products that are made for laminate.
Care & maintenance
Cleaners and repair kits made for laminate floors.