Can you wash laminate flooring with baking soda? How to properly care for the laminate in the apartment

It will flow faster, and the floor will keep a great look for a long time.

Many materials offered by manufacturers for flooring do not leave marks on furniture. But taking care of them at home is not easy. It is necessary to use special tools. Sometimes laminate is preferred.

Coating Features

Laminate is a flooring that is in demand among the population. It is affordable, easy to install and safe. In addition to these qualities, buyers like its appearance. The room, covered with laminate, looks cozy and presentable. He needs regular care. Laminate is made from MDF boards and decorative paper. Coated with melamine and acrylic resin. Cleaned according to special rules.

The cover is easy to care for.

Damage to laminate flooring

• Increased humidity.
• Use of rough rags, sponges and metal brushes.
• The presence of sand and pebbles on the surface.
• The use of products with chlorine and abrasive powders.

Laminate floor cleaning

First, the laminate is cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or swept with a broom.. Small grains of sand remaining on

floor, have a destructive effect on the laminated film. Gradually they wear it down.

If water gets into the panels near the baseboards or the joints of the lamellas, the coating will lose its former appearance. Soaked panels will swell, they will need to be dried thoroughly.

If the lamellas have been in the water for a long time, their edges will rise after drying. Gradually, the protruding part will begin to look ugly.

To wash the cover you will need:

• Clean warm water.
• Soft flannel or microfiber cloth.
• Laminate cleaner.
• Dishwashing gel or.
• Lemon or 9% vinegar.

You can wash the floor with a mop, preferably with a wringer. It is convenient to work with it and the coating will not be flooded with water.

In order for the result of wet cleaning to be visible, it is recommended to wash the floor taking into account the characteristics of the coating. How to add shine without divorce, every housewife wants to know. To avoid streaks, wipe the lamellas not across, but along.

How and what is better to wash laminate floors:

To prevent the laminate from losing its color saturation from the sun's rays, shade the windows with curtains or blinds.

In any house, stains can appear on the floor..

They must be removed, but not all chemicals can be used:

• Stains from ink, felt-tip pen and nail polish can be removed with a solution of acetone, ethyl alcohol or mineral spirits.
• Resin stains can be removed with an ice pack. Put on stain. Then take an ice cream stick and scrape off the resin with it. The remaining stain can be gently rubbed off with PVC window cleaner.
• Traces of alcohol can be easily removed with ordinary laundry soap. Lather up a cotton cloth and rub the stain. You can get rid of an old wine stain with an alcohol solution.
• Blood stains, wine stains can also be removed. It is sprayed on the surface and wiped with a soft cloth. After that, the napkin is washed in water and the floor is wiped dry again.
• Paraffin from a candle or chewing gum can be scraped off with a wooden scraper. Then degrease the surface and cover up the scratches. Laminate repair paste can be applied to the coating.
• Wallpaper glue can be removed with a cloth and warm water.

Cleaning with a washing vacuum cleaner

Since the coating is afraid of moisture, they are wary of washing the floor with a washing vacuum cleaner. You can safely use the unit if it is of high quality and does not leave excess moisture after cleaning.

If the vacuum cleaner does not meet these requirements, you will have to collect moisture manually. In order for household appliances to be able to wash the laminate, it must be powerful and have a special nozzle with a soft pile included.

You can use a steam cleaner. Thanks to this modern unit, it is easy to remove dust and disinfect the surface. Cleaning of the coating is carried out without chemicals, there are no streaks left. But steam penetrates into the gaps between the tiles of the coating and destroys its structure. The material is deformed.

A steam cleaner can be used to clean adhesive-type laminates.

The microfiber nozzle of the unit is folded several times and the steam supply is systematically turned on. It is contraindicated to use the method for cleaning waxed laminate flooring. The surface layer melts and deforms.

Prevent scuffs and scratches

It is undesirable to walk on laminate flooring in thin heels. Felt stickers can be attached to furniture legs.

Mats are placed on areas of intensive use. It is undesirable to allow heavy objects to fall on the floor.

Laminate cleaner

A streak-free laminate cleaner can be purchased at the store. High-quality cleaner "My sweet home" perfectly protects the coating from moisture, hides small scratches on the floor, removes drips and stains.

The drug is in the form of an aerosol. The agent is applied to the washed floor, then the laminate is gently wiped with a clean cloth. The floor treated with a cleaner shines. The smell of the product disappears in a few minutes.

The right one will ensure the beauty and shine of the coating for many years.

Attention, only TODAY!

Laminate is a very beautiful and high-quality floor covering, besides, it is easy to install. That is why when choosing a material for flooring, people often make their choice in favor of it. However, laminate flooring needs some care if you want to keep its original look for a long time. If you simply put it on the base, and then occasionally wipe it with a rag, then the material will quickly lose its appearance. To make the laminate shine, it needs special care.

To make the laminate shine - how to do it

Laminate is a floor covering that is small panels made on the basis of fibreboard. This is a multilayer material that has a paper layer on which the coating pattern is printed directly, as well as a protective top layer, which covers the paper itself.

On a note! Laminate is sometimes called laminated parquet, but this is a fundamentally erroneous idea about the material. It's all about the structure and the substances from which it is made. The parquet is made entirely of wood, while the laminate has a layered structure that contains both paper and polymers.

Laminate board - device

Benefits of laminate:

• low price;
• beautiful appearance;
• ease of installation with the help of special locks;
• the possibility of choosing different colors;
• sufficient wear resistance with proper care;
• the possibility of implementing any design solutions.

Disadvantages of laminate:

• the material requires a perfectly flat base for installation;
• needs special care;
• easily scratched;
• and, finally, the main drawback is that the material is afraid of water (with the exception of the moisture-resistant variety), which complicates wet cleaning.

Since the laminate is based on fiberboard (a material that does not tolerate moisture), such a floor needs special care. Just washing it with water will not work. If the laminate is subjected to intense moisture, it begins to lose its appearance - its edges swell, stand up, and bend. Even after drying, the material may not return to its original state, and only a complete replacement of the coating can correct the appearance of the floor.

Attention! If a flood occurs in the apartment where the laminate is laid, then with a probability of 99% the entire coating will have to be removed and thrown away. Although in some cases, if the laminate is taken apart and dried, the floors can still be saved. However, this is only possible if a high-class coating is used.

It is because of the hydrophobia that the material does not fit in the bathrooms and bathrooms. Even a slight excess of a certain level of humidity in the room will negatively affect the external condition and performance of the laminate. The period of use of the coating in this case is reduced to only 8 years.

Tarkett laminate prices

tarkett laminate

Basic rules for washing laminate, important nuances of the process

You should not wash the laminate in the same way as ordinary floors, and use untested methods and means. Fortunately, laminate has been on the market for more than a year, so certain rules have now been formed for the care of this coating.

People begin to learn about how to care for a laminate only after they have already made some mistakes or encountered certain results of improper work. For example, whitish stains appear on the surface of the coating, or the edges of the lamellas become chipped, wavy.

To prevent this from happening, you have to take care of the material in a special way.

Attention! Under no circumstances should abrasive products be used to clean laminate flooring. They will hopelessly ruin the coating, “rewarding” it with scratches.

Prices for Emsal laminate floor care product

Emsal Floor Care Laminate

If you do not take care of the laminate, then there will be a risk that the coating will fade, become covered with stains and will no longer please the owners of the house with its beauty.

How to wash laminate at home

To clean the laminate and remove stains on it, as well as to give shine, only special products should be used. Among them there are both professional preparations and folk, home-made. You can get acquainted with them by viewing the table below.

Table. Laminate cleaners.

Detergent	Description
	About 2-3 tbsp. l. of this versatile culinary remedy are diluted in a large bucket of water. It is important that it is vinegar, and not vinegar essence. Vinegar can be replaced with lemon juice or alcohol.
	Also diluted in small quantities in a bucket of water. However, do not forget about testing the resulting solution on a piece of laminate.
	These can be Bugs Mastic, K-Floor, Emsal Laminate, etc. Since the composition of the products contains special components whose action is aimed at cleansing and careful care of the laminate, they will not harm the material if used exactly as directed. Some of them do not even need to be washed off the floor surface - on the contrary, they will give the coating a shine.
	To prepare this remedy, 2 cups of vinegar and the same amount of warm water are mixed, 1 tbsp is added to them. l. lemon juice and 2 tbsp. l. dishwashing detergents. The composition will make the coating shiny, moreover, it will not damage the material.

In general, if laminate flooring has been handled with care, it can be easily cleaned with plain clean water and a soft cloth. And if any chemical agent is used to clean the coating, it is important to read the instructions for use before use and act strictly according to it - an excessively thick and saturated solution can damage the laminate.

What is needed for cleaning

Before you start cleaning laminate flooring, it is important to purchase everything that can be useful for this procedure. For cleaning you will need:

• brush or broom with soft bristles;
• mop;
• vacuum cleaner equipped with a special brush;
• sponge without abrasive side;
• a rag (you can use a microfiber cloth, flannel);
• a bucket of water at room temperature;
• means for cleaning the laminate or prepared independently according to folk recipes.

What is better not to use

When cleaning the laminate, you can not use some of the means familiar to us. They can cause irreparable damage to the coating. List of drugs that can not be used to clean the laminate:

Attention! Protective caps should be put on furniture legs, since moving a chair or any other element of the interior over the laminate can severely damage the surface by scratching it.

It is also not recommended to use a washing vacuum cleaner to clean the laminate. Yes, it is convenient for removing dirt and makes life much easier for apartment owners, but since laminate does not like water, this household appliance can cause irreparable damage to the coating.

On a note! Some modern models of floor vacuum cleaners can still be used to clean laminate flooring. It is important to clarify this point with the managers of the household appliances store when buying equipment.

How to choose the right cleanser

Among the wide variety of home cleaning products, there is an extensive range of products designed for cleaning laminate. And to choose the tool that will suit the owner of the apartment and is ideal for covering is quite difficult.

In order to make the right choice, you must:

• evaluate the form that is comfortable to work with. Funds are available in the form of shampoos, gels, powders;
• evaluate the environmental friendliness of the drug, especially if there are children in the house;
• look at the composition of the product, make sure that it does not contain substances hazardous to the coating.

Floors in rooms for different purposes are washed at different intervals. For example, in the hallway and kitchen, laminate flooring will be cleaned more often, but in other rooms you can clean it less often. However, dust in any case, even if the whole house is kept clean, will quickly settle on the floor, which increases the frequency of cleaning with water.

Luckily, there are anti-static products on the market today. Of course, they won’t save you from settling dust at all, but they will reduce its amount on the floor.

Advice! To clean the laminated surface, it is convenient to use robotic vacuum cleaners that are programmed to clean the house in the absence of the owner. They clean floors very carefully.

How to remove stains from laminate

Laminate, like any other coating, can be stained with completely different types of stains. You need to deal with them carefully and in a special way.

Table. How to remove stains from laminate.

Spot type	Removal method
White stains from cleaning products	Eliminated with any alcohol solution applied to a soft cloth.
felt-tip pen	The best remedy for such pollution is white spirit applied to a rag.
Alcohol	The best cleaning option is denatured alcohol.
Chocolate and other confectionery	A mild soap solution will do.
Black footprints from shoes	A regular eraser is used to erase traces of a pencil or a soda solution.
Fats	Regular soap will do the trick.
Ink	If the stain is fresh, it will be removed with ordinary water and a rag. If it is old, then you will have to use any laminate cleaner or ink stain remover.
Blood	Spray for washing window glass will help to defeat such a stain.

How to wash laminate - cleaning steps

Step 1. All large debris is removed with a brush or vacuum cleaner. It is important to sweep away sand, crumbs and other specks that can create an abrasive effect when washing the floor with a rag and ruin the coating. All distant corners and hard-to-reach places are well swept.

Step 2 Water at room temperature is poured into the bucket. Hot or cold liquid is not used - the first will harm both the laminate and the human hands, the second will simply be uncomfortable to use. Further, in accordance with the instructions for use, a small amount of laminate cleaner is thoroughly dissolved in water.

Step 3 A soft cloth (preferably microfiber) is dipped into the bucket and wring well. The cloth should be damp, but not damp. To begin with, a small area of ​​​​the surface is washed to make sure that the product is safe to cover.

Step 4 The rag is put on a mop, the laminate is well wiped over the entire area.

Step 5 As the fabric gets dirty, the rag should be rinsed well in clean water, wetted again with a liquid with a diluted agent. The floors continue to be cleaned of dirt.

After cleaning, the floors can be wiped with a dry soft cloth or left to dry naturally by opening the windows in the room.

Prices for washing vacuum cleaners for laminate

washing vacuum cleaner for laminate

Video - How to care for laminate flooring

Video - How and how to wash the laminate

Video - How to properly wash a moisture-resistant laminate

Cleaning laminate flooring is a simple process. The main thing is that during work all the rules for putting it in order are observed. Then the coating will last as long as possible and will not lose its beautiful appearance.

The appearance of the dwelling depends on the condition of the floor, its cleanliness and grooming. A simple wooden floor, laid out of planks, is a thing of the past. Now they offer modern coatings that are more difficult to care for. And one water with a rag will not manage. If you want to always have a beautiful floor, then you need to know how to wash the laminate and how, with what detergents.

One popular flooring is laminate. The floor is assembled from planks made of chipboard. Together they are fastened with a special lock, which makes the gap between the slats minimal. The connection of the parts of the laminate is the weak point of the coating. If moisture gets inside, the wood chip material will swell, and the floor will lead or it will swell with bumps.

In expensive types of coating, the gaps are sealed with special wax, and the slats are impregnated with a water-repellent compound to protect them from damage.

How to wash

There are cleaning rules. Every day the floor is swept, removing small debris, and wet surface treatment is needed in order to clean the rooms from dust. And here you need to have special skills in order to carry out the procedure cleanly, without streaks. It is important to choose special detergents, a rag.

Pre-cleaning

Wet cleaning begins with the cleaning of laminated surfaces from large and small litter that has accumulated in the corners of the room:

1. Hands collect pieces of plastic, glass, plasticine scattered by children.
2. Free the floor from carpets, chairs.
3. They brush dust from the wallpaper, cobwebs from the ceiling.
4. Vacuum upholstered furniture or pass over fabrics with a steam cleaner.
5. Sweep the laminate with a brush or vacuum.

Only after cleaning from dust and litter do they start washing the floor.

Basic washing rules

Laminate flooring is washed differently than regular wood flooring. Yes, you will need a bucket of water and a rag, but the difference is in the amount of water and the quality of the rag. Not all detergents can be used for wet cleaning laminate flooring.

Minimum amount of water

You can wash the laminate with a minimum of liquid. Enough up to 3-4 liters of clean water. Too hot can not be used, only slightly cooled. You will have to change the water several times as it gets dirty.

soft rag

The rag determines how much water gets on the floor. It is necessary that it is well wrung out and there is not much moisture left in it. Drainage of liquids on the laminate will lead to severe wetting of the planks, damaging them. It is best to choose a microfiber cloth. Old T-shirts, parts of a flannel robe will not work, as they will leave stains on the coating.

open windows

After wet cleaning, it is important that the liquid evaporates faster from the surface of the laminated coating. Therefore, it is necessary to open the windows in the warm season. In the off-season, rainy weather, you can turn on the fan for 15-20 minutes.

Special detergents

With the addition of detergents to the water, the condition of the floor changes, its appearance for the better. The release of special concentrates for washing the laminate will not damage the surface, but make it smooth and radiant.

Mellerud Bio

Means without problems copes with strong pollution, stains of fat. Surfaces after repair are treated with a biological product so that the laminate shines. The advantage of the product is the possession of water-repellent properties. With regular use, it creates a film on the coating that prevents the penetration of dust and dirt particles.

Emsal Laminate

The advantages of the product include:

• high quality;
• safety, environmental friendliness;
• economy.

Suitable for removing all types of dirt, acts gently on the surface of the laminate.

Pronto

It contains tall oil fatty acids and mild detergents that will polish the laminate. Suitable for all types of floors. They can also wash the wooden surfaces of windows and doors.

HG

Laminol

If the floor is heavily soiled, then wash it with a liquid alkaline concentrate. The use of the concentrate allows:

• soften water;
• prevent the growth of bacteria;
• give the floor a shine
• clean the coating without subsequent washing with clean water.

Dilute the product in a ratio of 1:80, for general cleaning - 1:40. It is better to use the liquid with gloves or wash your hands thoroughly after using the solution.

Household floor cleaners

Conventional detergents are also used in wet cleaning of laminate flooring. You just need to choose those that act gently.

Mr Proper

One of the most popular universal cleaning products used by housewives. After washing with it, a pleasant smell of freshness remains, a clean floor without streaks or streaks. The liquid is harmless, economical, although expensive.

Glorix

After adding liquid to water, foam does not form. Having a disinfecting effect, the washing concentrate makes the laminate shiny, perfectly clean. The disadvantage is the pungent odor emitted by the liquid. But he quickly disappears. Use rubber gloves when handling the solution.

Meine Liebe

The tool is distinguished by its versatility. Gently cleans laminate and parquet surfaces. The product has a pleasant smell, as sandalwood essential oil has been added to it. It does not contain aggressive components such as chlorine, phosphates.

Luxus

Suitable for fast and effective cleaning of laminate floors without damaging the coating structure. If you wash your laminate flooring regularly with this product, you can prevent the appearance of surface wear.

Grass

The safe formula of the concentrate is especially suitable for laminate flooring. Cleaning solution put the floor in order, making it shiny, smooth, without plaque. The tool has a polishing effect.

Sarma

They release liquid in order to not only make the floor clean, sparkling, but also disinfect it by 100%. In addition, the advantage of the product is its pleasant smell, delicacy of action.

Solution with vinegar

If it is not possible to purchase an expensive chemical concentrate, then you can wash the laminated planks with a damp cloth soaked in a solution of white vinegar. It is important not to overdo it with acid. The composition should be adjusted to 3-9%. It is enough for 10 liters of water only 200 milliliters. If you take vinegar essence at 70%, then you need to take 20 milliliters.

double pass

One pass with a damp cloth across the floor will not be enough. First, wash with a solution of detergent. After changing the water, wipe it with a clean cloth.

It is necessary to wring out the fabric in such a way as to leave a minimum of liquid on it. Wipe floor surfaces dry.

Hot water

For laminate it is better to take water at a temperature of 40-50 degrees. It can be a little hotter so that the laminate dries faster. Also, from hot water there will be no stains on the floor, from cold they will be sure.

Route

It is necessary to start washing the floor from the corners, the wall opposite the door. Carefully spend a mop on the floor, wipe the baseboards with your hands. Finish with a section before leaving the premises.

Parallel to the planks

Wipe with a damp cloth along the strips, not across. So you can avoid the appearance of white stripes on the floor.

Polishing with a dry cloth

When the floor dries a little, it is necessary to polish it with a dry cloth. Then moisture will not get into the gaps between the planks, and the coating will remain intact. 1-2 times a year, the surfaces of the laminate are treated with polish.

Rag selection

The best rag for laminate flooring would be:

• soft, fleecy;
• without buttons;
• hard threads.

It is worth allocating funds for the purchase of a special rag made of microfiber. It is universal in purpose and will not damage the floor. It can be put on a mop. If the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe dwelling is large, then it is easier to clean with a special mop. It comes with a matching rag.

Washing vacuum cleaner and steam cleaner

Washing vacuum cleaners have many advantages, in addition to wet cleaning. But they rarely need to be washed with laminated coatings, as moisture can get inside and spoil the appearance of the floor.

Wet cleaning with a steam cleaner is more efficient because the dirt is better cleaned off without damaging the laminate. The requirements for the application of the device are that the coating must be:

• without damage and large gaps between the slats;
• smeared with special wax at the joints;
• under a protective layer of class 33 or 34.

When using household appliances, you must use them in accordance with the instructions.

What can't be used

There are a number of prohibitions that are observed when wet washing a laminated coating. You need to know that some substances will damage the floor surface, and then it will be completely damaged.

Bleach

On top of the floor planks are covered with acrylic lacquer, light or dark. If you add a lot of "Whiteness" containing chlorine to the water, you can ruin the coating.

Acid and alkali

A high concentration of acetic acid acts aggressively on the laminate. If you like to wash the floor with laundry soap, then you need to add it a little. The alkali in the soap can corrode the top film of the laminate.

Ammonia

Ammonia removes stains on wooden floors. But for a laminated coating, it is better not to use this solution. It will be replaced by a modern detergent.

polish

It is necessary to use polishing liquid rarely, no more than 2 times a year. If you use it often, then more dust will accumulate on the floor.

abrasive powders

Scratches will appear on the laminate floor when dirt or stains are cleaned with Pemolux powders. Cleaning pastes will ruin the surfaces so that you have to re-lay the planks.

very wet cloth

It is easy to ruin the coating if you run a rag soaked in water on it. Excess water will get under the laminate. Moisture will cause the wood chips to swell. Correcting the situation will be impossible.

Professionals advise to tidy up the laminate 1-2 times a week:

• washing with the addition of special detergents for the floor;
• without the use of powders, pastes with abrasive particles, hard brushes;
• a rag made of soft, moisture-absorbing fabrics;
• clean water without adding acid, high concentration alkali;
• twice, first with a damp cloth, then dry;
• manually or in rare cases with the connection of a washing vacuum cleaner and a steam cleaner.

Carry out wet cleaning of the floor as it gets dirty, but at least 1 time per week. Clean with a vacuum cleaner or broom every day. Dark coatings should be washed so that there are no whitish spots and stripes, a cloudy coating on them.

Difficult cases

Stains on the floor appear in families with small children. Yes, and adults can drip brilliant green, iodine, wax from a candle on the floor. Then before washing the floor it is necessary to eliminate the damage.

Zelenka

To remove a fresh stain from a tincture of brilliant green or iodine, try with a cloth, soaking it in an alcohol solution. Wipe thoroughly until completely removed. You can clean the stain with a 50/50 mixture of methanol and water.

Mold

Areas of mold cover the floor in damp corners, on baseboards. Gently remove greenish and whitish fleecy stains by wiping the floor dry. A mixture of 1 part salicylic acid and 4 parts wine vinegar will help. It is necessary to treat with a solution of sodium chloride (100 grams of salt per glass of water) to prevent the appearance of mold.

Dye

Stains should be washed with a solvent or white spirit. Wipe carefully, trying not to touch the surface next to the stain. Old dried paint can be gently scraped off with a scraper.

Glue

Treat droplets of glue with a cloth soaked in gasoline or solvent. Put ice cubes on the spilled glue spot. The hardened mass will be easier to clean off.

Candle wax, chewing gum

Put a bag of ice cubes on the spots. The pieces of material are then carefully scraped off.

Blood

Wash stains immediately with cold water. After the procedure, they are carried out over the area with a dry cloth.

After renovation

The repair of the premises is carried out necessarily with the protection of the laminated coating with a film, newspapers. But particles of building dust cover the laminate, no matter how hard they try to protect the floor from their penetration. It is necessary to immediately remove construction debris with a dry soft brush. And wipe the laminate with a damp cloth, changing the water several times.

Fat

Grease stains are fought with a mixture of washing powder, thickly kneading it with water. The gruel is applied to the stain, leaving it overnight. Wash with warm water in the morning. A dark laminate may leave a light spot that can be polished.

Old fat is removed with turpentine. They moisten the stain, then sprinkle with talc. Blotting paper or a napkin is placed on top and ironed with a hot iron. If the stain does not immediately disappear, you need to repeat the procedure.

Laminate Care

Caring for a natural finish is easy. Necessary:

1. Every day wipe with a dry cloth or sweep the floor surface with a soft brush.
2. After carrying out wet cleaning, pass again with a dry cloth along the planks.
3. Refuse to walk on the floor in shoes with heels.
4. Put a mat at the door so as not to scratch the floor with sand or dirt particles. You can not lay rugs on a rubberized basis, otherwise it is difficult to remove the stains formed under them later.
5. Immediately remove water, stains from the coating.
6. Regularly check the condition of the central heating battery tap, preventing a possible leak.
7. Stick protective felt on the legs of the chairs.
8. Avoid painting the floor with varnish or paint.

If you monitor the operation of the laminate, take care of the coating, then it will need to be changed less often.

Answers on questions

Many housewives ask questions related to the care of the laminate. It is necessary to remember what is best to follow:

• use detergents adapted to the coating for washing the floor;
• refuse to use chlorine-containing "Whiteness";
• matte plaque on the laminate can be removed by rubbing with a solution of water and vinegar;
• wipe the coating several times, first with a damp cloth, then with a dry one.

From household chemicals for washing planks, you can not use Domestos. This aggressive agent will damage the flooring. Heavily soiled areas of the laminate should be washed several times with the help of those products that are designed specifically for this type of floor.

Cleanliness and order, which are maintained at home, are the merit of a good housewife. To make it easier for her to clean, certain household appliances are produced - helpers, as well as good detergents and cleaning products.

A floor covering, for example, a laminate, can suffer from some detergents, therefore, for high-quality cleaning, the hostess needs to use only reliable and proven products, and also know how to wash the laminate so that there are no streaks and it does not deteriorate from household chemicals.

Detergent selection

Each floor covering has its own key characteristics. In laminate, the main technical indicators are: a wood base and a protective film layer that protects the decorative coating.

The diagram shows the arrangement of the laminate plank in section.

Do not use scouring powders for washing, which will damage the protective film of this coating.

Like any other protection, the top film has its weak points. An unsuitable scouring powder can damage the protective surface of the flooring and moisture can eventually penetrate the pressed wood layer.

This will damage the coating. Therefore, it is required to choose a washing powder that is harmless to the protective film, since only such a product can properly wash the laminate.

As a rule, laminate care products can be purchased at the same store.

As a rule, when buying a product, you can consult with specialists on such an issue as cleaning a particular coating.

A good sales manager will always tell you which of the household chemicals you can wash the laminate without streaks and harm to the protective layer.

If you cannot find out such information from the seller, then you can use those of the funds that are produced specialized for cleaning the laminate with an inscription on the package indicating this.

For the right choice, you need to know some of the advantages and characteristics that a suitable product should have.

1. A quality 1 liter laminate care product should last up to 3 or 4 months of constant cleaning.
2. A good cleaning powder has a pleasant, fresh smell. It should not smell of chemistry sharply and badly. Also in its functions, in addition to cleaning dirt, there should be resistance to dust formation. After cleaning, the surface of the flooring should repel dust, and not accumulate it.
3. In addition to dusting, a good laminate care product can form a water-repellent film that will prevent moisture from attacking the laminate.
4. A streak-free laminate cleaner is also of higher quality than the regular one.

Do not use harsh chemicals to clean laminate flooring. Analogues of such cleaners as sanita and whiteness can damage the surface of the floor covering sufficiently, which will lead to its deformation and swelling.

Use products without abrasives and chlorine

Sometimes, instead of understanding the intricacies of how to do something right, it’s better to learn how not to do it so as not to make mistakes. When wet cleaning, the following steps are not recommended.

1. It is important not to use cleaning materials that contain abrasive components. This type of detergent is designed for tougher floors than laminate. Its protective layer will not withstand such contact and will be damaged.
2. Chlorine-containing mixtures also corrode the top coating of the laminate. They enter into a chemical reaction with the protective coating, and it is destroyed.
3. The use of modern steam cleaners is prohibited. Jets of hot steam will penetrate through the joints of the panels under the laminate and condense on the substrate. The formed moisture will begin to be absorbed into the material, and it will be damaged.
4. The glossy surface of the laminate can also suffer from compounds containing alkali and acid. After the use of such products, the decorative glossy coating may fade.

Sweep away debris before washing

For more professional cleaning, you can use the following tips.

1. Laminate floors should always be swept before wet cleaning. Small particles of sand and other poorly visible hard materials will scratch the coating. Damaged dampness can penetrate into the scratches formed.
2. It is better to give priority to specialized products for washing laminate flooring. The instruction for each of them is individual. Before use, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with it and strictly follow it.
3. Since it is relatively difficult to wash the laminate so that there are no streaks, after wet cleaning, the floors can be rubbed with a dry microfiber mop, which will absorb the remaining moisture and make the surface shiny.
4. The recommended frequency of light damp cleaning of laminate flooring is once every 2 days. Of course, you can reduce the number of operations to 2 times a week or increase to 4, depending on the pollution of the floors and the frequency of people passing through. For more information on how to wash laminate without streaks, see this video:

The chemical composition of tap water may not be entirely suitable for coating. When neutralizing substances harmful to the protective layer of the floor covering in water, table vinegar, alcohol or citric acid are added to it in small amounts of 2 tablespoons.

Folk remedies for the care of laminate

At home, in the absence of the necessary funds, you can use improvised compositions.

For example, a specialized laminate cleaner can be replaced with baby soap or a household solution in warm water.

The ingredients listed below are also suitable, which you can easily prepare yourself at home.

Sometimes folk remedies show fairly high-quality results in comparison with expensive detergent compositions. In terms of effectiveness and cost, folk remedies can be more profitable than purchased solutions for laminate care.

The service life of a floor covering directly depends on how it is operated and what kind of care is provided for it. For a coating such as laminate, cleaning has a fairly strong effect.

Using the wrong products can ruin the protective layer, and with it the entire coating. Careful care using the right products will help maintain a wonderful appearance of the coating for many years to come.

In recent years, laminate is perhaps the most popular flooring finish. But it requires special care, as it is different from all others. And before you wash the laminate, you should find out its features and rules of care.

Caring for laminate flooring

In order to understand how to properly care for a laminate, you need to know how and what it is made of. A film with a pattern is glued onto the base, which resembles a very dense and hard cardboard. A protective laminating film made of a transparent polymer is glued on top of it. That is why this type of coating is called a laminate - because of the film lamination.

The laminate pattern is protected by a polymer film a fraction of a millimeter thick

There can be one or two layers of film on the laminate. The durability of the pattern and its resistance to abrasion depend on the strength and thickness of the film. And if the film has already been rubbed, then the pattern is also erased. It is impossible to restore the coating over a large area, and small damage is. But this requires special tools. If the surface is rubbed, you can only replace the damaged fragment with a new one. To do this, you often have to iterate over the entire coverage. Fortunately, it usually resolves without any problems.

So, in a laminate, a polymer film is responsible for strength and durability. As you understand, the material is chosen durable. And it is precisely by the strength of the protective coating that it is divided into classes. The thinnest layer is for household, the thickest and most resistant to abrasion is for office. But within each group there are abrasion classes, which are indicated by numbers. The higher the number, the more durable the protective coating. But keep in mind that the price of resistant ones is higher.

How and with what to wash the laminate so that it is shiny and not dull

No matter how durable the laminating coating is, if certain rules are not followed, scratches appear sooner or later. So. To ensure that the laminate does not lose its luster, care should be taken to ensure that there are as few scratches as possible and that they appear as late as possible. What causes scratches on laminate flooring? When there is sand on it, which scratches the protective coating. To avoid this, at the entrance to the house, apartment, put anti-splash mats. Mats or rugs woven from jute fiber work great. The sand in them wakes up and lies under the rug.

Second moment. It is necessary to wash the laminate after all the debris has been collected with a vacuum cleaner. Preferably with a vacuum cleaner, not a broom. A broom in combination with sand actively scratches the surface. So at least inexpensive, but the vacuum cleaner should be.

How to wash the laminate: the choice of fixtures

The most common option is a mop with a telescopic handle and a microfiber cloth. This material absorbs water well, picks up small debris, dust. When using microfiber, you can wring it out well and wipe the floor almost dry. Or you can have two rags, and wipe dry after washing.

Laminate is easier to care for with a modern mop

The rag with which the laminate is washed should be washed after each cleaning with a detergent (possible for dishes) and dried. And about once a month you can wash it in the washing machine. In this case, you do not need to change them often. A good one costs a lot, so it’s better to keep it in good condition, and it can serve for several years.

What to add to water so that there are no streaks

In order to ensure that the appearance of the coating is preserved, the laminate can be wiped with a damp cloth. Frankly wet, with which water drips, it’s better not to. It is based on pressed cellulose, and if it gets wet, it does not retain its shape after drying. In order to worry less about getting wet, the laminate can be treated with special silicone. The tool is not cheap, but allows you to keep the attractiveness of the coating longer. Silicone is distributed in the thinnest layer and protects not only the joints, but also the film.

And so that after washing the floor there are no traces or stains, you can add a little detergent for washing the laminate floor to the water. Like Mister Proper, Mister Muscle and the like. But you can also find less advertised brands that perform their functions just as well, but are cheaper. In addition, you can use improvised means. Here is what is added to the water for washing the laminate without streaks:

Remove dust and give the laminate shine, you can use simple and inexpensive auxiliaries

• Add a little fabric softener to the water. This is how easy it is to make the laminate shiny and remove all the dust. The fabric softener contains some kind of additive that prevents the buildup of static. And this means that the dust does not "stick" to the laminate, but remains on the rag when you rinse it.
• Add a little detergent, then wipe dry with a clean cloth.
• Add a pinch of salt to the water.
• A little bit of vinegar. About half a cup per bucket of water.
• You can use salt and vinegar.

If you need to give shine to a dull laminate, then add a little vegetable oil to the water. A little is a couple of tablespoons per bucket of water. Don't worry, the floor won't be greasy or slippery. But it will shine more and there will be no divorce. The same technique with oil helps to remove traces of construction dust. In general, try.

In order not to have to restore the laminate, it is better to periodically rub it with a special agent with silicone

There is another focus. Wash the laminate without streaks with hot water. Not boiling water, but so that the hand endures, but it is hot. Add the product you like and wash with a well-wrung warm cloth. Hot water evaporates very quickly, so there are no streaks left.