Mopping laminate? Tips you won't have heard before

A beautiful laminate floor really completes the look of your interior, but regular care is key to keeping its shine. In this in-depth article, we share essential tips and tricks for cleaning your laminate floor and making it shine, so it's not only cleaner but looks as good as new too.

Why regular care matters

Regular care is one of the foundations of a laminate floor that looks perfect. Removing dirt and dust every day prevents wear and keeps your floor's original shine. It's also important to mop your laminate floor regularly with the right cleaning product. And use a mop that doesn't leave the floor too wet.

Let's get straight into cleaning your floor. Here's a step-by-step guide to cleaning your laminate floor with the right products.

Step-by-step guide to mopping a laminate floor

1. Start by vacuuming your laminate floor

A soft broom or a vacuum cleaner with a suitable parquet brush is ideal for clearing dust and dirt from your laminate floor. Don't forget to go over the corners and edges thoroughly to stop dirt building up. When we mop and steam in a moment, we don't want dust in our mop. It's also a good idea to do the skirting boards. They collect a lot of dust, which can make your floor dirty again in no time.

2. Optional: use a steam cleaner to kill bacteria

Once you've vacuumed, it's time to give your laminate floor a thorough clean. For this, we use a steam cleaner that's suitable for laminate. Steam cleaners aren't just sustainable, they're also highly effective. They clean deep down using controlled steam pressure. After all, you bring all sorts of things in from outside, so your floor needs a deep clean. 

Tip: take a look at the Techweise range of steam cleaners for laminate.

One advantage of steam cleaning is that the steam kills bacteria and lifts stubborn dirt without damaging the laminate surface. You also don't need any chemical cleaners, because the hot steam does all the work. That makes it really sustainable and effective!

2.1 Prefer to mop? Choose the right cleaning product for your type of floor

Don't have a steam cleaner (yet)? Mopping is also a great way to clean your laminate floor. Just make sure you use laminate cleaner and no other soap products. Always mop with cold water too, as hot water evaporates faster than soap and leaves greasy soap residue on the floor.

Always use a good mop for the best results when cleaning a laminate floor. The microfibre mop pads absorb dirt and liquids thoroughly, while the flexible pad reaches every corner of the floor. This mop also has a wringing system, so you can decide how dry the pads are.

2.2 Mop with cold water instead of warm water

When you mop with warm water, the water can evaporate faster than the soap residue. This leaves soap behind on the floor, which can cause streaks. Cold water evaporates more slowly, so the mop picks up more of the soap residue instead of leaving it on the floor. The result is a cleaner, streak-free finish.  

3. Let the floor dry

Once the floor is free of dirt and bacteria, it's important to let it dry properly. Try not to walk on it yet. If you do, you'll make the floor dirty again and risk streaks.

Tips to prevent damage to your floor

Accidents happen, but with the right know-how you can tackle stains effectively and prevent them. You'll also avoid lasting damage to your laminate floor, such as swelling.

1. Act fast on spills

Deal with spills straight away to stop the liquid soaking in and possibly staining. Use an absorbent cloth and dab gently. Don't use chemical cleaning products, as they can dull the shine of your floor.

2. Prevent scratches with felt pads

Put protective felt pads under furniture legs to stop scratches on your laminate floor. It also helps to lift chairs rather than slide them across the floor when you sit down at the table. That way, you'll enjoy your laminate floor for many more years.

Follow these practical tips for cleaning a laminate floor and you'll keep it looking good. Your laminate floor will last a lot longer too. 

Browse Techweise's range of steam cleaners for laminate.