Introduction – Homemade Laminate Floor Cleaner
You own a laminate floor and you want to make a natural, DIY, eco-friendly, homemade laminate floor cleaner with home materials. We’ll talk in general ways to take care of laminate flooring and show you a simple way to clean it.
Laminate floors are a popular choice for homeowners because they look like real wood and feel like it too. However, no matter how luxurious your laminate flooring looks, you still need to clean it regularly. Fortunately, cleaning laminate floors is easier than you might think.
There are some common mistakes people make when trying to keep their floors looking fresh and new though so we’ve put together this guide to help you avoid them. Finally we talk about DIY cleaners that you can make at home.
Composition Of Laminate And Its Care
Laminate flooring is usually made of several layers of synthetic material that are fused together. The top layer is a transparent layer of wear-resistant paper that is printed with a pattern that looks like wood or stone. Underneath this is a layer of high-density fiberboard (HDF) which is made from wood fibers compressed together with a resin. The bottom layer is a balancing layer of melamine resin and cork.
What To Avoid When Cleaning Laminate Floors
When cleaning laminate floors, it is important to avoid the following things:
- Vinegar – you might want to reconsider vinegar because of the smell otherwise it’s ok because it won’t leave a sticky residue
- Abrasive cleaners – these will scratch off the top layer of laminate flooring, causing it to look dull and worn out very quickly after being cleaned this way just once or twice
Ways to Bring Back the Shine to Your Laminate Floors
If you’ve got laminate floors, you’ve probably noticed that they tend to be less shiny than hardwood. There are ways of bringing back that shine and making your laminate floor look as good as new. To keep your laminate floors looking their best, here are the most important things to remember:
- Damp mop – mop your floors with a cleaning solution, such as vinegar and water. This will remove grime and make your floor look brighter. Use a sustainable and eco-friendly mop to further enhance the efficiency of your homemade cleaner.
- Vacuum – use a vacuum on the floors regularly. This will prevent dust from settling on them, which dulls the shine.
- Cleaning – When you clean your laminate floors, it’s important not to use too much pressure when vacuuming. This will help prevent premature wear and dulling of the finish. You should also avoid steam cleaners and cleaning products that are not specifically designed for laminate floors.
- Drying – Make sure drying is completed as quickly as possible after any spills or accidents happen so as not to damage your flooring’s finish or sealer over time. Make sure the floor stays dry also. Constant moisture is a surefire way to warp the very thin material.
- Furniture-proof – Add soft felt pads to the feet of your furniture to prevent them from scratching the surface.
What To Put Into A Homemade Laminate Floor Cleaner
You can clean laminate floors with a variety of household items. Here are some ideas for the best ways to clean laminate flooring:
- Dish soap and warm water. If you want to keep it simple, use dish soap and warm water. The suds from your cleaning agent will lift dirt and grime from your floors, and then you can rinse them away using a damp mop or cloth.
- Vinegar. To get rid of tough stains on laminate floors, dilute white vinegar with equal parts water in a spray bottle (you may want to test this first by spraying an inconspicuous area). You can also use straight vinegar as long as it’s diluted enough not to damage your flooring—this will help loosen up stuck-on dirt so it’s easier to wipe up later on!
- Baking soda and warm water. Mix together baking soda with warm water until the mixture forms a paste; this makes an excellent scrubbing solution that won’t scratch up your floors while still being strong enough for removing tough stains like wine spills or pet accidents! Do not mix vinegar and baking soda because that will neutralize both substances.
How To Make A Homemade Laminate Floor Cleaner
Ok, with the basics out of the way, lets get into the main topic. Here’s how to make a homemade laminate floor cleaner:
- Mix equal parts vinegar and water.
- Add a few drops of dish soap to the mixture, then stir well until it’s thoroughly mixed together (you can use both liquid or powder dish soap).
- Apply your solution with either a sponge or cloth, and then let the floor dry before walking on it (this will help prevent you from damaging your floors).
Best Commercial Laminate Cleaners For Restoring Shine
Ok, after reading all of that, maybe you decide that you don’t want to go through the trouble of making your own cleaner, check out these three choices that are commercially available online or at a store.
These are also designed specifically to restore shine to laminate floors. They’re often referred to as laminate floor polish or laminate floor restorers. These products are designed to fill in small scratches and to add a protective layer to your floor that brings back the shine.
1. Bona Stone, Tile & Laminate Cleaner
Bona Stone, Tile & Laminate Cleaner is a great commercial laminate floor cleaner. It was developed with a unique formula that removes dirt and grime from the surface of your laminate floors without damaging them.
Bona’s unique formula is non-abrasive and doesn’t leave behind any residue, making it perfect for both indoor and outdoor use. It’ll also keep your floors looking great.
This cleaner can be used on all types of flooring surfaces including terrazzo or concrete, ceramic tile floors, sealed hardwood floors (with no gloss), vinyl linoleum or rubber tiles, linoleum tiles, cork flooring (with no gloss), sealed bamboo wood floors (with no gloss), marble stone slabs/tiles/marble mosaics/stone mosaics.
2. Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner
Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner is a user-friendly and effective cleaning solution that works on a variety of wood and laminate flooring types. Its biodegradable and hypoallergenic formula is safe around children and pets, making it ideal for family households while also appealing to eco-conscious consumers.
The bamboo scent offers a pleasant alternative to the strong chemical odors of many cleaners, although scent preferences can vary among individuals.
Offering easy application and effective cleaning results, this cleaner successfully maintains the appearance and longevity of floors, although its scent may not be universally appealing. Overall, it’s a versatile, eco-friendly, and effective cleaning product worth considering.
3. Rejuvenate All Floors Restorer and Polish
Rejuvenate All Floors Restorer and Polish is a product that will work great on all types of floors. It can be used on any hard surface, including stone, tile, and even laminate. This product is specifically designed to brighten the appearance of your flooring and restore its original beauty.
The bottle itself comes with an easy-to-use sprayer so you don’t have to worry about spilling it or getting it everywhere while you’re applying it. Once applied, this cleaner and polish should not be left out in direct sunlight as this may cause discoloration over time.
You should apply Rejuvenate All Floors Restorer once a week for best results, but if you want to increase the shine of your laminate flooring then you can apply this product twice a month for an added boost.
When using this cleaner be sure not to allow any excess water droplets from other areas such as rugs onto your freshly cleaned floors; doing so could cause permanent damage due to how acidic some cleaning solutions are (such as ammonia).
4. Stardrops – The Pink Stuff – The Miracle All Purpose Floor Cleaner
Stardrops – The Pink Stuff is a versatile, all-purpose cleaner known for effectively removing grease and grime with no need for rinsing. Each pack contains two 33.8 Fl Oz bottles, offering a generous supply for various cleaning tasks.
Stardrops – The Pink Stuff is not only a versatile cleaner but also highly effective on laminate floors. It cuts through grease and grime, leaving laminate surfaces spotless and streak-free without the need for rinsing.
The cleaner’s formula is gentle on laminate, ensuring the floor’s finish and shine are maintained. Homeowners appreciate its ease of use and the fresh, clean scent it leaves behind, making laminate floor cleaning a breeze.
Conclusion
Laminate floors are a great investment. They offer durability, affordability and easy maintenance. But cleaning them can be tricky at times.
You need to know what kind of products you should use on laminate floors and how often you should do it so they stay looking their best.
The simplest to take care of it is to vacuum it regularly and use a damp mop to clean it. Avoid using too much water when mopping, and make sure to use a cleaning solution that is specifically designed for laminate flooring. Avoid using too much wax or polish, and don’t use any abrasive cleaners.
