Laminate flooring is preferable because it is relatively affordable compared to other materials, such as hardwood, porcelain, and ceramic. Moreover, laminate flooring is well-protected against scratches and stains. It can still give your house the high-end look of polished hardwood flooring without the high price.
However, many people tend to treat laminate flooring like its vinyl counterpart. They often use the wrong cleaning tools and products. Consequently, the finish of the floor is damaged, and the wear layer degrades faster than it is supposed to be (the average lifespan of laminate flooring is more or less a decade). Learn the correct way to care for laminate flooring below!
Dry-Mop Instead of Wet-Mop
Laminate floors use natural wood material as the base structure, which makes them vulnerable to moisture. Mold and mildew can grow on laminate floors if they are not dried properly. Therefore, you are better to dry-mop the floors instead of using the wet-mop.
Also, you can use the microfiber mop for daily sweeping. This material eliminates dust and debris without damaging the wear layer of laminate flooring. However, it does not mean that laminate flooring cannot wear out. If you spot any cupping, gaps, or warping, then you should replace the planks instead of repairing them.
You can still use solutions for laminate flooring, but the mop must be made of a material that won’t get soaked quickly and is highly-absorbent, such as sponges and foams. The most recommended solution for laminate floors is a mixture of glass cleaner and water. If you use other cleaners, you may discolor the lamination of the floors.
Vacuum the Floors
Vacuuming laminate flooring is supposed to be complementary to the dry sweeping. This combination will result in cleaner floors because some debris is stubborn enough to clean unless you use a vacuum cleaner.
Today, you have many options of vacuum cleaners. You can have the backpack model, the automatic/robotic model, and the handled model. For further info. This web contains detailed discussions regarding the upsides and downside of each vacuum model. It will be your best reference before you hit the purchase button on the online store.
Nevertheless, one thing to note is that you must not use the brush nozzles of your vacuum cleaner because they will damage the finish of the floor. Dust and debris can stick on the brush, and they can scrape the wear layer.
Decreasing the Light Exposure
The worst downside of laminate flooring is its weakness against light exposure. It will make the floors look dull and discolored. Therefore, you have to arrange your windows and any other light-entering points so that they do not illuminate the floors intensely. House lamps are still okay, but not the natural sunlight.
One way to resolve that problem is to use curtains, blinds, or shades. Those accessories enable you to let the sunlight enter your house without causing the color of laminate floors to fade.
