Use equal parts water, white vinegar, and rubbing alcohol together in a squirt bottle to clean laminated floors. Use a soft towel or microfiber cloth. The rubbing alcohol will make floor dry quick and not leave a film or spotting.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
My other half tried to remove a light scratch from our new matte finish laminate floor using an abrasive cleaner (cif), which has now resulted in an unsightly and obvious shiny patch. Is there any way of restoring the matte finish?
By Amanda F
When I had my darker color Pergo laminate flooring put in just last week, the installer told me to buy a brown sharpie and if I got a scratch, use the sharpie and then wipe it in. I've tried about everything advised to clean the floor and nothing has worked yet. The best I've got is using Windex and a cleaned swifter damp cloth on the swifter mop.
I'm thinking about using my dry steam mop, I don't care what is recommended. The floor looks like crap as it is. I waited and waited to get the flooring I liked and this is what I get from it.
I have Pergo in my kitchen, it looks like slate, I use my steam mop on it all the time on low. It still looks great
Is it true that I am not supposed to sweep my Pergo floor with a broom? How do I clean up the daily crumbs from the kids?
Timmel from Colorado Srpings
We installed PERGO in our last house and I used a broom on it at least 2 x's a week without any harm to the floor. The only thing that I remember is that you have to use a VERY damp mop.
My in-laws got in their old house....you can use a nylon broom or vacuum w/floor head attachment, but don't let water set...to be sure, check with the manufacture reccomendations.
I don't know about the Pergo but one of the handiest things I have came from a dollar store. It is a small, soft broom that attaches to a small long handled dustpan. I am always reaching for it for touch ups.
This is my dilemma. I have Shaw laminate floors. I have had them for 5 months. I have used the Bona, Shaw, and vinegar and water. Nothing but nothing so far has kept them from getting footprints and streaks on them within an half hour after cleaning. Please if anyone has any ideas I would appreciate it if, you would share. Thanks!
By Eve Cabiya C. from Beavercreek, OH
I have used both Pergo brand and ZEP brand on laminate flooring with complete satisfaction.
astonish jasmine /wild berry floor cleaner followed by astonish/floor .polish
ZEP makes a cleaning product and a stripping product. I assume the discussions here about removing build up on laminate flooring are recommending the stripping product. The packaging says to follow use with a ZEP sealer. Is this necessary on a Pergo or other wood-looking laminate surface?
What's the best way to clean heavy duty laminated dark cherry flooring? I want to give it a shine with no dullness afterward? Thank you.
By Trudy
After having Shaw Laminate flooring installed throughout our home and seeing what different "cleaning experts" said how to clean to my floors, I contacted Shaw by email and asked them what to use and how to do the cleaning. The customer service Tech was very nice and said that they suggested...a Shaw product. I explained that I am very chemically sensitive so I can't handle a smell in the cleaner. She was kind enough to ship a small sample bottle along with a cleaning and care sheet which is what she said I should have been given by the Shaw retailer that sold and installed the product.
She also gave me the directions on what to use if I could not use their cleaning product. These are a summary of those directions:
Never use microfiber like Swiffer, always use 100% cotton
mop heads or cotton cloths. Vacuum without the beater bar, sweep or dust mop with a cotton mop head to get all the dust and dirt up. Then use Bona for laminate floors to clean areas that are dirty. Spray the Bona lightly, then let it sit a couple of seconds, then wipe with the cotton mop or cotton cloth. Polish with the cotton cloths to buff and bring your shine back. Never mop with water and/or any soap product. Do not use vinegar either.
Check with the manufacturer of your floor product as to how they want you to clean your floor. This is vital if you ever need to use the warranty that came with your laminate flooring product. Trust me they DO check on how the floor was cared for and cleaned when you file a claim against your warranty. It's there to protect your investment. It's worth your time to call or email your laminate flooring manufacturer.
What is the best vacuum or sweeper to use, to pick up pet hair and dust on laminate flooring?
By Tracey from AL
ReviewsVacuum CleanersLaminate Wood Flooring
Wood flooring is becoming a more popular choice in many homes today. Because of this, the industry is pushing forward to provide the best cleaning care products for hard floors. If you have a lot of hard-wood flooring in your home, or if you simply are looking for a solution that can handle your kitchen, there are a few top choices for vacuum cleaners. Here are some of the best.
Electrolux EL6985A
This is a bagged Canister Vacuum that provides great cleaning power for your hard flooring. It consistently receives rave reviews by its owners for its performance on hard floors. It is also quiet and easy to use. Although it only provides 9 amps of power, this is all that is needed because of its advanced suction system that can be adjusted by a sliding control on the base unit.
The hose length is 6 feet and it can be extended another 3 feet with the telescoping tube attachment. It comes with two different nozzles: one for hard floors features retractable bristles and another for carpeting that has an air-powered brush. It comes with two bags, one pre-installed so additional bags are not necessary right away. It has a washable HEPA filter and is solidly constructed.
I located this online. We got one on sale (not this brand)but no pets in home, be sure to get one with a bag, the bagless is too dusty when emptying it, good luck.
For starters, why not a little swiffer shaped thing with a lambswool type cover. It will get all the hairs and dusty stuff, and slide other objects which you can sweep up with a nice synthetic [soft style] broom. Shake out the cover into garbage can and toss into washer few times per week. See how that goes work wise and decide how much vacuum you really need to purchase. I always start at the low end of the technology chain and work my way up to see if there isn't something as useful, even though more old fashioned.
When people used to have wood floors they used carpet sweepers for the rugs and dustmops for the wood. I must admit I am biased; I hate vacuums, never figured out why..currently have an old Royal
[blue] I bought at a garage sale and I have refurbished it and I baby it; it's as close to love I've ever had for a vacuum.
I am" blessed" with a tiny kitchen. A friend installed Laminate for us. We bought it at Home Depot and totally by accident, it said clean with dry cloth and Windex. I use a swiffer type mop with old wash cloths or shop towels. It is amazing stuff. Water just beads up and it takes awhile to get it off the laminate. Many people use water with white vinegar, but that didn't work. So finally I went to the garage where the instructions were. Surprise! Windex. Love it. So easy. And dries in just a minute. GG Vi
I have a small bagless Hoover Flair. It looks like a stickvac and cost around $50. It is easy to handle and you can run the beaterbar or not. It is pretty good on carpet but perfect for bare floors. You can take the filter out and wash it. This model has been around for a long time, I think because it is such a good machine. Stick it in the closet and you wont even know it is there. I am a retired cleaning lady and very picky. Good luck!
I have a Dyson Animal. Works great on any type of flooring.
I have used the vinegar and water on my floors. It looks great at first, then it dries and my dogs will walk on them and I now have footprints. What can I do? I have washed with plain water and put a fan on it to dry, still foot prints. I am at my wit's end. Can someone help me?
Can a Swiffer Wet Jet cleaner be used on laminate floors?
By Maureen
It will leave your floor streaked. I have laminate and have found the best thing to use is white vinegar.
White vinegar only.
I do and it hasn't seemed to hurt them.
I recently bought a condo with laminate flooring in the entry hall and kitchen. It was dull and a mess. I was advised to to use Hope's Floor revive, not a good idea. The floor now has a build up and shows scratches from my dog walking across it. Does anyone have a suggestion for stripping off the Hopes Floor Revive? The floor never scratched prior to using Hope's. Please help.
Mixture of ammonia + water, good scrub brush. Then the old fashioned way of cleaning is down on your knees.
Make sure that you have good ventilation in the room.
I used Awesome straight out of the bottle (because I didn't read the directions first to know I was to dilute it) on my old tile floor to remove layers of old wax and dirt left by years of renters. It cleaned it slick and clean. You could try it. It is only $1.00 at the dollar store and is good for many uses. I'd dilute it, though and test it in a hidden area. We use it for loads of cleaning jobs at our restaurant. Good luck!
I'm so confused, in my research for finding a good laminate floor cleaner, the advice I am getting is so conflicting. Even manufacturers say not to use vinager, yet many tell me to use vinegar. I had in the past, but it left streaks anyway.
Now I'm told to add alcohol to the vinager and water solution. Help! Also, I use and love Hope's floor revive on my hardwood floors. Does anybody use it on laminate floors?Are wet Swiffer mops safe to use on Pergo floors?
By rainy hill
I used one on mine till I got my Bissell steam mop. You have to go over it with a cloth after or it streaks. You can use a Swiffer and put a towel in it to dry it but since I got my steamer I don't have to do that.
Even after mopping with Mr. Clean my laminate floors leave my barefoot babies with black toes! What am I doing wrong?
By Denise
I have found that the best way to clean my laminate floor is to use vinegar and water in a spray bottle. A quarter cup of vinegar to a quart of water. I wrap a rag on my Swiffer, spritz the vinegar and water on a section of floor and wipe it. I change the rag for each section of floor. Result is clean floor and clean piggies.
What does the manufactures of laminate flooring say? That's what I want to know. I tried vinegar and a little dot of dawn dish soap on A plastic dish scrubbie sponge ( for Teflon I think) and lightly scrubbed in the direction of the grain. It removed the grey black wax but was afraid I was removing the original polish and stopped. now I have a big light spot. Am I removing the original polish? Help
I have laminate flooring and I have tried everything from white vinegar and water, white vinegar, water and a little bit of Dawn soap. I have tried rubbing alcohol and for the life of me, you can always see footprints and paw prints and streaks from who knows where.
If someone having the same issues has something else that I can try! Help!We have laminate flooring that was installed in October. I have used Bona floor cleaner and now I have a film on the floors. Any suggestions for removing the build up?
Laminate floors can become dull from wear or the use of certain cleaning products. Many homeowners have had success cleaning them using steam or vinegar and water. They typically need to be dried to prevent water spots and streaks. This is a page about cleaning dull laminate floors.
Because of its composition, removing pet urine stains and odors from laminate flooring may seem daunting. This is a page about cleaning pet urine stains and odors from laminate flooring.
Laminate flooring is notorious for showing streaks after cleaning. This page offers some solutions for, "What can I use on laminate floors that won't streak?".
This is a page about cleaning black rubber marks on laminate flooring. Black scuff marks from shoes and other items can mar the appearance of your flooring.
Certain stains on a laminate floor can be difficult to remove. This is a page about removing stains from laminate floors.
Floor wax and some floor cleaning products leave a waxy residue on laminate flooring. This is a page about removing wax from laminate flooring.
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
What is the best way to clean my laminate floor after new construction? The floor appears to have a dull finish?
