How To Properly Care For Laminate Flooring + Video And Reviews

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 22:26

Brilliant result: we care for the laminate correctly

Laminate flooring has many advantages, which is why it is so popular. Laminate is used in private houses, city apartments, summer cottages. It looks attractive, functional, resistant to mechanical stress and relatively affordable. To extend the life of such a floor, it is worth knowing how to properly care for it.

Content

• 1 Why you need to care for your laminate
• 2 How to wash to make the floor shine
• 3 We take into account the class of coverage in the apartment

• 4 Care instructions for laminate flooring

  4.1 Helpful Hints

• 5 Troubleshooting

  • 5.1 Restoration of scratches and chips

    5.1.1 Photo gallery: materials for the restoration of the laminate

• 6 Hostess reviews
• 7 Video: proper care for a laminate floor at home (part 1)
• 8 Video: proper care for a laminate floor at home (part 2)

Why you need to care for your laminate

Laminate has the structure of a puff cake, the top layer of which is a film that provides a glossy shine and coating durability. She needs care according to all the rules, otherwise she will quickly wear out. In addition to cleanliness, damage prevention is very important. We regularly bring dirt from the street into the house, and sand is an abrasive, acting on the principle of emery. No matter how strong the laminate is, scratches are guaranteed in this case.

The second enemy of laminate is water. Expensive waterproof laminate flooring can be installed in kitchens and bathrooms, but not everyone can afford them. To care for the coating, you need to know how it can be washed, and how not. If you have budget-priced floors in your house, do not forget that water tends to penetrate into the seams of the coating, which is why the top layer swells. For the same reason, laminate flooring is never fixed with water-based products such as PVA glue.

The most suitable way of daily cleaning is dry vacuuming with a special attachment in the form of a long-haired brush. Vacuum gently to avoid accumulation of sand and dust. Laminate flooring requires wet cleaning at least once a week.

Dry cleaning with a vacuum cleaner - the best option for laminate floors

What to wash to make the floor shine

There are special household products for cleaning floors, including laminate floors. When choosing them, be extremely careful. Such a product should not contain abrasive particles (powders are definitely excluded) and strong disinfecting or bleaching agents that can disturb the glossy layer, including acids and alkalis.

Such products are usually made on a soap base from organic matter with the addition of fragrances, glycerin, antibacterial disinfectants and alcohol. Prices may vary depending on the manufacturer and the original composition in the range of 100-1000 rubles. But even if you need a more expensive tool, do not worry: it will last for a long time, and the money spent will pay off.

According to the instructions on the package, the detergent for the laminate flooring should be diluted in a ratio of 1–2 caps per 10 liters of water. In addition, its use is allowed no more than 1 time per 3-4 washings, that is, about once a month.

When choosing detergents for your laminate floor, exclude abrasive, alkaline, acidic and bleaching agents

We take into account the class of coverage in the apartment

In the production of laminate, there is such a thing as wear resistance classes. They were designed to simplify product selection based on the balance of customer needs and capabilities.

There are 2 groups of laminated coatings according to the type of operation: for commercial (31, 32, 33) and home use (21, 22, 23). Group 1 laminate is much stronger, which makes it possible to use it in areas of high traffic, where there are always a lot of people. To simplify the selection of a suitable coating, markings are also used that indicate the level of strength and durability.

This table will help you understand the labeling of laminate classes.

Care for different types of coating, albeit slightly, but still different. For example, a moisture-resistant laminate is practically not afraid of prolonged exposure to liquid, and you can use a washing vacuum cleaner and a wet rag in caring for it, in contrast to the usual non-water-resistant one, with which you have to be much more careful.

Moisture-resistant laminate is practically not afraid of prolonged exposure to liquid

Let's take a closer look at the classification of laminate flooring.

• Class 21 - household (home) coverage. Service life is about 2 years. There is no reliable coating, so the laminate can quickly lose color and is easily abraded. Afraid of water, not resistant to scratches and chips.
• Class 22 (household coating) is stronger than the previous one, but nevertheless is not suitable for rooms and corridors where people often go. It will last longer than 2-3 years if you put carpet on it, which will significantly reduce the load.
• Class 23 is suitable for rooms for any purpose, because it has a high level of strength. The service life is up to 4 years.
• Grade 31 (commercial laminate) is the most economical option for commercial flooring. It is stronger than any class of household laminate and will serve you for 10-12 years at home.
• Class 32 (commercial coverage) can last from 3 to 5 years in commercial premises with an average load. At home, this laminate is able to maintain its qualities for 15 years, even in the kitchen and corridor.
• Class 33 (commercial) can withstand heavy loads, so it will serve you up to 20 years in an apartment. In addition, such a laminate is not afraid of high humidity and hides the sounds when walking.

When caring for household flooring, do not use wet rags, a washing vacuum cleaner, and also try to remove stains with caustic substances. Dry cleaning should be done every 2 days, wet cleaning - once a week. It is better to cover the laminate of class 21 and 22 with a carpet in places of the greatest traffic, to minimize the movement of furniture on it. Defects that appear on such a coating should be restored immediately, as the damage is quickly aggravated.

Wipe the laminate floor of grades 21, 22 and 23 with a thoroughly wrung out cloth

Commercial grade laminate flooring can be vacuumed less often and washed more often, and is also more resistant to the alcohol, acids and alkalis you may need to remove stains. When cleaning, you can use a washing vacuum cleaner or a wet cloth. Defects on such a coating appear much less frequently.

Care instructions for laminate flooring

As already mentioned, it is enough to wash laminate floors once a week, on other days it is enough to sweep away the dust or go with a vacuum cleaner. The good thing about laminate flooring is that you don't have to use wax or other gloss products, so maintenance is kept to a minimum.

1. First you need to check your floor care product for safety. The first time you clean your laminate floor, select an inconspicuous area and treat it. If the result is good, feel free to expand the cleaning area.
2. Special products designed for cleaning laminate flooring contain substances that will perfectly cope with almost any dirt. Dilute them in warm water according to the instructions. If you don't like household chemicals, you can use a simple proven recipe for cleaning: 1 tablespoon of vinegar in 5 liters of water. This solution has long been successful in cleaning windows, mirrors and other glossy surfaces. It can handle a smooth top layer of laminate just as well.
3. Start scrubbing the floor from the window, working your way towards the door. This way you don't have to walk on the washed surface.
4. For convenience, use a mop that has a rag wringing mechanism. So you get rid of excess moisture. When washing by hand, opt for a microfiber or flannel doormat. They are quite soft and absorb moisture well.
5. If wet stains remain on the floor after cleaning, your rag is not absorbing moisture well enough. Dry the floor with a cotton cloth if necessary.

Use a special microfiber mop with a spinning option

Useful Tips

These simple precautions will significantly reduce the risk of defects in your laminate flooring.

1. Be sure to lay a rug by your front door. It is the section of the laminate floor in the corridor that is most susceptible to dirt and abrasion.

   

   A rubberized mat, laid on the laminate floor near the door, will retain a significant part of the sand brought on the shoes from the street

2. Place felt or rubber protective caps over the furniture legs. This will help prevent scratches. You can also use special transparent rugs under the chairs you move around the floor often.

   

   Place silicone mats under chairs on laminate flooring

3. Do not allow water to accumulate on the laminate floor, wipe everything dry immediately. In areas near water taps, vases and flower pots, seal the joints of the laminate boards with a special sealant.
4. Remove stains as quickly as possible before they have time to dig into the seams.
5. Eliminate scratches, abrasions and chips on the coating in a timely manner.

Solution of problems

No matter how strong the laminate is, various minor troubles can happen to it during operation. All the same, the floor can withstand considerable loads: heavy furniture, restless children, adults constantly busy with household chores.

1. Stains from stubborn alcoholic beverages such as wine or liquor can be easily removed with warm soapy water. Wipe chocolate, grease and spilled juices with pH-neutral products, you can use regular shampoo or shower gel.

   

   Wine and liquor can be removed well from the laminate with warm soapy water

2. Notice gum or candle wax sticking to your laminate floor? Make sure they are frozen and remove them with a wooden scraper.
3. If the kids decide to leave their mark on history by capturing it with felt-tip pens, pencils or a marker on the laminate floor, don't worry. All this is perfectly wiped off with acetone solvent or methyl alcohol. But do not forget that these products must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1 teaspoon of alcohol or solvent to 2 tablespoons of water. The same goes for ink, lipstick, and shoe polish.

Restoration of scratches and chips

Products such as crayons, paste and laminate restoration varnish are worth talking about separately. You can purchase any of them in a specialized store. It is advisable to attend to this right away when buying a laminate, so you will save time. In addition, you need to have a coating sample with you in order not to make a mistake with the color.

For small scratches and abrasions, use wax crayon. It contains wax, paraffin and dye. The work progress is as follows:

1. Thoroughly clean the surface of the laminate from dirt, grease and dust, let dry.
2. Drive on the damaged area with chalk until the scratches are completely covered with the compound.
3. After a few minutes, when the wax is dry, polish the surface with a dry cloth.

If the scratches are deep or the laminate is chipped, use a special wax paste of the correct color. The processing process is almost the same as in the previous case:

1. Clean the laminate.
2. Apply the heated paste to the chip with a plastic spatula to completely cover the damage.
3. Remove excess product with a wet cloth.
4. Wait for the paste to dry and buff the area.

Photo gallery: materials for the restoration of laminate

Before work, the restoration paste must be warmed up to a liquid state

The sealant is useful not only for installing laminate flooring, but also for preventive maintenance

Apply wax paste to a scratch in the laminate with a small plastic spatula

Wax crayons are the easiest way to quickly restore abrasions and shallow scratches

Hostess reviews

Video: Proper Laminate Floor Care at Home (Part 1)

Video: Proper Laminate Floor Care at Home (Part 2)

We hope our tips will help you clean your home and extend the life of your laminate floor while maintaining its gloss and durability. Use suitable products, consider the class of coverage, remove stains and repair damage in a timely manner. Share with us in the comments your ways of caring for your laminate. Good luck and comfort to your home!