Maintain Your New Laminate Flooring

How to Maintain Your New Laminate Flooring

Laminate floors are easy to clean but they're not indestructible. To keep your new laminate floors in the best shape possible, follow these helpful cleaning and maintenance tips:

• Protect the floor by placing area rugs in high traffic areas and entryways.
• Place felt protector pads under furniture feet.
• Don't push or pull furniture across your floors. Instead, lift the furniture or use sliders underneath.
• Sweep, vacuum or damp mop your floors regularly. Only use a vacuum cleaner with a hard-floor attachment; when mopping, use a lightly dampened mop - never wet mop or saturate the floor with water or cleaning products.
• Wipe up spills immediately.
• Spot clean as necessary with a lightly dampened cloth or a manufacturer approved cleaning product. Dry the floor thoroughly after damp cleaning.
• Do not use wood polish on your laminate floor because it will dull the finish and create a very slick walking surface.
• Apply acetone (lanolin-free nail-polish remover) or denatured alcohol to a soft cloth before gently scrubbing persistent oil-based stains and spills; wipe residue with a clean, dry cloth. Candle wax and chewing gum should be allowed to harden and then removed with a blunt plastic scraper.
• Always follow the flooring manufacturer's cleaning procedures and recommendations.