Cleaning Laminate Floors

By barbconoly from Dallas, TX

Archives: Request: Cleaning Laminate Floors Archived on 09/10/2009 How to remove skidmarks from laminate floor? By Lorhank from Holiday, FL Feedback: RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors Make a paste of baking soda and water and gently scrub with a plastic scrubber sponge. And an easy and gentle recipe to clean in general to keep it looking shiny and new is to use a cup of baking soda mixed with a gallon of water. If you want a disinfectant just add a little bit of white vinegar. (07/24/2009) By Deeli Report Spam or Abuse Request: Cleaning Laminate Floors Archived on 07/21/2009 I just had a new laminate floor installed and I love it. So far (because it's new and hasn't had time to get really dirty) I've just damp mopped it. My question is: When I do clean it is there anything I "should not" use? I want to be careful not to dull it. Thank you. By chef4u from Sylvania, OH Feedback: RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors I would just continue to damp mop them and use a microfiber cloth for a thorough cleaning job. You can use plain warm water or you can use vinegar in the water if you'd like. (05/31/2009) By Luvyabye RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors Once it get's dull, you can use "Mop and Glo". (05/31/2009) By Cyinda RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors I just read to never use ammonia on a laminate. (06/03/2009) By mulberry204 RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors I read a lot on this web-site about people trying to get Orange Glo off their floors, so that's probably one to avoid. (06/03/2009) By Lynn RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors I just tried a solution of 4 oz. white vinegar to 32 oz. distilled water and I could not believe my eyes. Every smudge and mark disappeared and the floor is shiny new. I love Thrifty Fun. (06/03/2009) By merlene RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors I have had wood laminate in my bedrooms for 2 years and have used only Bruce Hardwood and Laminate floor cleaner. In the rest of the house I have stone laminate and use only vinegar and water or just plain water. The floors have not dulled at all, still look like the day we put them in! (07/06/2009) By campingqueen69 Report Spam or Abuse Request: Cleaning Laminate Floors Archived on 05/30/2009 Just installed new dark oak coloured laminate flooring. Unfortunately it shows up every mark, footprints, paw marks, water stains, etc. It is driving me daft already. I wish I hadn't gotten this colour. It looks great when cleaned initially, with water and vinegar only. The stains show up almost immediately when walked on when it dries. Can anyone give me any suggestions? By tartan lass from Sudbury, ON Feedback: RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors Vinegar and water is it. I'm so glad I found this website, because I thought I was never going to get my laminate floor looking good. The Bona spray recommended by my installer left an awful, dull film that streaked and showed every footprint. No store-bought product I tried worked. After reading up here, I simply wiped with a moist vinegar water rag and towel dried, it took up all the awful old film easily and left the floor as beautiful as the first day it was installed. Not a single streak, and easy and fast to do. Thank you folks, so much. (05/20/2009) By Sandcrab23 RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors All I use is the vinegar and water as recommended by the manufacturer. I then stand on a big old clean towel and go around the floor and dry it. It dries beautifully without any streaks or film, will also keep any little insects away. I have tried some of the floor cleaning products, but none work as well as the vinegar and water. (05/20/2009) By donna52479 RE: Kentucky-Lass I found that using Peppermint Oil in the mixture of vinegar and water will give the house a great smell. This will also repel mice from entering your home. You can buy it at any natural food stores. I was using a Swiffer Wet Mop, but it always left streaks all over my floors. I read too, that others would use a towel to dry the floor afterward; however, the floors would not stay wet long enough for me to do that. Needless to say I ditched the Swiffer. (05/26/2009) By Tara-NY RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors Vinegar and water works great on tile floor too. As for the Swiffer Wet mop, I understand there are toxic chemicals used to clean your floor. I have heard of several cases where pets have died when the owner used these mops over time. Cat are always washing their paws, so what you use on your floor ends up in their bodies. Vinegar is really a great cleaner, safe, cheap, and it also disinfects. (05/27/2009) By Amandablue Report Spam or Abuse Request: Cleaning Laminate Floors Archived on 05/21/2009 I am looking for a wood floor (laminate) cleaner. By dlovse from Weeki Wachee, FL Feedback: RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors There are lots of different laminate floor cleaners available, just Google "laminate floor cleaners", but some cleaners work great for some people and the same cleaner has ruined other people's floor. There have been many discussions and tips here at ThriftyFun about cleaning laminate floors. You can use the search engine, type "laminate" and read through the past posts. That should help you decide how to clean your floors. (05/08/2009) By Amuck RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors Using white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, and an old bath towel seems to work well for my laminate floor. After spraying an area, put the towel on the sprayed/wet area, step on the towel, and "skate" it dry. Window cleaner that is vinegar and water works well. Do not use the product that contains ammonia on your laminate. I also have one of those H2o Steam Cleaners. It works well, but the floor doesn't dry quickly. So often I end up "skating" with an old bath towel to dry the floor. Lowe's has a great laminate floor cleaner. It costs more than plain water and vinegar, but I try to keep it on hand "just in case". Hope this helps you. (05/16/2009) By Barb in TN Report Spam or Abuse Request: Cleaning Laminate Floors Archived on 05/07/2009 How do I get rid of the film that's on my laminate floors? I'm so sorry we put this down. I would rather have carpet any day. Don't tell me to spray vinegar and water on it and then get down on my knees to dry it! Polly from Klamath Falls, OR Feedback: RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors I have a steam mop and hardwood floors, so have to dry my floors also. Don't get down on your hands and knees to do this. I put on two thick pairs of socks and shuffle around the floor. Works great. You can get into the corners really well, and it's easier than sliding a towel around under your feet. So, however you choose to clean your laminate flooring, this is a good, easy way to dry it. (03/01/2009) By catastrofy RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors I've had laminate flooring for 6 yrs. Best discovery was purchase of Shark steam vac! It's a breeze to clean this floor now and I have over 700 sq.ft of it, so believe me, I know. That vac is worth it's weight in gold. (03/01/2009) By jpear RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors I tried what one of the readers suggested. I went to the Dollar Tree and purchased Awesome. I just sprayed it on and used one of those flat mops (with a washable terry cloth fitting) rectangle shaped, wiped it on and so far no streaking. And a nice little shine. My floors aren't the shiny kind anyhow. Wish I had gotten ones with a shine though. If this works I will keep Awesome in business! (03/25/2009) By Jacki2b Report Spam or Abuse Request: Cleaning Laminate Floors Archived on 02/27/2009 How do you clean laminate flooring? There is wax/oil on parts of the flooring, because my boyfriend in the past made the mistake of putting wax on the flooring? Now it looks terrible and uneven and we are trying to get rid of it? How can we do this? What products will work? Should I hire someone to this? Any info will help. Thanks, Stefanie from San Francisco Answers: RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors We put a wood grain laminate on our kitchen. It is the kind that comes in wide strips like wood planks and is about the same thickness as the stuff that used to be sold from a large roll. I was afraid of vinegar because of the acid content. About once a week I clean it with hot salt water. It comes clean and leaves no streaks. (04/08/2008) By MartyD RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors The floor company that installed my laminate floors told us not to use Swiffers cloths on the floor. The fibers get trapped between the boards and will ruin the floors (05/04/2008) By Elizabeth RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors Johnson's No Buff and Wax will do the trick. Get it a Lowes. Use a soft rag to apply evenly. Do not use a sponge mop. (05/05/2008) By MAMAB63 RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors After buying the green Bruce and a Swiffer-type flat mop that came with the kit, I just redid my floor for the 3rd time. The Bruce and the Swiffer-type mop left the floor dull. Then I used a wood floor cleaner (Murphy's Oil Soap) which left streaks from the mop. The third and final time I used vinegar and water with a used face cloth and then an old small towel to dry. That finally did the trick, whew! (05/08/2008) By Scott in AZ RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors It's impossible to keep floors dry as we have several big dogs who live in the house. They take a drink of water and trail it through the house. I used Windex and dry mop, and it cleans, but floor looks dull. I recently used my steamer lightly and it cleaned great, lots of dirt. But floor is very dull. I'll give up and just be content that it's clean. Home Depot said not to buy wood (same price as laminate) because dogs nails would scratch. Now I wonder if we made the right choice. Dogs slip on it badly. I would have kept my carpet and just bought a Dyson. Great vacuum. (06/06/2008) By Ali RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors It's like the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Everything can be cured with Windex. I'm using the Windex Vinegar variety and that is working extremely well for me at the moment. I have Shaw laminate floors. (06/21/2008) By Dan C. RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors I did a ton of research and just bought this for my laminate : LamanatorPlus Restoration. It protects, seals, stops tracking and footprints, hides scratches, provides new look and shine for all laminate and pre-finished hardwood. Works great on Bamboo floors. Retail Price is $33.98 Look for other LamanatorPlus Products. (06/28/2008) By Amanda RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors I installed Armstrong laminate flooring downstairs. I have a 6 year old and a dog. I also have several visiting neighborhood kids. Prior to even considering removing the carpet I did a ton of research on hardwood vs. laminate. From the installers, manufacturer, to the vendors who sell it, all of them specifically state stay away from Swiffers, hardwood cleaners, waxing or shine products, Shark steamers, etc. They also state avoid excessive moisture. Every single person I spoke to during my decision process and after installation specifically stated using the manufacturer's solution or a very light mist of vinegar and water. If your friends or family are giving you advice look on the Internet first and not just these sites. Go to the flooring experts or manufacturer's site. I have had my floors for 6 months and not once have I lost the shine on my floors with as much activity as I have in my house. My floors will continue to look new because I don't listen to friends and family when they didn't make the investment on my floors. I am surrounded by people who think they "know everything". I would prefer to listen to the experts. I use my Roomba to sweep and dust and then use a dry dust mop with lambskin and a misting bottle to clean the footprints and streaks from every day wear. Stay away from anything used for mopping your tile, vinyl, or hardwood floors. Never use anything on your laminate floors that is for hardwood, ever. Never use any solution that is for waxing, shine, etc. unless you know for a fact the manufacturer or laminate floor experts agree it is OK. If you don't, you will have dull floors until you make another investment to replace what was ruined. (07/06/2008) RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors I have had a terrible problem with my Pergo laminate floor. My color is brandied dark cherry and it shows everything. I started using Orange Glo and the first few times it looked great. Then, over a year of doing this at least once per week, my floors are dark and nasty looking. I went looking for help and found the answer to my prayers. Another member suggested Awesome cleaner from your local Dollar Tree or Dollar Store. It really works. I spray it on, let it set for a couple of minutes and then scrape off. Of course it will take a while, but it is worth it. I have bought about ten bottles and hope to finish this weekend. I am so thankful for that poster. Please try Awesome. It will get your floors back and then just go with vinegar mix. (09/03/2008) By mommy2just1 RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors We have DuPont laminate floors and they are great! I just clean them with water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid with a microfibre cloth and they look clean and streak-free. Our neighbor has Pergo floors and she has all the problems mentioned in the other posts. She tried water and dishwashing liquid but that did not help either. My advice : Don't go for Pergo, go for Dupont. (09/20/2008) By Clean Freak RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors We use Bruce and a Swiffer. Bruce spray for laminate floors in a green bottle, and a Swiffer. Makes my floors look amazing! And it's cheap. (10/07/2008) RE: Cleaning Laminated floors We had Pergo floors put in two years ago. The manufacturer suggest only vinegar and water. This is all I use. It will keep your floors from fading and a keep the original shine. As soon as I am done mopping the floor, I get a big old clean towel, put it down on the floor - stand on the towel and go around the room and dry the floor (only takes about two minutes). Your floor will dry beautifully without any streaks. (10/10/2008) By Diane RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors I have laminate floors, had them installed about 10 months ago. I Swiffer sweep them twice a week and then spray the Swiffer with water to get up the heavy dust, hair,and dirt. This method works just fine. For spot cleaning I use a wet Magic Eraser. It works wonders. I love my floors! (10/13/2008) By April RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors I think I found the perfect solution for getting a shine on your laminate floors, I went to Walmart and bought a cloth in the car department, it's for cleaning your car without water. The cloth has a nap to it, and you never wash it, the dirtier it gets, the better it works. I've only used this cloth on my car in the past, but today used it on my floors that are laminate, it did shine them and they're not slippery. I did get up all the dust before I used the cloth. Good Luck. (10/26/2008) By Lou RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors DO NOT USE WINDEX! If you have a shiny finish on your laminate like me. It will start to dull in areas. Read on the label through the back of the bottle. It says not to use on wood or laminate floors. I am going to try the vinegar and water. Keep your fingers crossed. (10/27/2008) By Elaine RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors I have the perfect thing for cleaning your laminated wood floors. Is a (Shark) steam vac. It's light and very easy to use. There is a soft cloth on the bottom and all you do is add water to it and the steam goes through the cloth onto your floor and cleans it like you wouldn't believe and you don't have to worry about what it will do to your floor except make it shiny and clean. (10/28/2008) ByTyra RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors I have had laminate floors for years, and they still look good. I use a soft bristle broom to sweep the floor, or use a dust mop. Another great product is an electric broom. They are very hard to find, however. I also use throw rugs. I like Swiffer cleaner, and sometimes I use a solution of 1/3 water, 1/3 vinegar, and 1/3 alcohol. I don't like the smell of vinegar, so I am wondering about adding fragrance, but do not know what to use. Any suggestions? I cannot guarantee the aforementioned solution, and don't want anyone to be upset if they use it, so try this in a small area first that isn't noticeable. I have Columbia laminate, and I love it. (11/09/2008) By Kentucky-Lass RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors and Pets We had laminate floors put into our home last year, due to the fact that we foster dogs. I've found several good tips for everyone here. Stick vacuum Vinegar/water solution in the Swiffer Wet Jet bottle Walk behind the Swiffer on a towel to dry the floor as you go, to stop streaking. Bio-Groom Show Foot Spray - to stop pets from slipping and sliding. This product is used to help keep show dogs from slipping while on carpet and flooring. There are other brands that work just as well. Google different phrases to find other brands. Holloway House, Quick Shine, for that beautiful shine. This will be removed with the vinegar and water solution, so use water in the Swiffer between shines. Quick Shine lasts about 10 - 15 washes of just water. (11/13/2008) By Carolyn - Denton Humane Society RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors I just had Bruce Park Avenue Laminate floor put in my computer room, and spare bedroom. I was told by the installer to never spray the cleaner directly on the floor but to spray it on the microfiber mop. (12/21/2008) By CM RE: Cleaning Laminate Floors I have Pergo floors and I hate it! I would rather have carpet and vacuum it 2 times a day! But the only thing I have found that works is Orange Glow, you can buy the kit with mop and mop cloth with the cleaner at Wal-mart for $12.00. (02/11/2009) By Trisha Report Spam or Abuse