If you’re wondering, “how do I get my laminate floors to shine?” then you’re in the right spot. In this blog, we’ll cover some tips and tricks on how to make your floors shine again. So, don’t fret anymore, as we will help you bring life back to your wood laminate floor.
One of the many benefits of laminate floors is that they are durable and easy to maintain. But, as time goes by, they can start to look dull and worn out. You could spend a lot of money replacing your floors or instead, save some money and clean them to restore their shine.
For that reason, we advise you to keep reading to learn how to clean your floor to restore its shine. You’ll see that it is really easy and you won’t spend a lot of money.
Why Do Laminate Floors Become Dull?
Before we discuss how to restore your floor’s shine, we must tell you why they become dull in the first place.
The first reason for dull and streaky laminate or hardwood floors is the use of wrong cleaners. Before you try a cleaner on your entire floor, test it on a corner of your floor.
Additionally, even if you use the right cleaner, you can also damage your floor by using too much of it. So, don’t overuse any floor cleaner!
Your laminate floors can also become dull when there is an excess of water. When you clean laminate floors, make sure that your mop is damp, not drenched in water. Too much water will cause the planks to warp or swell.
Lastly, if your house gets a lot of sunlight during the day, then your floors may be suffering from that. Sunlight can cause your floors to discolor or fade. You can protect them by using curtains when the sun hits your house more prominently.
Learn How to Get Your Laminate Floors to Shine
Even though you mop your wood laminate floor weekly, you could still find that it is not shiny as it used to be. This is because you are not cleaning it properly to get that shine back. You could even be cleaning it daily, and it could still look dull.
So, continue reading our blog as we will answer the following question:
How do I get my laminate floors to shine?
- Sweep or vacuum the floors
- Use the right laminate floor cleaner
- Spray the cleaning solution directly onto the floors
- Use a microfiber mop to clean your floor
- Let the laminate floors air dry
Sweep or Vacuum the Floors
Before you start anything, you must first mop your floors to remove any dirt or dust. Make sure you don’t use any abrasive mops or cloths when doing this. This is because laminate floors are vulnerable to surface damage due to their thin layer of wood.
Make sure that you use a soft, lint-free mop or cloth on your laminate floors. Stay away from scrubbing sponges or steel wool scrubbers.
If you want to be more effective in gathering fine dust particles, then we recommend using a vacuum. A vacuum cleaner will work better at removing tiny dirt and dust particles than sweeping or mopping.
Some people don’t like using the vacuum on their laminate floors because they are afraid it might scratch or dull the floor finish. You can prevent this by always using the hard floor attachment on your vacuum.
Use the Right Laminate Floor Cleaner
One of the most important tips to make your floors shine again is to use the right laminate floor cleaner. There are various commercial cleaners that work well to bring that shine back.
However, make sure you stay away from cleaning products with harsh chemicals or soaps. You should also never use cleaners that are oil-based. This is because they could do the opposite of restoring your floors’ shine. Instead, they could make your laminate floor duller.
One of our favorite cleaners is Bona® Hard-Surface Floor Cleaner. It works great for this type of floor and it doesn’t leave streaks.
You can also make a laminate floor cleaner at home! The cleaning solution uses white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and warm water. We recommend warm water instead of hot because it is less likely to leave streaks if the job is done accurately. If you don’t have rubbing alcohol or don’t want to use it, then the vinegar and water will suffice.
You just have to pour half of the white vinegar and half of the warm water into a spray bottle. This is an inexpensive solution that works well in bringing shine to your floors.
The Bona Cleaner and the homemade solution work well for both plastic and engineered laminate floors. You can also use it for all kinds of thickness, texture, and edge type.
Spray the Cleaning Solution Directly on the Floors
Once you know which cleaning product you’re going to use, the next tip is to spray it directly onto your laminate floors. Pour your cleaning solution into a spray bottle, and then clean your floor.
It’s important that you spray a little bit at a time when you clean laminates, especially if you’re using the white vinegar and water solution. If you soak your laminate floor with large amounts of liquid, then that will allow moisture to sit on the floor. As a result, it could warp your floors.
Spray the cleaner on your floor in an area where you can easily reach and clean it with a mop.
Use a Microfiber Mop to Clean Your Floor
Together with spraying the cleaning solution onto the floors, an important tip is to use a microfiber mop. You should stay away from string mops as they hold too much water. As a result, they could damage your laminate floors.
When cleaning with the microfiber cloth or mop, work in small sections of the floor. Firstly, spray the solution onto the floor, and then clean it with the mop in the grain’s direction. Always wring out the mop after you’ve cleaned a section and before you move on to the next one.
We recommend waiting two or three minutes to clean the solution after spraying it.
Let the Laminate Floors Air Dry
After you’ve applied the cleaning product on every inch of your laminate floor, then it’s time to let it air dry. For this, it would help if your house is properly ventilated so that the job is done right and quickly.
If, for some reason, you missed a spot with the microfiber mop and there is a large amount of water in an area, then wipe it again. It’s vital that you don’t walk on the laminate floors while still wet to protect the shine.
Also, stay away from any cleaning systems that are water-based, such as steamers and spray mops.
Once the floor is completely dry, take a look at it in the light. If there are still some dull areas, then rub and buff the floor with a dry cloth. This should help restore the shine.
Don’t ever consider waxing or polishing your laminate floors. This is because they are made to be shiny without these procedures.
So, we’ve given you our tips to answer your question of “how do I get my laminate floors to shine.” If you still have some concerns, you can get in touch with one of our experts.