View Full Version : How do you clean laminate floors?
I am now on a quest for the best way to clean my new floors. It's a dark laminate, floating floor and I found that it streaks unless you dry it right away. I have to buy some vinegar and mix it with hot water. I may add a bit of alcohol for quick drying.
I bought the Swiffer spray and wash mop - no good. It makes the floor too wet
and I end up with streaks.
This is becoming way too work intensive for me. I don't mind running a mop over a floor, but I sure don't want to dry it too. My whole house is laminate. I may buy a refurbished Roomba to get the dust, etc. up. I called the floor company and was told to only spray the dirty spots lightly and mop it up.
I'd love to buy the Scooba (sp?) which washes, vacuums and dries the floor. It's not recommended for floating laminate floors, but people do use them.
Any advice?
Shada
11-09-2008, 08:52 AM
I have the Swifter wet disposable towels and love them. Its not the spray mop, its just the damp pad that you put on holder. Does a great job of picking up the dirt without wetting down the floor.
gja1000
11-09-2008, 08:55 AM
I would go with whatever the company says to do. I have wood floors, not laminate - but I have found the the swiffer does great getting up the dirt. This is not electric, it's just the long handle with the flat thing on the bottom where you put the disposable dry swiffer cloth. I run that over the floors the dirt just "sticks" to the disposable swiffer cloth. It is great!
I think plain water or water with vinegar is best to use on all types of wood/laminate floor. I have heard of people having problems with streaking on both darker wood and laminate floors but I don't know how they handled this problem??? :confused:
I just tried a trick I read online. I took a microfiber towel, rubber banded it around the damp mop head and went over the floor again. If you flip the mop over, there is a dry part of the microfiber which I used to dry any wet spots. It looks so much better. I think I may stick to this method.
I'd love to try the Scooba though.
DianaB
11-09-2008, 01:04 PM
I'm glad that you found something that works for you because I don't have any idea of what to use on the laminate flooring.
Janet
11-09-2008, 01:25 PM
I don't know either Judy. I do know there are a lot of threads on YT about it. People were getting rid of their carpets because of the doggies. You'll find lots of information there.
Tiramisu
11-09-2008, 02:29 PM
My den is laminate and I use Windex. I lightly spray it around and wipe it up with a dry Swiffer mop. I've had this floor for almost 8 years and it's the ONLY thing that works well and EASY for me. I don't worry about getting it totally dry, but it's very close and dries quickly by itself.
Judy I have hardwood floors and ceramic tiles in my house. I recently brought the shark steamer, and boy it cleans pretty good. I will check the booklete to see if you can use it on laminate floors, will get back to you.
I purchased it in Bed & Bath. It was 79.99 but I had a 20 percent coupon. So far I like using it, its lightweight to.. No more buckets and mops.. For now anyway..lol
Mandy
11-10-2008, 12:47 AM
I have laminate and tiles, most of the time i use "green" or "brown" liquid soap to clean them, it contains glycerine (sp) which makes them shiny, never streaks. It's possible that you have streaks right now, because of all the dust that's in your house, but it will settle down.
I use a mop to clean, but never wet too much.
Only my tiles get a scrub.
I bought a chamois today. I saw something about it online. I'm going to wrap it around the mop and do what you do Sandy. I'm going to spray with water and vinegar with a bit of alcohol.
I also think I'll stop worrying about it looking perfect. A couple of streaks will have to be okay.
I'm still trying to find a cheap roomba on ebay. I think that's a great way to get the dust off without me being too involved! I also want to see the dogs faces!!!
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