An effective DIY laminate floor cleaner can be made using a simple mixture of dish soap and water. How do you keep laminate floors clean and shiny?

You should protect your laminate flooring from dirt particles by placing mats at entrances and routinely cleaning with a broom or vacuum cleaner. Suitable soft felt pads should always be fitted under chair and table legs to prevent damage, and shoes should be removed whenever possible to prolong the laminate floors,’ explains Natalie.However, you need to be careful with what type of vacuum you use when cleaning your laminate. Although it’s best to use a canister vacuum - like the famous Henry Hoover - you can also use an upright vacuum, but only if you have the ability to use the vacuum without the rotating bristles. The humble broom is often overshadowed by fancier cleaning alternatives, but we think brooms and dustpans and brushes need to be given more credit. Especially if you have laminate flooring. One of the best ways to clean your laminate floors is to sweep them with a broom, as this will disperse any loose debris that may be sitting on top of the planks. In doing this, the bristles should also get right into the nooks and crannies of the planks, pulling up anything that may be lurking in between. Make sure that no puddles of water form as this can soak into the laminate plank over time and cause irreversible damage,’ Natalie explains.

The best way to keep laminate floors clean and shiny is by keeping them in tip-top condition at all times. Regular sweeping, vacuuming, and hand cleaning should enable you to keep it looking as good as new. However, cleaning expert Joyce French at HomeHow.co.uk has issued a warning about this. 'Make sure the broom that you use has soft bristles, so it doesn’t scratch the laminate,' she states. Alongside this, wiping up spills as soon as you see them and keeping your pet’s nails nicely trimmed will also help to keep your laminate flooring looking as good as new. FAQs What is the best thing to use to clean laminate floors? Dirty marks caused by substances like shoe cream, varnish, tar, oil, grease, ink etc., are best removed using a cloth soaked in solvent,’ says Natalie. ‘Never use abrasive cleaners, polish, wax, pastes or bleach on your laminate floor.’ Only products designed for use on laminate floors should be used. It’s best to avoid anything that’s full of bleach or highly abrasive, as this could damage the protective coating of your planks.

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While many brands offer water-resistant laminate options, the smallest drop of water could ultimately affect the integrity of the planks and reduce their lifespan. They say that prevention is better than the cure, and while knowing how to clean laminate flooring is always a bonus, maintaining this cleanliness is equally as important.