Laminate flooring gets manufactured from either plastic or wood. Plastic laminate floors look and feel like faux stone or wood, even though they get made entirely of plastic, while wood laminate is a synthetic material that mimics the look and feels of natural wood. The durability and attractiveness of your laminate flooring depend on your ability to keep them in good condition. So how do you go about cleaning your laminate floors, and can you use bleach on them?
Can I Clean The Laminate Floors With Bleach
You shouldn’t clean your laminate flooring with bleach. Bleach can damage the finish of a laminate floor if left on for too long, but a quick wipe-down with a dry rag should remedy the problem.
Nothing beats the power of bleach to kill germs and other contaminants when disinfecting laminate countertops. There is always the risk of seepage between the floorboards, leading to swelling and lifting at the board edges.
Table of Contents
What is Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is constructed from wood composite, composed of materials such as sawdust. It looks remarkably similar to hardwood floors, but this flooring option typically costs less, scratches less, and cleans up better. In addition, its photographic underlayer is shielded by a wear layer, making it less susceptible to scratches and dings.
Can You Use Bleach On Wooden Laminate Flooring
Wood laminate is more challenging to maintain than plastic laminate because we find more layers of porous wood in the wood laminate.
Laminate floors can warp and buckle if too much water penetrates the surface. Because of its porous nature, bleach will not clean it, and bleach will discolor or damage the surface of the laminate flooring if it soaks in. You should not clean laminate flooring with anything abrasive or acidic.
How To Use Bleach On Plastic Laminate?
Plastic laminate is nonporous, so you can use bleach to clean it. However, bleach has to be diluted with water first before use. In addition, a concentrated bleach solution can stain the laminate and cause eye, respiratory, and skin irritation if misused.
Cleaning plastic laminate floors with bleach should get done by diluting the bleach with water. Make sure you add a three-quarter cup of bleach for every gallon of water. First, use a mop to spread the solution across the floor; then, after five minutes, scrub the floor and mop up the bleach solution.
Remember to rinse the floor to remove any bleach residue, and always test a small area to ensure the solution keeps the color of your laminate the same before using it all over.
Also, should you rinse the floor after mopping with the bleach? After using bleach to clean the floor with a mop, rinse it thoroughly. Then fill the bucket with the bleach solution to disinfect the area.
The Best Way To Clean Laminate Flooring
Using a spray mop or a damp microfiber mop is your best option for cleaning laminate flooring. These are great for cleaning messes because they don’t leave any puddles or streaks behind. When washing a reusable mop head, avoid fabric softener, so we leave no residue for the next cleaning.
Routine Maintenance For Laminate Flooring
Dust and dirt that have settled into the floor’s cracks are easy to remove with the help of a vacuum cleaner or duster. To protect your floor from the rotating brushes of an upright model, be sure to turn them off before use. If you don’t have access to a vacuum, a soft-bristled broom will pick up most pet hair, dust, and dirt.
How to Disinfect Laminate Wood Floors
Use a gentle cleanser to spot-clean any dirty areas, and follow up with a dry, absorbent cloth. To disinfect laminate floors, you only need one part rubbing alcohol, three parts water, and a single drop of dish soap.
Tips For Removing Tough Stains
While it is unusual for stains to discolor the flooring material beneath your laminate floor, there are times when you’ll need more than a mop to get rid of the stain.
When removing dye stains, alcohol works best, while acetone is best for oil-based stains. Having adequate ventilation, face masks, and protective gloves are necessary for both:
To remove a spill from large stains, like tar or grease, wait until the stain dries up before chipping away with a rubber scraper or plastic putty knife. Then you can try buffing it with a tennis ball if there are scuff marks.
There are several solutions available for removing permanent marker or pen stain marks. Alcohol or acetone on a cotton swab or ball can do the trick, or you can try writing over the sharpie marks with a dry-erase marker and then wiping it off. Just open some windows and dry the area well with a clean towel when you’re done.
To avoid getting on your hands and knees, you can make an X in the ball and tape it to the end of a broom handle, then use the handle to apply light pressure to the X. If you have no access to a tennis ball, you can use a regular eraser. Just remember to pick up the eraser crumbs when you’re done.
It would help if you quickly cleaned them up for wine, coffee, or juice spills. Spray the area with vinegar and water solution and wipe it clean with a paper towel.
Conclusion
Laminate flooring may not have the same status as hardwood, but it makes up for this with its longevity and visual appeal. Maintaining your laminate flooring is essential if you want it to look great for many years to come, even though it is more stain resistant than wood. For this reason, you must regularly clean it with the supplies.
- About the Author
- Latest Articles
John Thompson
John Thompson, Writer and Commentator, EvolutDesign.com
Soldier, writer, researcher, consultant, and bon vivant, John Thompson is the author of numerous columns, op-eds, reports, briefs, short stories and books as the “Felicity Files” and “Spirit Over Steel: A Chronology of the Second World War” (version III). Often found hunched over his computer, or in his garden, and now often found doing both. His diverse talent has led him to work in industries and projects such as energy, security and home construction and renovation.