Caring for your laminate floor

Whether you’ve had laminate flooring in your home for many years, or you’re thinking of taking the plunge and getting it installed, following some basic maintenance tips can extend its life and help it look as good as the day it was fitted for decades to come. Laminate flooring is a durable choice for flooring in any family home, but will still benefit from a little TLC.

Keep it clean

Almost everyone will have a doormat at the entrance to your home to prevent excessive outside dirt from making its way indoors. But adding a doormat at the entrance to each room can further limit the grit and dirt carried around your house. Encourage family members and visitors to remove shoes when entering your home, especially high heels or shoes with deep grooves on the soles that can so easily hold sharp pieces of gravel or other debris. This can seriously scratch your floor over time.

Laminate flooring is extremely easy to clean and regular vacuuming or good old fashioned sweeping will stop dirt and dust from building up. Most laminates also benefit from a wipe with a damp mop or even a cloth. Just make sure you don’t use anything that is wet rather than damp, as this can lead to moisture seeping in between the joints and ruining your flooring. You should never use any type of abrasive chemical cleaners on your laminate. If you do need to give your flooring a deeper clean, there are specialist products on the market formulated specifically for this purpose. Check with the manufacturer if you’re not sure as to which products are suitable for your particular flooring.

Mop up spills immediately

No matter how careful you are, spills will happen. The important thing is to mop up any liquids immediately to prevent them from seeping into the joints between the boards. The best way to do this is to gently soak up the liquid with a dry, clean cloth or towel. Don’t make the mistake of using a damp cloth or mop as you may add additional moisture to your floor and spread it around to other areas. Too much moisture can cause the floor to expand or become warped, and can lead to unattractive discolouration between boards.

Laminate flooring shouldn’t usually be installed in rooms with high levels of humidity, such as bathrooms, unless it’s specifically designed to withstand moisture. Our Impressive range made by Quickstep is 100% waterproof and designed for use in bathrooms.