How to keep your laminates looking good as new

Laminate flooring is extremely popular with UK homeowners for a number of reasons. Not only do they provide the look and feel of solid wood without the expense or tricky installation process but also they are generally easier to maintain and keep clean; however, this is not to say that they don’t require special care to keep them looking as clean and polished as the day you bought them. While laminates require a lot less upkeep than many other types of flooring, there are a few simple ways in which you can ensure they last as long as possible.

Use doormats at entrances

It is all too easy to walk tiny pieces of sharp gravel, dirt and stones into the home without noticing until unsightly scratches appear across your new floor. The simple act of placing a doormat at each entrance to your home – and encouraging members of your household and visitors to use them – will minimise the amount of debris that gets traipsed over your floor.

Use a dry mop

There are many mops on the market manufactured from special materials designed to attract dust and small particles. These are a great choice for laminate floor owners, ensuring minimal dust is left behind. While you can use a regular broom on your floor, it is likely to leave behind a lot of dust and potentially cause problems for anyone who suffers from allergies.

Buff your floor for an immaculate finish

While most of us don’t have time to buff our floors every time we vacuum or mop, you will be rewarded with a shiny, flawless floor if you can manage to fit this into your schedule from time to time. After mopping or wiping your floor and ensuring it is spotlessly clean, take a soft cloth – such as a microfibre one – and buff it gently all over. The result will be a pleasing shine that makes your floor look as though it has just been laid.

Go easy on the water

Laminates don’t like too much moisture and even those specially designed to withstand the humid conditions of a bathroom or kitchen should not be left immersed under pools of water for too long. If you are using water to clean your floor, wring out the cloth or mop thoroughly beforehand and ensure water does not pool on the floor. If you have laminate flooring in a bathroom and the floor is very wet after the shower or bath has been used, always soak up the water with a soft towel or cloth.