Many homeowners find laminate preferable to other carpet and flooring options because it’s durable and easy to clean, but there are a few tricks of the trade for maintaining laminate the right way. If you have laminate in your home, use these tips from the flooring experts at Gene’s Floor Covering II to keep your floors shining like new.

Carpet & Flooring Experts' Laminate Floor Cleaning Advice

1. Stay Away From Using Too Much Water

Even if you opted for waterproof, wax-sealed laminate, it’s safe to stay away from using excessive water to clean your floors. Laminate is vulnerable to shrinkage and warping when it gets too wet, which means that it’s better not to soak your floors when cleaning. In fact, with laminate floors, you can often get away with not using any water at all.

2. Use Your Vacuum’s Hardwood Setting

If your vacuum has a setting for hardwood floors, use it on your laminate to easily pick up dry spills. If your vacuum doesn’t have a hardwood setting, a small hand vacuum will do just fine for smaller messes.

3. Buy or Make Your Own Laminate Cleaning Solution

Many stores’ household supply sections offer cleaning sprays specifically for use on laminate floors. If you’re not interested in buying a cleaning solution, however, it’s easy enough to make your own. Combine these ingredients in a spray bottle and shake before using:

• ½ cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup water
• 1 tbsp liquid dish soap

4. Use a Microfiber Mop — Not a String Mop!

If you’re interested in using a mop on your floors, stay away from string mops, which require too much water to be safe on laminate and leave streaks in their wake. Instead, use a version with detachable microfiber pads. Spray your store-bought or DIY solution lightly onto the pad before cleaning for extra scrubbing power and shine.

5. Spot Clean Stubborn Stains & Marks

If running a microfiber mop and cleaning solution over your laminate has still left some stray marks behind, it may be necessary to go through and spot clean your flooring. Most stubborn marks will come off with the help of a damp cloth or pencil eraser and some elbow grease. For especially tough spots, try a more concentrated vinegar, water, and dish soap blend.

If you’re interested in installing new laminate floors or looking into other types of carpet and flooring for your home, rely on a team of professionals. Trust Gene’s Floor Covering II of Gulf Shores, AL, for all your flooring needs from hardwoods to tile and stone. Call (251) 968-6456 or visit their website for details on their carpet and flooring services and current promotions.