Life in a busy household can be hard on any flooring.
Did you know that the makeup of laminate flooring varies based on manufacturer? While some of the newer laminate flooring includes waterproof finishes, most do not so your care and maintenance routine must comply with the manufacturer’s guidelines. For example, Shaw laminate flooring includes wood, so it’s crucial to avoid using excessive moisture or a non-approved cleaning solution while caring for their laminate flooring.
The Best Tips to Take on Dirt
At Colonial Interiors, we recommend the following care and maintenance routine for your new laminate floors:
- Daily care and maintenance of your laminate flooring includes sweeping, dry mopping or vacuuming with a hard surface flooring attachment.
- Common household messes like spills and soil should wipe or sweep away clean.
- Liquid spills should be blotted and dried as quickly as possible to avoid warping.
For preventative maintenance:
- Place doormats at the entry to the room to capture any sand, grime or dirt that could be tracked onto your flooring.
- Heavy appliances can cause dents or marks on your flooring over time; protect your flooring by placing heavy appliances on mats.
- Use wide dollies whenever you need to move furniture across the floor.
- Add an area rug or two to protect your flooring and increase its longevity while adding warmth to the room!
Tips for tougher stains
When it comes to difficult stains and messes like candle wax and chewing gum, or oil based stains like lipstick and olive oil, consult with the manufacturer’s guidelines for cleaning tough stains and messes. Some of these tougher stains have simple solutions like using nail polish remover or freezing with ice before gently scraping away with a plastic scraper. For specific guidelines, visit Shaw’s laminate flooring cleaning suggestions here (https://shawfloors.com/flooring/how-to/laminate/care-maintenance/how-to-clean-laminate-floors).
