The main thing you need to know when cleaning laminate flooring is that moisture and wood do not mix. Do not use steam cleaners, wet mops or any kind of buffing or polishing machine these can cause irreparable damages to your flooring. Use a damp cloth to blot up spills as soon as they happen. Never allow liquids to stand on laminate flooring! For tough spots, such as oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink or tar, do not give in! Use a clean white cloth to apply acetone/nail polish remover to the area. Then wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue. When it comes to vacuuming you should do it regularly with the hard floor attachment on a vacuum (not the beater bar) to prevent accumulation of dirt and grit that can scratch or dull the floor finish. For homes that have lots of sandy traffic such as beach houses it is a good idea to sweep more frequently. It is a great idea to periodically clean the floor with cleaning products made specifically for laminate floor care. Avoid using steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or strong ammoniated or chlorinated type cleaners.

Keep your laminate looking new by using floor protectors and wide-load bearing leg bases/rollers to minimize the chance of indentations and scratches from heavy objects. As a rule, the heavier the object, the wider the floor protector. Place entry mats that will help collect the dirt, sand, grit and other substances such as oil, asphalt or driveway sealer that might otherwise be tracked onto your floor. Maintain a normal indoor relative humidity level between 35% and 65% throughout the year to minimize the natural expansion and contraction of the wood. Keep any pets nails trimmed to prevent them from scratching your floor. Never slide heavy objects across the floor and use a protective mat for furniture or chairs with castors.

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