The Unexpected Cleaning Staple You Can Mix With Water To Refresh Laminate Floors

If you have laminate floors in your home and you're not quite sure how to give them a proper clean, there is a common household product you may need to try. Many homeowners opt for synthetic laminate flooring instead of hardwood, as it's easier to clean and much more affordable to install and repair than real timber. However, this means these floors typically require a specific type of cleaning product, as harsh or oily ingredients can cause damage or stubborn streaks. If you don't have a laminate-specific cleaner on hand, you can use your go-to product for streak-free windows instead: Windex, plus water. The ammonia in the Windex can help the floor dry faster, plus, it's also an easy way to spot-clean the floor if you don't want or need to cover the entire space. 

While you may not think to use a window cleaner on the floor, this product can actually work wonders on laminate and can keep it perfectly shiny. All you need is a bottle of Windex, some water, and, depending on whether you're working on a small area or the entire floor, a microfibre cloth or mop. You can also purchase mops that come with microfibre padding for the best of both worlds. 

Before adding any liquid product to your laminate flooring, make sure to vacuum, dust, and wipe down the area first. When cleaning your laminate floors in general, it's important to remember that less is more when it comes to water. Too much can cause the laminate material to swell, bubble up, or lose its color. When adding Windex to the mix, you can simply spray the product onto the affected area and wipe it up with your damp microfiber cloth or mop. If you used too much Windex and the product left a residue, you can go over the area again with the damp cloth to remove it. Alternatively, dilute Windex in a spray bottle with water and spray it directly onto the laminate before mopping it up.

Since laminate flooring has three layers, the top being the wear layer, you want to make sure you are gentle to avoid damaging it. Unlike hardwood floors, laminate flooring cannot be refinished, so it takes a little bit of extra caution to keep it looking pristine. It's best to give your laminate floors a quick clean with a damp mop at least every two months and a deep clean with a laminate floor-friendly cleaning product every six to nine months.