We get a lot of questions about how to clean such laminate floors as American Concepts and which floor cleaners to use. Here are our 10 Laminate Floor Cleaner Do’s and Don’ts: First, let’s review the basics for cleaning laminate floors: 1. Always use a microfiber dust mop and laminate-floor cleaner in a spray bottle. 2. Only spray the microfiber dust mop and NOT the laminate floor directly. 3. It’s OK to sweep or vacuum your laminate floor as long as you don’t vacuum with a beater brush. What laminate floor cleaners can you use? 4. Bruce® and Bona® laminate-floor cleaners work well. 5. Don’t underestimate how effective a vinegar-and-water solution in a spray bottle is for cleaning your laminate floors! 6. Don’t add soap to your cleaning solution. Soap will make your laminate floors slippery. Which laminate-floor cleaners or cleaning methods should you stay away from? 7. We’re very glad you asked! Here’s our list of floor cleaners and methods you should stay away from:
• Any kind of soap • Any steam or wet cleaning system • Beater brush on vacuum cleaners • Cleaners with harsh abrasives • Cleaning agents containing wax, oil or polish — which will leave a dull film on your laminate floor • Commercial floor cleaners – which will leave a haze on the laminate-floor surface • Doctor Bronner’s® liquid soap • Floor steam cleaners • Mop and Glo® • Murphy® Oil Soap • Scouring powder (such as Comet® or Ajax®) • Shark® Steam Products • Swiffer® Bissell® Steamboost • Swiffer® Sweeper Wet Mopping Cloths (or similar) • Swiffer® WetJet (or similar) What floor cleaner can you use to take a film off your laminate floor? 8. To remove a film from your laminate floor, use 100% pure acetone and combine it with plenty of elbow grease. Yes, it’s hard work, but it works. Make sure the area you are working in is well-ventilated! How often should you use laminate floor cleaners on your floors?
9. That’s up to you. However, to keep your floors looking glossy, you’ll want to clean them frequently with a microfiber mop and hot water in a spray or mister bottle. Should you do anything special the first time you clean your laminate floors after installation? 10. First, sweep and vacuum — without a beater brush — to remove all dust and debris from the installation. Next, take the microfiber dust mop and laminate-flooring cleaner in a spray bottle; spray the dust mop and go over your entire floor. Then, step back and admire how beautiful your American Concepts laminate flooring looks. Floors that last a lifetime. DO use a dust mop DO use a vacuum with a hard floor attachment that does NOT contain rotary brush heads that could cause scratches DO wipe away dirt with a clean cotton cloth DO dust with a soft cotton or cloth mop DO keep laminate & hard surface cleaner or household vinegar on-hand for light mopping DO keep a walk-off rug or mat in front of doorways to keep dirt and debris off your floor
DO use felt floor protectors under chair legs and furniture to prevent damage DO NOT install Pergo laminate without allowing the planks to acclimate DO NOT install Pergo laminate without the proper underlayment DO NOT wax or refinish your Pergo floor DO NOT use a steam mop on your Pergo laminate floor DO NOT pour liquid directly on the floor or use an excessively wet mop* that will puddle or leave moisture standing on the floor. DO NOT use soap or detergent-based cleaners on your Pergo laminate floor DO NOT allow spills to rest on your Pergo floor for long periods of time Remove dirt and dust. Use a dust mop or vacuum with a hard floor attachment to remove dirt and dust from your Pergo floor. Use a vacuum or vacuum attachment with soft bristle brush regularly to remove any particles that could scratch the floor. For a deeper cleaning, use a damp cotton cloth or cloth mop. Use a damp mop to gently clean your Pergo. You can make a Pergo-recommended household cleaner with 1 cup household vinegar to 1 gallon warm water or 1/3 cup ammonia mixed with 1 gallon warm water.
This cleaner will cleanse gently, removing dirt but keeping your floor beautiful. Protecting Your Pergo Laminate Protecting your Pergo laminate Place mats inside any exterior doorway over your Pergo floor to collect sand, gravel, or dirt tracked in the home. You can also place area rugs in other spaces for extra coverage. Make sure your rugs have a solid backing, so soil doesn't sift through the rug to come in contact with the floor. Use floor protectors or felt covers on chair legs, sofas, TV stands, tables and other easily moveable furniture so you don't scratch the floors. Replace plastic casters on chairs with rubber wheels. Lift, don't slide, heavy objects across floors. Simple Repair and Stain Removal Simple repair and stain removal for Pergo laminate Treat minor damage or dings to a laminate plank or tile with Pergo Finishing Putty. If the area is too big to treat with Pergo Finishing Putty, a certified retailer can recommend a professional to replace the plank or tile.
Remove candle wax or chewing gum from Pergo laminate with a blunt plastic scraper after the material has hardened. FOOD OR LIQUID SPILLS To remove glue, use an appropriate glue remover. After use, be sure to clean with standard cleaning products. To remove tough stains like tar, markers, crayon, lipstick, oil, shoe polish, nail polish or cigarette burns, use acetone nail polish remover or denatured alcohol on a clean cloth. Note: Do not use on coordinating wall base or quarter round. DO use a dust mop DO use a vacuum with a hard floor attachment that does NOT contain rotary brush heads that could cause scratches DO keep hardwood flooring cleaner or household vinegar on-hand for light mopping DO NOT install Pergo hardwood without allowing the planks to acclimate DO NOT wet or damp mop your Pergo hardwood floor, as this may cause damage DO NOT use oil soaps, wax, liquid detergent or other household products to clean the floor DO NOT use a steam mop on your Pergo hardwood floor
DO NOT allow spills to rest on your Pergo hardwood floor for long periods of time Remove dirt and dust. Vacuum or sweep your Pergo hardwood floor to remove dirt and dust. Use a vacuum or hard-floor vacuum attachment without a rotary brush head or moving parts, as these could scratch or damage your floor. Use a Hard Surface Cleaner to remove dirt or other residue. Apply Hardwood Flooring Cleaner directly to the dry flooring mop, not the hardwood floor. Use a back and forth motion with the mop on the hardwood. When the mop cover becomes soiled, simply replace it with a clean one. Cleaning the hardwood floor with a soiled cover could cause streaking. The covers are generally re-usable, so simply throw the cover in the wash and dry as you would any towel. Protecting Your Pergo Hardwood Protecting your Pergo hardwood Use floor protectors or felt covers on chair legs, sofas, TV stands, tables and other easily moveable furniture. Replace plastic or metal casters on chairs with rubber wheels.
Trim your pet's nails as recommended by your veterinarian. Promptly remove spills using hardwood flooring cleaner and a clean cloth. To help preserve the original look and color of your hardwood flooring, close window treatments during hours of direct sunlight and avoid excessive lighting where possible. Avoid wearing spiked heels or shoes in need of repair while walking on hardwood floors as they could scratch the surface. Place walk-off area rugs or protective mats at all exterior entrances to collect small bits of sand and gravel that may be tracked into the home. Alternate and clean mats regularly to avoid turning them into a soil source themselves or causing stains under the rug. Make sure your rugs have a solid back, so soil doesn't sift through the rug to come in contact with the floor. Clean under interior area rugs and mats regularly, as soil underneath them will have an abrasive effect on the floor finish. Simple repair and stain removal for Pergo hardwood