Cleaning laminate flooring

Cleaning laminate flooring

by Stacey
(Destrehan, La)

Stacey's question

I have tried everything to keep my laminate floor, but it never works. Every time I clean it, it gets a cloudy haze on the floor instead of shine. Any suggestions?

Taylor's response

It sounds to me like you might actually be using too much cleaning product on your floor.

Have you ever washed your floor, and then when it is almost dry, with just a hint of moisture left on it you walk over it and it feels almost sticky? I have done this before, and this happens because soap or detergent is still left on the floor that didn't get rinsed away, and it actually acts as a dirt magnet making the floor grimy and dirtier than it was before very quickly.

Try using less cleaner next time, and perhaps even using a second bucket of water for rinsing the mop for a second run through and see if that helps.

If you had a waxed floor (which I am assuming you don't because you say you have laminate floors) I might think you have gotten soap or detergent in the wax which has made the wax turn cloudy. If that occurred the only way to fix it would be to strip the wax, and then begin again.

Does anyone else have any ideas of what could be the problem? Or how have you solved a similar problem? Any products you would recommend or steer clear of?

Photo by chadmagiera

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Cleaning laminate flooring

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Same Problem Here
by: Christy

I am having the same problem with my laminate floors. I'm even using the laminate cleaner (expensive) that the manufacturer suggests. It looks great until it dries. Then it is dull again. I haven't tried rinsing it afterwards because the manufacturer warns about getting too much water on the flooring. I will try that in a small area and see what happens.

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Cleaning Laminate Floors
by: Anonymous

I experienced the same thing with my laminate floors. Here's how I fixed the problem:

1) Wash the floor in sections with an all-purpose cleaner like Mr. Clean or with a Murphy's Oil type cleaner (follow label instructions for dilution).
2) IMMEDIATELY after washing each section, DRY the area with a terry rag or towel. This is the trick!
3) Repeat steps 1 & 2 until your floor is completely cleaned.

It takes longer (especially if you do it on hands & knees like I do) but it makes the floors look great and prevents the "haze" from forming.

Hope this helps!

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Furniture Polish
by: Anonymous

After the floor is dry, attach a terry towel/cloth to a Swiffer mop head and spray the floor with Pledge or another furniture polish/dusting polish and wipe as you go... CAUTION: it gets very slippery! It actually repels dirt/dust and floors look cleaner longer and really shines! Be careful, though, it gets slick!