Cleaning Laminate Floors
 

We've just had a laminate floor laid, and very nice it is too.

I've done a Google search in this group, and more generally in Usenet
but there doesn't seem to be a definitive guide to the best cleaning
methods/products/practice.

Can someone prove me wrong ?

TIA
--
Mark
Please replace invalid and invalid with gmx and net to reply.

"Mark Carver" wrote in message
...
We've just had a laminate floor laid, and very nice it is too.

I've done a Google search in this group, and more generally in Usenet but
there doesn't seem to be a definitive guide to the best cleaning
methods/products/practice.

Can someone prove me wrong ?

I've never looked so no.

I sweep most days and occasionally wipe over it with a damp cloth.

Mary

Mark Carver has brought this to us :
We've just had a laminate floor laid, and very nice it is too.

I've done a Google search in this group, and more generally in Usenet but
there doesn't seem to be a definitive guide to the best cleaning
methods/products/practice.

Can someone prove me wrong ?

TIA

I don't know the correct name for them, but SWMBO simply uses one of
those static mop thingummies. It has a handle, a rectangular soft
pivoting head, onto which you clip the static papers which collect the
dust. Other than that a damp cloth occasionally.

--

Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.org

In message ,
Mark Carver wrote:

We've just had a laminate floor laid, and very nice it is too.

I've done a Google search in this group, and more generally in Usenet
but there doesn't seem to be a definitive guide to the best cleaning
methods/products/practice.

Can someone prove me wrong ?


We have exactly the same problem. We installed laminate because we
couldn't afford anything more durable, and carpet simply isn't an option
in a kitchen/dining area with small children. We're not just talking
about food; even vinyl flooring would suffer with toy cars etc.

Most of the proprietry laminate cleaners seem to concentrate not on
cleaning, but on polishing. Without the children this'd be fine: a sweep
with a soft brush and then a polish is likely to get rid of most muck.

*With* the children however, it is a different story. Quite apart from
sticky food on the floor (we installed the laminate when they were 9
months and 3 years) there's muddy feet, paint and play-dough to think
about. The only sensible way to clean the floor is "wet" and yet the
vast majority of laminates (including ours of course) have dire warnings
on the packaging about never allowing the floor to get wet. There is a
house a few doors down which is set below the level of the road; if you
look over their wall you can see that the laminate in their living room
is quite badly warped along the joins.

Our current solution is twofold: as soon as possible after a spill you
can usually get most of it off with a damp (not wet) cloth, or one of
those large "Dettol" type floor wipes. The wipes seem to be
alcohol-based which evaporates (dries) a lot quicker than water. If it
has dried on or is too sticky for the above then we use a wet cloth (or
well-wrung mop) with the other person following with an old towel to dry
the floor.

Neither solution is entirely satisfactory. Given the same time and
budget constraints as we had when we chose to use laminate we'd probably
still do it (though we might at least cost-out a sealed variety), but
next time we're in this situation we're going to be saving up and
looking seriously at alternatives which don't mind getting wet and being
scrubbed!

Hwyl!

M.

--
Martin Angove: http://www.tridwr.demon.co.uk/
Two free issues: http://www.livtech.co.uk/ Living With Technology
.... ILLITERATE? Write for a free brochure...

We had a similar problem recently when stupidly I put down a laminate floor
before having some plastering work done.

The plasterer recommended Jeyes fluid for polishing the floor. I dont know
if htis would work or is even a good idea but was merely something I was
told.

Tim

"Martin Angove" wrote in message
...
In message ,
Mark Carver wrote:

We've just had a laminate floor laid, and very nice it is too.

I've done a Google search in this group, and more generally in Usenet
but there doesn't seem to be a definitive guide to the best cleaning
methods/products/practice.

Can someone prove me wrong ?


We have exactly the same problem. We installed laminate because we
couldn't afford anything more durable, and carpet simply isn't an option
in a kitchen/dining area with small children. We're not just talking
about food; even vinyl flooring would suffer with toy cars etc.

Most of the proprietry laminate cleaners seem to concentrate not on
cleaning, but on polishing. Without the children this'd be fine: a sweep
with a soft brush and then a polish is likely to get rid of most muck.

*With* the children however, it is a different story. Quite apart from
sticky food on the floor (we installed the laminate when they were 9
months and 3 years) there's muddy feet, paint and play-dough to think
about. The only sensible way to clean the floor is "wet" and yet the
vast majority of laminates (including ours of course) have dire warnings
on the packaging about never allowing the floor to get wet. There is a
house a few doors down which is set below the level of the road; if you
look over their wall you can see that the laminate in their living room
is quite badly warped along the joins.

Our current solution is twofold: as soon as possible after a spill you
can usually get most of it off with a damp (not wet) cloth, or one of
those large "Dettol" type floor wipes. The wipes seem to be
alcohol-based which evaporates (dries) a lot quicker than water. If it
has dried on or is too sticky for the above then we use a wet cloth (or
well-wrung mop) with the other person following with an old towel to dry
the floor.

Neither solution is entirely satisfactory. Given the same time and
budget constraints as we had when we chose to use laminate we'd probably
still do it (though we might at least cost-out a sealed variety), but
next time we're in this situation we're going to be saving up and
looking seriously at alternatives which don't mind getting wet and being
scrubbed!

Hwyl!

M.

--
Martin Angove: http://www.tridwr.demon.co.uk/
Two free issues: http://www.livtech.co.uk/ Living With Technology
... ILLITERATE? Write for a free brochure...

On Tue, 19 Apr 2005 19:29:47 +0100, Mark Carver
wrote:

We've just had a laminate floor laid, and very nice it is too.

I've done a Google search in this group, and more generally in Usenet
but there doesn't seem to be a definitive guide to the best cleaning
methods/products/practice.

Can someone prove me wrong ?

Just don't use floor polish, otherwise you stand a good chance of
breaking your neck if walking about in socks. I made that mistake.

I just sweep/vacuum, then wipe over with a damp cloth and a bit of
Flash or equivalent. Laminate is far better than carpet even when it's
got a few grubby areas. My new house has this almost white carpet
throughout and I can't wait for it to become ruined so that I have an
excuse to replace it with laminate. It's an absolute bugger to keep
clean. I can only suppose those people whose carpets always appear
spotless hardly move about in their houses and always religiously
remove shoes and don slippers. Pain in the friggin' Arsenal, carpets
are, if you ask me.

MM

"Tim Smith" wrote in message
...
We had a similar problem recently when stupidly I put down a laminate
floor
before having some plastering work done.

The plasterer recommended Jeyes fluid for polishing the floor. I dont know
if htis would work or is even a good idea but was merely something I was
told.



Fine if you have a Jeyes Fluid odour fetish I suppose!

If you have cat(s), don't even consider it. JF is poisonous for cats.


--
Richard Sampson

mail me at
richard at olifant d-ot co do-t uk

"Martin Angove" wrote in message

snip

The only sensible way to clean the floor is "wet"

No it isn't. We have filthy boots bringing in mud and chicken **** from the
garden, I'm not careful when cooking and baking (daily) and am always
dropping stuff - including grease- on the floor. and we have frequent visits
from children of all ages. Sometiomes I decide to clean the floor, I sweep
with a handbrush (the kitchen has lots of awkward intrusions) or a long
handled broom in the sitting room then simply wipe over with a damp cloth.
You NEVER need to wet the surface. Even dried on blood can be wiped off
easily. Might take bit more effort than a beer spill but it's not onerous -
believe me, I'm not a cleaning freak.

Much worse than playdough is beeswax. It either has to be scraped up when
cold or warmed and wiped. But it's easy. I don't know what all the fuss is
about.

Mary

RichardS wrote:
Fine if you have a Jeyes Fluid odour fetish I suppose!

If you have cat(s), don't even consider it. JF is poisonous for cats.

That's very useful information! Now, where's my sprayer?

In message ,
"Mary Fisher" wrote:


"Martin Angove" wrote in message

snip

The only sensible way to clean the floor is "wet"

No it isn't. We have filthy boots bringing in mud and chicken **** from the
garden, I'm not careful when cooking and baking (daily) and am always
dropping stuff - including grease- on the floor. and we have frequent visits
from children of all ages. Sometiomes I decide to clean the floor, I sweep
with a handbrush (the kitchen has lots of awkward intrusions) or a long
handled broom in the sitting room then simply wipe over with a damp cloth.
You NEVER need to wet the surface. Even dried on blood can be wiped off
easily. Might take bit more effort than a beer spill but it's not onerous -
believe me, I'm not a cleaning freak.


Goodness! I've yet to see the brush which will clean off wet mud without
smearing it all over the place :-)

Actually your method doesn't sound too different to our normal one;
brush then wipe with a damp cloth, but I still counter that some dirt
doesn't respond well to this unless you sit there scratching with your
nails at every bit of dried-on muck. This can take quite some time. I
don't envy you your beeswax.

In our last house we had quarry tiles in the kitchen. Death to dropped
plates, but much easier to clean. If a brush didn't get it off, out with
the wet mop & Flash, a quick slosh over and most things lift off. It's
the water which does it, you see, especially for something which has
dried on. Leave the back door open for a few minutes to help the drying
and all finished. Our second method for laminate isn't as wet as that
(we aren't that brave), but it is a little more than "damp".

Hwyl!

M.

--
Martin Angove: http://www.tridwr.demon.co.uk/
Two free issues: http://www.livtech.co.uk/ Living With Technology
.... Where we operate at a 90ø angle to reality

"Martin Angove" wrote in message
...

snip

The only sensible way to clean the floor is "wet"

No it isn't. We have filthy boots bringing in mud and chicken **** from
the
garden, I'm not careful when cooking and baking (daily) and am always
dropping stuff - including grease- on the floor. and we have frequent
visits
from children of all ages. Sometiomes I decide to clean the floor, I
sweep
with a handbrush (the kitchen has lots of awkward intrusions) or a long
handled broom in the sitting room then simply wipe over with a damp
cloth.
You NEVER need to wet the surface. Even dried on blood can be wiped off
easily. Might take bit more effort than a beer spill but it's not
onerous -
believe me, I'm not a cleaning freak.


Goodness! I've yet to see the brush which will clean off wet mud without
smearing it all over the place :-)

So have I. I don't sweep wet dirt. It dries.

Actually your method doesn't sound too different to our normal one;
brush then wipe with a damp cloth, but I still counter that some dirt
doesn't respond well to this unless you sit there scratching with your
nails at every bit of dried-on muck.

Well, what kind of dirt do you mean? And I suppose it must depend on how
fussy you are.

This can take quite some time. I
don't envy you your beeswax.

A hair drier and kitchen paper sees to it. Very effective.

In our last house we had quarry tiles in the kitchen. Death to dropped
plates,

Also expensive, cold to bare feet and noisy.

but much easier to clean.

Well ...

If a brush didn't get it off, out with
the wet mop & Flash, a quick slosh over and most things lift off.

The dirt which isn't picked up by the mop are spread round ... I hate mops
with a passion. You can't rinse them effectively so can't rinse the floor
effectively.

I know that I've been a bit flippant about my slovenly habits but when I do
clean I like it to be done very, very well. I sweep, go over with a damp
cloth, rinse the cloth and do it again and again until the cloth is clean.

With laminate floor if you don't do that you'll leave smears. Well, you'll
leave smeared dirt anyway but on laminate it shows.

Mary