LAMINATE FLOORING CARE & MAINTENANCE

A clear surface layer protects the pattern of the laminate underneath, making it highly resistant to wear, stains and sunlight fading, and most household cleaning chemicals will not harm it. And because laminates are specially engineered with layered construction, they can be installed almost anywhere in the home. One caveat: unless specially treated laminate floors are very reactive to water. Otherwise, performance and cleaning should be a breeze.

• Sweep, dust, or vacuum the floor regularly with the hard floor attachment (not the beater bar) to prevent accumulation of dirt and grit that can scratch or dull the floor finish.
• For tough spots, such as oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink, or tar, use acetone/nail polish remover on a clean white cloth, then wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue.
• Periodically clean the floor with cleaning products made specifically for laminate floor care.
• For spots such as candle wax or chewing gum, harden the spot with ice and then gently scrape with a plastic scraper, such as a credit card. Be careful not to scratch the flooring surface. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
• A more frequent dust-mopping or vacuuming schedule may be required in very sandy areas such as a beach home.

What NOT to do with your laminate floor:

• Do not flood the floor with water.
• Do not use soap-, water- or oil-based detergents, or any other liquid cleaning material. This could cause swelling, warping, delamination and joint-line separation, and void the warranty.
• Do not use abrasive cleaners, steel wool, scouring powder or strong ammoniated or chlorinated type cleaners, all of which may scratch your floor.
• Do not wax, polish, sand or lacquer your laminate floor.
• Do not let spills linger. Remove them promptly. Use a damp cloth to blot up spills as soon as they occur.
• Do not use any type of buffing or polishing machine.
• Do not leave floor unprotected from your furniture. Use wide-bearing, non-staining floor protectors, such as clear, hard plastic or non-staining felt protectors for heavy furnishings.
• Do not forget to leave doormats outside each entrance to your home to prevent dirt, sand, grit and other substances from being tracked in.