Laminate is a fairly popular floor covering. It is used not only in industry, but also in houses and apartments. Why is laminate flooring so popular? Everything is simple. This is a very durable, wear-resistant and relatively cheap coating. But even such floors sometimes require maintenance. How to wash the laminate so that there are no streaks? Consider in our today's article.
Inventory
How to wash the laminate so that there are no streaks? It all depends on what type of cleaning will be applied:
- Dry. It uses a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush or a broom with soft synthetic bristles.
- Wet. A butterfly mop is required. You will also need a bucket to squeeze.
To wash the laminate without ruining it, you need a separate rag. It will be needed at the final stage of cleaning. With this rag we will wipe the coating dry. The cloth can be microfiber or nylon.
How to wash laminate floors without streaks? In the course of work, you need to monitor the condition of the water for cleaning. Periodically it needs to be changed so that dirty stains do not remain. The container (bucket) is also washed thoroughly before being filled with new water. Also, rinse the mop head under running water.
We use household chemicals
If the laminate is of good quality, the top coat protects the base layer from dirt. Therefore, it is sufficient only to remove dust and stains from the surface. They are easy to clean with a wet and then dry cloth. If there are serious traces, you can use household chemicals. These are special liquids for washing and gels. They not only clean, but also create an additional protective layer, and also remove all kinds of bacteria. Among the quality manufacturers of such furniture, it is worth noting the following:
- Emsal.
- Unicum.
- Starwax.
- HG.
- Denkmit.
But before washing the laminate (so that there are no stains), you need to dilute these products in water. Usually, four caps of chemistry are required for five liters of water.
What not to use
When caring for laminate flooring, you need to remember that the coating does not like the effects of such detergents:
- Chlorine-containing. White is not suitable for laminate. Otherwise, it becomes stained.
- Acetone-containing. This applies to any products that contain acetone (including nail polish remover). If such a solution falls onsurface, the structure of the material is damaged.
- Powder. The composition contains many small abrasive particles. They can damage the protective transparent layer of the lamellas.
How to wash the laminate so that there are no streaks? Many people say that hot water should not be used. But practice shows the opposite. Hot water can be used to clean the surface.
Brushing technique
During the general cleaning there is a need to rearrange the furniture. Experts recommend putting cardboard under the legs, which will protect the laminated coating from scratches and other defects. When the territory of the room is vacated, you can get to work:
- Remove large debris with a vacuum cleaner or a broom.
- Dilute detergent in water. No need to dilute "by eye". Instructions must be followed exactly.
- Soak the base of the mop in the solution.
- Wring out the rag.
- Wipe the surface with a spiral motion. You need to move from the windows to the door.
- To avoid stains, you need to use a dry cloth. It handles wet areas of the laminate.
If the coating is slightly dirty, you can treat it with plain water from a spray bottle, and then wipe it with a microfiber cloth.
Alternative method
Despite the variety of specialized laminate care products, experts recommend cleaning without chemicals whenever possible. The fact is that some aggressive materials athit on the lamella, interact with the material and react with chemical compounds. Chloramines and ethanolamines are released. Inhalation of these components may cause he alth problems. First of all, the respiratory system suffers. There is a risk of getting rhinitis and bronchial asthma.
How to wash laminate without streaks at home? To do this, you need water at a temperature of 90 degrees and 9 percent vinegar. In what proportion is the composition diluted? For a liter of water, you need to take 50 milliliters of acetic acid. The latter allows you to neutralize the alkali in the water, which can cause stains. In this case, the solution dries quickly enough. It does not need to be wiped with a dry cloth.
Folk remedies
Let's consider a few everyday situations:
- Traces from a felt-tip pen or from a pencil. In this situation, you can remove them with triple cologne or medical ethyl alcohol.
- Divorces from wine and cognac. It is also recommended to use alcohol here. Both medical and technical can be used.
- Traces from slippers. You can eliminate them with baking soda. It is necessary to scatter the composition on the area and then remove it with a regular napkin.
- Traces of fat. Soap solution required. A rag is moistened in it and the necessary area is treated. At the end of the procedures, it is recommended to walk with a detergent designed for cleaning windows.
- Small scratches. They can be masked with a felt-tip pen that matches the shade of the floor.
- Dried dirt. To remove it, you need 500 milliliters of water, 50 milliliters of vinegar and a tablespoon of soda. It is necessary to mix these components thoroughly and apply with a spray gun to the desired area. After 10 minutes, the floor is wiped with a damp cloth.
How to wash laminate without streaks?
Many are interested in the question of whether this coating can be processed with a washing vacuum cleaner. Experts say that it is possible to work with such equipment only on a durable laminate.
Lamels should be wax impregnated, which will protect against moisture. You can also apply:
- Multifunctional device. This is a vacuum cleaner that is used to clean different surfaces. The device is used for both wet and dry cleaning. But not every model of such a vacuum cleaner is suitable for laminate. Experts say that it is better to choose those units that spray water with its subsequent assembly. It will not be superfluous to have additional functions (for example, water dispensing adjustment and a parquet adapter). A nozzle that removes excess liquid must be included in the kit.
- Steam cleaner. But there are limitations here. So, you can not use a steam cleaner on floors with a lock connection. If steam enters the gaps at the joints, the floor may warp. But if it's glued, a steam mop will do the job. It allows you to remove all the dirt and dust. In addition, such a mop disinfects the surface. You also need to understand that you can not use a steam cleaner onwax lamellas. Due to the high temperature, there is a risk of deformation and melting of the flooring.
Features of working with black and white floors
There are two varieties of laminate flooring. So, the coating can be dark and light. How to wash dark and light laminate without streaks?
- If it is a white laminate, everything will depend on the amount of dirt and the properties of the material. Often, the owners resort to the use of folk remedies. But before washing the laminate without streaks, you need to remove small pebbles and sand from the surface. This can be done with a broom or a vacuum cleaner.
- If this is a dark laminate, things are a little more complicated here. On such a coating there will be types of traces and stains from poor-quality cleaning. How to clean laminate without streaks? To do this, you need to perform wet cleaning twice a week. First, the floor is cleaned of dirt, and then various stains are removed with a dry cloth. For a better shine, you can scrub the laminate floor with window cleaner and a clean rag.
Recommendations for cleaning after renovations
How to wash a laminate without streaks after repair? To make cleaning easier, it is better to cover the surface with plastic wrap before repairing. After all operations, the film is removed, and a minimum of contamination remains on the floor. But what to do next? Then you need to use a broom and remove the remaining dust and debris.
Not always the film will protect from unpleasant moments. So, paint and putty can get on the laminated coating. Howwash the laminate so that there are no streaks? Consider each situation separately.
Removing paint
To do this, use nail polish remover or ethyl alcohol. But you need to work with such liquids only in a contaminated area. So, pour the solution into this area and wait one and a half minutes. Next, wipe the surface dry with a clean cloth.
Remove putty. Masking damage
To remove white putty stains, use a damp cloth. Next, the surface is wiped with a dry microfiber cloth. We recommend using a window cleaner to add shine to the finish.
If scratches are still formed when moving furniture, they can be masked with a wax pencil or a special repair putty for laminate flooring.
Conclusion
So, we figured out how and how to wash the laminate. As you can see, there are a lot of ways. Everyone chooses the most suitable for himself. Finally, we note that during repairs, acid-containing compounds should not be allowed to enter the surface of the laminate. Otherwise, such a coating will have to be changed entirely. It will no longer be possible to mask these damages.
