Laminate and Wood Floor Cleaners – When it comes to cleaning laminate or wood floors there are several things to choose from. It is possible to buy cleaners from the store or make one’s own. There are also packaged items that include a mop and cloth or cloth-like pads making cleaning easy. There are lots of products out there to keep a homes laminate and wood floors looking their best.
Preparing the Surface
Vacuuming the floor before using and wet cleaning methods is a necessity. Getting rid of those dust bunnies and dirt that gets tracked in is essential to keeping wood and laminate floors clean. If the loose grime is left on the surface, the cleaning products are not as effective. Sand paper products like 3M can also be used to remove any burs or rough problem areas on wood floors (not laminate).
Products Designed Specifically for Hard Wood Floors
These products usually have a chemical base to them but are great at cleaning off the grime that comes with normal wear and tear. Products like Mr. Clean, Pledge, Old English, Orange Glo, Murphy’s Oil Soap and other brand names are great cleaners. In some cases they polish the surface while they clean it saving a step.
All in One Kits
Pledge and Swiffer are two companies that offer great kits designed to clean and beautify wood and laminate flooring. These kits usually come with a flat headed mop, cleaning pads that can be removed and thrown away and maybe even a liquid cleaning solution. Bona Swedish Hardwood Formula offers an array of different kits as well.
Steam Cleaning your Floors
There are some new products on the market that offer the power of steam cleaning. Although care should be taken as to introducing too much water to the wooden flooring as it may cause warping, steam is a very effective means of cleaning floors as the steam is quick to evaporate and dry unlike a traditional mop and bucket.
Waxes for your Floor
Waxing the floor really brings out the luster and shine of the wood and laminate and also adds a layer of protection. Once a lot of time and effort has been spent one would want them to last. It may be necessary to use a stripper or mineral spirits to remove old wax build up on wood floors. Laminate floors don’t need to be stripped before waxing as strippers can damage the surface of the laminate. Liquid waxing agents like DuraSeal or Hard Wax Oil should be spread onto the floor and evenly spread with a non absorbent mop, cloth or rag.
References:
- Cleaning Wood and Laminate Floors – http://www.doityourself.com/stry/floorwoodlaminate
- Clean Wood Floors of Cincinnati – http://www.cinhome.com/shop/shop.cgi?page=list.html
- Hardwood Floor Care and Maintenance – http://www.doityourself.com/stry/woodfloormaintenance
- How to Clean Hardwood Floors – http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/floors-and-carpet/floors/how-to-clean-hardwood-floors/
- www.pledge.com
- www.swiffer.com
