How to make laminate shine: features of laminate, which is better to choose for washing at home

Laminate is a very beautiful and high-quality floor covering, which is also easy to install. That is why, when choosing a material for finishing a floor, people often make their choice in its favor. However, laminate flooring needs some care if you want to maintain its original appearance for a long time. If you simply place it on the base and then occasionally wipe it with a cloth, the material will quickly lose its appearance. To make laminate flooring shine, it needs special care.

To make laminate shine - how to do it

Features of laminate that need to be taken into account when starting wet cleaning

Laminate is a floor covering that consists of small panels made from fibreboard. This is a multilayer material that has a paper layer on which the coating pattern is printed directly, as well as a protective top layer with which the paper itself is covered.

Laminate flooring

On a note! Laminate is sometimes called laminated parquet, but this is a fundamentally erroneous idea of ​​the material. It's all about the structure and the substances from which it is made. Parquet consists entirely of wood, while laminate has a layered structure that contains both paper and polymers.

Laminate board - device

Advantages of laminate:

• low price;
• beautiful appearance;
• ease of installation using special locks;
• the ability to choose different colors;
• sufficient wear resistance with proper care;
• possibility of implementing any design solutions.

Laying laminate

Disadvantages of laminate:

• the material requires a perfectly flat base for installation;
• needs special care;
• scratches easily;
• and, finally, the main disadvantage is that the material is afraid of water (with the exception of the moisture-resistant variety), which complicates wet cleaning.

Blistering of the laminate

Since the laminate is based on fiberboard (a material that does not tolerate moisture), this floor requires special care. Simply washing it with water will not work. If the laminate is subjected to intense moisture, it begins to lose its appearance - its edges swell, bulge, and bend. Even after drying, the material may not return to its original state, and only a complete replacement of the coating can correct the appearance of the floor.

Attention! If flooding occurs in an apartment where laminate flooring is installed, then with a 99% probability the entire coating will have to be removed and thrown away. Although in some cases, if the laminate is disassembled and dried, the floors can still be saved. However, this is only possible if a high-class coating is used.

If the apartment floods, the laminate will have to be replaced

It is because of hydrophobia that the material cannot be installed in bathrooms. Even a slight excess of a certain level of humidity in the room will negatively affect the appearance and performance of the laminate. The service life of the coating in this case is reduced to only 8 years.

Laminate flooring in the apartment

Prices for laminate Tarkett

Tarquette laminate

Elimination of defects

During operation and as a result of improper care, defects may appear on the laminate. In case of minor damage, it is possible to repair the damage even on your own.

How to remove bloating?

In cases where the laminate has risen at the joints, it will not be possible to cope with the problem using easy methods. The solution to the problem is dismantling .

It is possible to eliminate the defect yourself only if you have experience. If it is not there, you will need the help of professionals, since the baseboard will need to be removed and the covering will be partially dismantled.

If the cause of the swelling of the boards is spilled water, then you can try to cope on your own:

• wipe the surface;
• ensure drying.

Scuffs and scratches

Scratches and abrasions, if they are small, can be rubbed with flannel dipped in vegetable oil. You can also use a wax pencil of a suitable shade and polish.

A special putty and paste will help deal with deeper damage (chips, dents and scratches) . The product is carefully applied to the defect site, filling the missing volume. After the composition has dried, the treated area is sanded and opened with varnish.

How to wash laminate flooring at home

To clean the laminate and remove stains on it, as well as to add shine, only special products should be used. Among them there are both professional preparations and folk, home-made ones. You can familiarize yourself with them by looking at the table below.

How to clean laminate flooring

Table. Laminate cleaning products.

How can you wash laminate flooring?

In general, if the laminate has been handled with care, the coating can be easily cleaned with regular clean water and a soft cloth. And if any chemical agent is used to clean the coating, it is important to read the instructions for use before use and act strictly according to them - an overly thick and saturated solution can damage the laminate.

Features of laminated coating

One of the popular coatings is laminate. The floor is assembled from planks made of particle board. Together they are fastened with a special lock, which makes the gap between the slats minimal. The connection between the parts of the laminate is the weak point of the coating. If moisture gets inside, the wood chip material will swell and the floor will begin to move or swell in bulges.

In expensive types of coating, the cracks are sealed with special wax, and the planks are impregnated with a water-repellent composition to protect them from damage.

What is needed for cleaning

Before you start cleaning your laminate flooring, it is important to purchase everything you need for this procedure. For cleaning you will need:

• a brush or broom with soft bristles;
• mop;
• a vacuum cleaner equipped with a special brush;
• sponge without abrasive side;
• rag (you can use microfiber cloth, flannel);
• a bucket of water at room temperature;
• means for cleaning laminate flooring or prepared independently according to folk recipes.

What you need to clean laminate flooring

What is better not to use

When cleaning laminate flooring, you cannot use some of the usual means. They can cause irreparable damage to the coating. List of drugs that should not be used to clean laminate flooring:

• ammonia-containing products (ammonia corrodes the top protective layer of the laminate and hopelessly damages the coating);
• any abrasives (no cleaning powders or pastes, even if there is serious contamination);
• surface polishing agents (those preparations that are used for polishing other floor coverings are not suitable for laminate);
• large amount of water (water penetrating into the structure of the coating can ruin the appearance of the laminate and deform it);

  Mold under laminate

• hot steam (detrimental to the coating);
• products containing aggressive chemicals - alkali and acid (the protective layer of the coating is quickly destroyed under their influence, the surface ceases to shine);
• liquids with chlorine (also have a negative effect on the protective laminated coating layer);
• silicone-containing products (negatively affect the top layer of the coating);

Attention! Protective caps should be put on furniture legs, since moving a chair or any other interior element on the laminate can seriously damage the surface by scratching it.

Caps for furniture legs

It is also not recommended to use a vacuum cleaner to clean laminate flooring. Yes, it is convenient for removing dirt and makes life much easier for apartment owners, but since laminate does not like water, this household device can cause irreparable damage to the coating.

On a note! Some modern models of vacuum cleaners with a floor cleaning function can still be used to clean laminate floors. It is important to clarify this point with the managers of the household appliance store when purchasing equipment.

It is also not recommended to use a steam cleaner. It is suitable only if the laminate joints were connected to each other with glue during installation.

Rules for cleaning laminate flooring

Deep scratches

Severe damage to the laminate (scratches, chips, dents) is a serious problem, since not only the protective layer is destroyed or deformed, but also the base. When cleaning, moisture gets there, and the defective area becomes a source of further delamination of the material. To eliminate such damage, you will need special compounds that not only mask, but also fill the depressions. The most common means:

• wax crayons;
• laminate restoration paste;
• acrylic varnish and plaster;
• putty;
• repair kit.

Deep damage to the coating
All of the listed materials can be purchased at hardware stores. Let's look at how to repair damage with them.

Fixing scratches with wax crayons

The color of the wax chalk (pencil) is matched to the color of the coating. It can be used to remove even deep scratches.

Using wax crayons
The technology of use is simple: after washing the floor and thoroughly drying, use chalk to paint over defects across their direction. The composition with a water-repellent effect fills all the recesses. Next, the application area is polished with cloth. The coating becomes like new and receives additional protection from moisture and dust.

Do not confuse these crayons with wax candles, they have different compositions!

Laminate restoration paste

A special paste is used to repair deep scratches or chips. Its color also matches the floor covering. An exact tone match with the laminate can be achieved by mixing putty from different tubes. It is better to carry out trial work on an unnecessary board.

Filling scratches with paste
Restoration sequence:

1. Clean the defective area.
2. Using a rubber spatula, cover the damaged area.
3. Smooth out the putty and remove it from undamaged areas.
4. Wipe the repair area with a dry cloth.
5. Wait 1-2 hours until the paste dries completely.
6. Cover the repair area with protective varnish.
7. Wait for the varnish layer to dry.

Acrylic varnish and plaster

Acrylic varnish hides minor damage to glossy floor coverings well. The composition is applied with a brush to the previously cleaned and dried area of ​​the defect. After drying, the repair area is polished with a rag.

Applying varnish with a brush
Using plaster, dents and deep chips are eliminated. The previously damaged area is cleaned of contaminants. Gypsum is mixed with sawdust in equal quantities, water is added until a thick paste is obtained. The resulting mixture is pressed into the crack or dent with a spatula or knife. A thin piece of wood matching the color is placed on top. After complete drying, the surface is cleaned with fine sandpaper and varnished.

Instead of plaster and water, you can use PVA glue. The sequence of work will be the same.

Putty

Noticeable scratches and chips can be easily removed with a special putty for laminate flooring. Various types of it are made on the basis of alabaster, varnish or water. When purchasing, you need to make sure that the color of the composition is the same as that of the coating.

Putty
When applying, follow the instructions for this type of putty. Approximate list of works:

1. We clean and degrease the defect.
2. We cover the perimeter of the treatment with masking tape to protect undamaged areas.
3. We quickly fill the recess with the composition (time is limited).
4. Allow to harden (duration according to instructions).
5. Remove the masking tape.
6. We sand the repaired area.

Due to the ease of application, even a craftsman without experience can work with this material.

How to repair a scratch with a repair kit

You can quickly and easily repair minor damage to laminate flooring using a repair kit. It has everything for such work:

• a set of wax blocks of different colors;
• battery-powered wax melter;
• plastic spatula with a ribbed surface for grouting;
• double-sided sanding cloth;
• description of the sequence of actions.

Repair kit
When performing repairs, you must follow the recommendations in the instructions. Restoring a laminated coating with this kit is similar to the methods already described. Here you also need to perform the same operations: cleaning from dirt, filling voids with a repair compound, cleaning and polishing. To repair deep damage, you will need to apply several layers of wax. The filling material is applied with a slight excess, since it shrinks when cooled. After completion of the work, it is recommended to varnish.

How to choose the right cleaning product

Among the wide variety of home cleaning products, there is an extensive range of products designed for cleaning laminate flooring. And choosing a product that will suit the apartment owner and is ideal for coating is quite difficult.

Laminate cleaner

In order to make the right choice, you must:

• evaluate the form that is convenient to work with. The products are available in the form of shampoos, gels, powders;
• evaluate the environmental friendliness of the drug, especially if there are children in the house;
• look at the composition of the product, make sure that it does not contain substances hazardous to the coating.

Floors in rooms for different purposes are washed at different intervals. For example, in the hallway and kitchen, laminate flooring will need to be cleaned more often, but in other rooms it can be cleaned less often. However, dust in any case, even if the entire house is kept clean, will quickly settle on the surface, which increases the frequency of cleaning using water.

Laminate flooring in the bedroom

Fortunately, there are now products on sale that have an antistatic effect. Of course, they won’t completely prevent dust from settling, but they will reduce the amount of dust on the floor.

Advice! To clean the laminated surface, it is convenient to use robotic vacuum cleaners, which are programmed to clean the house in the absence of the owner. They clean the floors very carefully.

Washing vacuum cleaner and laminate

Washing vacuum cleaner and steam cleaner

Using a washing vacuum cleaner or steam cleaner simplifies the cleaning process, but is permitted subject to a number of conditions:

1. The locks of the laminate panels must be pre-treated with wax or acrylic sealant and glued.
2. It is reliably known that when installing the floor, a material of at least class 33, which has high strength, was used.
3. The floor is not deformed and has no cracks.

When purchasing household appliances equipped with such functions, ask whether it can be used for cleaning laminate flooring or whether it is better to look at another unit.

How to remove stains from laminate flooring

Laminate, like any other coating, can be stained with completely different types of stains. You need to deal with them carefully and in a special way.

Table. How to remove stains from laminate flooring.

Wine on laminate

Complex cases

Stains on the floor appear in families with small children. Yes, and adults can drip brilliant green, iodine, or wax from a candle onto the floor. Then, before washing the floor, you need to repair the damage.

Zelenka

Try to remove a fresh stain from tincture of brilliant green or iodine with a cloth moistened in an alcohol solution. Wipe thoroughly until completely removed. You can clean the stain with a 50/50 mixture of methyl alcohol and water.

Mold

Patches of mold cover the floor in damp corners and on baseboards. Carefully remove greenish and whitish fluffy stains by wiping the floor dry. A mixture of 1 part salicylic acid and 4 parts wine vinegar will help. It is necessary to treat with a solution of table salt (100 grams of salt per glass of water) to prevent the appearance of mold.

Dye

Remove stains with solvent or white spirit. Wipe carefully, trying not to touch the surfaces near the stain. Old dried paint can be carefully scraped off with a scraper.

Glue

Treat droplets of glue with a cloth soaked in gasoline or solvent. Place ice cubes on the spilled glue stain. The frozen mass will be easier to clean off.

Candle wax, chewing gum

Place a bag of ice cubes on the stains. The pieces of material are then carefully scraped off.

Blood

Stains are immediately wiped off with cold water. After the procedure, rub the area with a dry cloth.

After renovation

Repairs to the premises must be carried out with the protection of the laminated coating with film and newspapers. But particles of construction dust cover the laminate, no matter how hard they try to protect the floor from their penetration. It is necessary to immediately remove construction debris with a dry soft brush. Wipe the laminate with a damp cloth, changing the water several times.

Fat

Fight grease stains with a mixture of washing powder, kneading it thickly with water. The paste is applied to the stain and left overnight. In the morning, wash with warm water. Dark laminate may leave a light stain that can be buffed out.

Old fat is removed with turpentine. They moisten the stain with it, then sprinkle it with talcum powder. Place blotting paper or a napkin on top and iron with a hot iron. If the stain does not disappear immediately, you need to repeat the procedure.

How to wash laminate flooring - cleaning steps

Step 1. All large debris is removed using a brush or vacuum cleaner. It is important to sweep away sand, crumbs and other debris that can create an abrasive effect when mopping the floor with a rag and ruin the coating. All distant corners and hard-to-reach places are swept well.

The floor is being vacuumed

Step 2. Water at room temperature is poured into the bucket. Do not use hot or cold liquid - the first will harm both the laminate and human hands, the second will simply be uncomfortable to use. Next, in accordance with the instructions for use, a small amount of laminate cleaner is thoroughly dissolved in water.

Preparing the cleaning solution

Step 3. A soft rag (preferably microfiber) is dipped into the bucket and wrung out well. The fabric should be damp, but not damp. First, wash a small area of ​​the surface to ensure that the product is safe to coat.

Wringing out a soft cloth

Step 4. The rag is put on the mop, the laminate is wiped well over the entire area.

The laminate is thoroughly wiped down

Step 5. As the fabric becomes dirty, the rag should be rinsed well in clean water and re-wetted with a liquid containing a diluted product. The floors continue to be cleared of dirt.

The rag is rinsed in clean water

After cleaning, the floors can be wiped with a dry soft cloth or left to dry naturally by opening the windows in the room.

Prices for washing vacuum cleaners for laminate flooring

washing vacuum cleaner for laminate flooring

Video - How to care for laminate flooring

Video - How and how to wash laminate flooring