Find out the most common mistakes made with laminate floors andhow to fix them.

What are Laminate Floors?

The material is affordable and comes in infinite colors and patterns.

Laminate wood floor with rug and chair legs closeup

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Doing this just about daily will minimize dirt that can grind into the seams or scratch the surface.

It will also the lesson the times you should probably use water to clean the floor.

Too Much Water

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To get a dirty floor clean, you need water.

Person mopping a laminate floor

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A little water goes a long way on a laminate floor.

Many cleaners can dull the look of our laminate floors.

This is especially true when cleaners are overused.

Bucket of cleaning supplies

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If you have a laminate floor cleaner that you love, be sure to follow the usage instructions.

It’s tempting to think that more soap equals cleaner, but that isn’t true.

A simple cleaner to add to your mopping solution is a few tablespoons of ammonia-freeglass cleaner.

Woman vacuuming living room floor

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Others have success using just a few drops of mild dish soap.

Dirt is an enemy to laminate since it scratches and dulls the finish of the floor.

However, sweeping or vacuuming improperly can do more damage to your laminate than the dirt.

A mop in a bucket

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For sweeping, a clean microfiber dust mop can be more gentle on the floor than bristle brooms.

Rag mops aren’t a great option unless they are completely rung out.

Make surethe mop you chooseis only damp and not sopping wet.

Furniture pad underneath chair legs on laminate floor

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Furniture Damage

Beautiful furniture can enhance a beautiful floor.

But to protect that floor, the furniture needs a little addition.

Furniture pads on the bottoms of heavy furniture will protect the floor from scuffing and gouging.

Laminate floor

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Or slightly dampen the mark, and rub a fresh, new pink eraser over the scuff.

To remedy this, try a different cleaner or use less cleaner.

Remember, water and a tiny bit of glass cleaner is more than enough to get the floors clean.

Holiday cactus plant in floral pot and plant try on laminate floor

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

you’re able to also buff the floors dry with an absorbent towel after you are done mopping.

Some floors are more prone to streaking than others, but these tips should help.

Floors often look streaky after mopping without vacuuming immediately beforehand.

Brown and white cat sitting next to empty bowls on laminate floor

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Plants

Be aware of potential problems if you have potted plants on your laminate surfaces.

Overfilling them or leaky planters can cause damage that may be hidden temporarily.

Protect the floors by paying attention to watering and using a pad to protect the floor under the pots.

Sunlight casting over laminate floor near window

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To be extra careful, move the plants up onto a higher surface.

Pet Food

Pet food and water dishes can also present issues for laminate floors.

Keep an eye on dampness issues, such as spilled water from a bowl, that can affect laminate.