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We just installed laminate wood floors about 4 months ago.
I didn't like the "dull" finish after seeing it installed. I read on the internet that Holloway House Quick Shine floor cleaner was a good product to try.
It does shine them, but it takes forever to dry and it makes scuff marks when we scoot our dining room chairs in / out. If you don't apply it "just so" you get big streak marks.
Then the other day I tried some Swiffer Clean and Dust which said on the back that it was safe for "wood laminate".
Now the floors are so sllllickkkk that we are all slipping and sliding. My 2 year old fell twice.
Bruce for laminate just leaves a dull finish. It gets it clean, but it's just so dull.
Is this just how laminate wood is ? Is there ANYTHING that will CLEAN and leave a little big of a gloss or shine ??
Sorry you fell for that laminate flooring garbage. I wish it was never invented. Laminate flooring is made of layers of plastic, glues and wood fibers and pressed. The surface is more plastic like and sounds like it when you walk on it.
Your plastic floor is designed to last a lifetime. It is pretty much wear and scratch resistant at the expense of beauty. Still you should put a nice non slip throw rug at the foot of your range and sink and at the front door. Put foot protectors under table and chair legs.
Never ever use soap on your plastic floor, especially those abrasive ones. The best thing I am told is a mix of water with a dash of vinegar and amonia. Never ever use a wet mop to apply it but squeeze it well. You do not want water getting into the joints and rotting your subfloor below it.
My favorite product is Cabinet Magic. There are many Magic products but you want the blue coded can. They are all color coded. Yes Cabinet Magic is for wood but it works wonders on plastic and other fake surfaces just as well.
I betcha you get sick of that floor in short order. Everyone else does.
When my Aunt and Uncle had their house built, the builder put in Laminate. They told them they could use windex on them. Here it is 5 years later and they still look like new.
We installed laminate floors in our new house over two years ago, and I'm very impressed with the look and the wear of them. I think there are different grades of laminate, and some may look like plastic and sound hollow, but ours does not.
To answer your question, I clean mine with a mixture of water and vinegar. It doesn't leave a shiny finish, but it's not dull-looking either. And definitely not slippery. Just do as DesertSun suggested and make sure you wring out the mop very well, just as you would with wood flooring.
I hope you enjoy your laminate floors for years to come. Not everyone gets sick of it. I love mine, and plan to install the same thing in my next new home.
1/3 white vinegar
1/3 rubbing alcohol
1/3 water
3 drops dishwashing liquid for a quart total.
Use a spray bottle to spray a little on the floor.
Use a white Terry cloth to evenly spread the water in a section of the floor.
Immediately use a dry terry cloth to wipe the water off the floor.
For best results, wipe off quickly.
When my Aunt and Uncle had their house built, the builder put in Laminate. They told them they could use windex on them. Here it is 5 years later and they still look like new.
YUP! Except my preference is Glass+, it really works. I used a VERY damp
microfiber mop, and just sprayed on the floor and mopped it up. I never even rinsed out the mop. But I didnt have little kids then. You might need to rinse out the mop head. But microfiber is best. I wouldnt get laminate again. I got tired
of it real fast.
1/3 white vinegar
1/3 rubbing alcohol
1/3 water
3 drops dishwashing liquid for a quart total.
Use a spray bottle to spray a little on the floor.
Use a white Terry cloth to evenly spread the water in a section of the floor.
Immediately use a dry terry cloth to wipe the water off the floor.
For best results, wipe off quickly.
Will this work for tile floor too?
Sometimes my kitty misses the box and end up having pee on the tile floor... so all too often I am mopping...
Oh, and what would be a good mop.
Right now I have one that was 15$ but the mop head is 7$. I had been using clothes but it is a messy way, cheaper though...
I agree with Blueberrie. There certainly are different qualities/thicknesses of wood laminate. I've seen laminates I wouldn't put in our travel trailer. But, the wood laminate floors we chose for our home are almost 2 years old and they look (and sound) amazing. A very-rung-out mop and windex works perfectly.
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