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Can You Clean Laminate Floors with Vinegar? (Quick Answers)

Laminate floors are common in our houses, offices, and different flooring systems. Generally, the floor is one of the most visible things in a room or home.

So, keeping the floor clean is essential. On the other hand, vinegar is a common cleaning element. Many people use vinegar to clean their floors.

So, you might be confused about whether you can clean laminate floors with vinegar or not. You must know the consequences and safety of using vinegar on laminate floors. 

Moreover, learning about the advantages and disadvantages is also necessary. Let’s see details about it.

Cleaning laminate floors with vinegar

You can clean laminate floors with vinegar. Generally, vinegar is a strong cleaning element that can damage the laminate floor over time. That’s why you should not put vinegar directly on the laminate floor. You have to mix it with water and dilute the solution to clean the laminate floors.

However, vinegar can be of different types. For example, some types are white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, distilled vinegar, etc.

Each type has different characteristics. So, while cleaning the floor, you must know about the properties of vinegar. Let’s see whether you can use these kinds of vinegar to clean laminate floors or not.

White vinegar:

You can use white vinegar to clean laminate floors. You might know that laminate floors have a polymeric coating on them. So, you might consider the safety of laminate floors while using vinegar.

If you pour white vinegar directly on the laminate floor, there is a chance of peeling off the polymeric coating from the laminate floor. That’s why the white vinegar must be diluted before using it on the laminate floors.

For example, mix one cup of white vinegar with one gallon of water to make a cleaning solution. Then you can clean the floor with the solution. This way, white vinegar can’t damage the laminate floors.

But you also have to ensure not to wet the laminate floor too much. Because too much water can also damage the laminate floors.

Apple cider vinegar:

Apple cider vinegar is also safe to use on laminate floors. Generally, apple cider vinegar has a distinctive scent. But this can be a good cleaning element also. You must dilute the apple cider vinegar like the white vinegar before using it on the laminate floors.

For diluting the apple cider vinegar, you can mix it with water. Mix one cup of apple cider vinegar with one gallon of water.

If you want to keep the laminate floor safe, you can wipe off the vinegar solution with a damped cloth. This will wipe off the residual apple cider vinegar from the floor.

But if you with it with water, there is no chance of damaging your laminate floors. So, you can use apple cider vinegar with water to clean your laminate floors.

Distilled vinegar:

Distilled vinegar is purified vinegar. You can also use distilled vinegar to clean the laminate floors. 

But you must ensure to dilute the vinegar. Generally, distilled vinegar is purer than white vinegar. So, you should take a little bit less distilled vinegar to clean the laminate floor.

For example, you can mix ¾th cup of distilled vinegar with one gallon of water to make a cleaning solution. Then you can use it on the laminate floors. Distilled vinegar is not supposed to damage the laminate floors if you dilute it with water.

Does vinegar ruin laminate floors?

Vinegar can ruin laminate floors if you use it directly on the floor. Pure vinegar is strong enough to peel off the coating of the laminate floors. That’s why it is supposed to dilute the vinegar before using it for cleaning.

If you use the vinegar directly on the floor, the vinegar can break the coating film on the laminate floor. But the laminate floor surface will not be hampered. The laminate floor might lose its shine, but the structure will be the same.

But if you use the vinegar after diluting it with water, the strength of the vinegar will be less. So, diluted vinegar will not break down the film over the laminate floor.

You can use vinegar for cleaning laminate floors after mixing it with water. But the ratio of mixing should be appropriate.

Vinegar to water ratio for cleaning laminate floors

While making a mixture of vinegar and water for cleaning laminate floors, the ratio of vinegar should be less than water.

People recommend different ratios for mixing vinegar with water. For example, the most common recommendation is to mix one cup of vinegar with one gallon of water.

Some people might recommend you mix vinegar with water at a 1:1 ratio. But this will not make the vinegar diluted much. A strong vinegar solution can melt the coating film from the laminate floors.

Moreover, some might recommend adding one cup of vinegar to three cups of water. You can use this 1:3 ratio of vinegar and water to deep clean the laminate floors. But for regular use, you have to dilute the vinegar more.

That’s why mixing one cup of vinegar with one gallon, or four litter of water can be wise. In this ratio, the vinegar will be diluted. Moreover, the effectiveness of vinegar will not be interrupted.

How often to clean laminate floors with vinegar?

You can clean laminate floors with vinegar every two weeks. Generally, vinegar is an effective cleaning element. This element has enough strength to clean dirt, dust, grease, etc. So, you should only use vinegar while deep cleaning the laminate floors.

Generally, laminate floors have a coating film over them. This film is sensitive to chemicals. So, you must not use anything over the laminate floors. Before using vinegar on the laminate floors, you must make a diluted vinegar solution.

If you mix vinegar with water in an equal ratio, the mixture will be stronger. So, you should not use this strong mixture often on the laminate floors. 

But if you make the solution diluted enough, for example, one cup of vinegar with one gallon of water, you can use it regularly.

But whatever the ratio is, you should not use vinegar solution for cleaning laminate floors too often. You can use vinegar every one or two weeks. Otherwise, vinegar can damage the coating film over the laminate floors.

How do you clean laminate floors with vinegar?

Now that you know you can use vinegar on laminate floors, you might want to know the cleaning process. So, let’s see how you can clean laminate floors with vinegar.

Vacuum the floor:

Before mopping the floor or using vinegar on the laminate floors, you need to clean excess dirt and dust from the floor. You can vacuum the floor to remove dirt, dust, and debris.

Making the cleaning solution:

Now you have to mix vinegar with water to make a cleaning solution. Moreover, combining the solution with an appropriate ratio is essential. You can mix the vinegar solution in a spray bottle. You can mix vinegar with water at a 1:4 ratio.

But if the laminate floors have stubborn stains, you can make the solution a little bit stronger by increasing the vinegar ratio. Besides, if you want to clean with a mop, you can mix or pour the mixture into the mop.

Spraying the solution:

Then you have to spray the cleaning solution on the floor with the spraying bottle. While spraying, you must ensure not to spray too much solution on the floor. Otherwise, too much vinegar solution can damage the film over the laminate floor.

Wiping the floor:

After spraying the solution on the floor, you can wipe the floor with a microfiber cloth or a soft damped cloth. You can also use a mop to clean the floor. In the case of a mop, you don’t have to spray the solution additionally.

You can mix the solution into the mop, and the mop will automatically spread vinegar while wiping. You have to wipe the floor in a back and forth motion gently. Take your time and clean the entire laminate floor properly.

Using water:

After cleaning the laminate floors with a vinegar solution, you can rinse the floors with clean water. Otherwise, the vinegar residue can damage the laminate floors. So, rinsing the laminate floors with water is essential.

Drying:

Finally, you have to allow time for the laminate floors to dry completely. You can also use a clean towel to remove water spots from the laminate floors.

Final thoughts

Vinegar is a suitable cleaning element for laminate floors. You must not use vinegar on the laminate floors directly. You have to dilute vinegar by mixing water with it in an appropriate ratio. If you use a strong vinegar solution, the film over laminate floors can damage.