Are you looking for the best cleaning options for your laminate floors? Are you wondering whether it is feasible to use steam mops on your laminate floors?
Are you also wondering if any kind of damage can occur by using steam mops on laminate floors?
Using steam mops on laminate floors
You can technically use steam mops on laminate floors but you have to follow some precautions so that any kind of negative consequences cannot happen. Nevertheless, a steam mop is the last resort cleaning method for laminate floors because it can potentially soften and wrap the laminate flooring.
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Steam mops have an amazing cleaning mechanism that uses both heat and steam to thoroughly clean all the nooks and crannies of the laminate floor.
In addition, steam mops also do not use any harsh chemical cleaning solution which is again a very good thing for floor cleaning but when it comes to laminate floors, steam mops are not the first choice for many.
This is because water particles from the steam mop can get into the crevices of the laminate floor and can cause it to swell which will eventually lead to damage to the wood.
The gloss or shine of the laminate floor can also get compromised as a process. You also need to remember laminate floors aren’t really waterproof so using a steam mop can lead to water damage.
Do steam mops damage laminate floors?
Steam mops can potentially damage your laminate floors because it is not really recommended by the manufacturer to steam mop your laminate floor.
In addition, the concept of steam mops in itself is very unique and helpful when it comes to cleaning any kind of surface but if the surface is a laminate floor, then several unwanted damages can happen to it.
The cleaning mechanism of steam mops also includes not using any kind of harsh or chemical cleaning solution which is great but the steam of hot water that comes out of the steam mop can cause the laminate planks to warp.
In addition, it is usually the traditional mop, damp mop, sponge mop, spray mop, and so on that are feasible to be used on laminate floors.
Nevertheless, whenever steam mops are used on laminate floors, the excessive humidity and high temperatures seem to take a toll on the flooring, and instead of cleaning it, the outcome softens and adds moisture to the laminate floor.
However, it does not mean that you can not at all use a steam mop on your laminate floor rather if usage of a steam mop is the last resort for you, then you can definitely use it but with some maintenance guidelines.
Accordingly, you have to make sure to not expose your laminate floors to high heat temperature which is why you have to reduce the temperature of the steam mop and you also need to make sure to use slow motion to clean the floor.
What steam mop is safe for laminate floors?
Steam mops aren’t the best option for your laminate floors but you can nevertheless use them as there are some good options of steam mops out there that can potentially clean and be gentle to your laminate floor.
Shark steam mop:
A shark steam mop is a safe steam mop option that can be used on laminate floors. This is because shark steam mops are really effective in getting all the dust or debris out of the crevices of the laminate floor.
In addition, the shark steam mop also has double-sided pads which help to steam and dry the laminate floor properly.
Bissell steam mop:
Bissell steam mop is one of the best and safest steam mops that you can use on your laminate floor without a worry.
This is because Bissell steam mops are equipped with so many unique techniques such as swivel steering, spot boost brush, and so on.
In addition, it is also safe because Bissell steam mops can potentially eliminate 99.9% of germs and bacteria off of your laminate flooring thus providing the safest option.
Karcher steam mop:
Karcher steam mop can also be used on laminate floors because of its soft bristles that do not seem to put any scratches or marks on your laminate floor.
In addition, it is highly efficient in eliminating all germs and its microfiber cloth is also very effective in cleaning and drying the laminate floor thoroughly.
Vax steam mop:
Vax steam mops are also safe to be used on laminate floors because vax steam mops can break down any kind of grease or grime that may be clinging onto your laminate floor.
How to use a steam mop on laminate floors?
When you are planning to use a steam mop on your laminate floor, you need to be careful and you need to be aware of the proper ways to use one so that any kind of unwanted incidents cannot happen.
Vacuum the laminate floor:
You first need to make sure there is very less dirt available on the laminate floor before you can use a steam mop to steam clean the laminate floor. This is why you have to use a vacuum cleaner or dust mop to clean all the dust beforehand.
Fill the tank:
After you are done sweeping or vacuuming the laminate floor, you now need to make sure to fill the tank of the steam mop.
In addition, you now have to also set the temperature at the lowest setting possible of about 120 degrees Celsius or so.
Steam clean floor:
After filling up the tank and setting the temperature, you are now ready to steam clean your laminate floor.
Accordingly, you have to make sure not to sweep very swiftly the laminate floor because this will create marks and scratches.
In addition, you also need to make sure not to use additional water to spray on the laminate floor. Rather the steam and heat will provide enough water to sanitize and clean out all the dirt, grease, grime, and so on.
What is the best way to clean laminate flooring?
It is really important to properly clean your laminate flooring so that the gloss and sheen keep intact over the years.
Therefore, being knowledgeable about the best ways to clean your laminate flooring will help you to eradicate your confusion.
Vinegar solution:
One of the best ways to clean your laminate flooring is with vinegar solution. Accordingly, all you have to do is to put 60ML of vinegar in a standard spray bottle and fill the rest of the bottle with water.
After doing that, you need to shake the solution and spray it onto your laminate floor 1-foot square at a time. You also need to make sure not to use direct vinegar on laminate floors as it can be damaging to the floor.
However, you also need to make sure that the cloth you use to mop the vinegar solution off of your laminate flooring should be nice and damp.
Damp mop:
Another way that can get your laminate flooring to look all shiny and perfect is through the usage of the damp mopping technique.
Accordingly, all you need to do is lightly dampen your mop of choice and wring out all the water until it is barely damp.
After that, you just need to slightly sweep your mop across the laminate floor to gently damp it without getting water everywhere as getting water everywhere can potentially damage your laminate flooring.
After you are done with this, you also need to make sure to not only air dry your laminate flooring but also manually dry it.
To do this, you have to use a microfiber cloth under your mop and dry the whole area of laminating flooring with it to make sure any water can’t get into the gaps of the laminate flooring.
Hot water cleaning:
Sometimes, it is a bit too much for the laminating floors to be washed with liquid soap or cleaning solutions. This is why it is better to sometimes clean your laminate flooring with just hot water.
Accordingly, this can help to remove any kind of germs and will keep the polish or gloss of your laminate floor intact.
Dust mop your laminate floor:
Another great way to clean your laminate flooring is by the usage of a vacuum or dust mop.
Accordingly, this is because a vacuum cleaner or dust mop will remove any kind of dirt, grease, debris, and so on gently from the surface of the laminate floor without scratching it excessively.
Final Thoughts
It is not really worth it to use steam mops to clean your laminate floors. Rather you should use damp mops, dust mops, sponge mops, and so on to properly clean your laminate floor. Nevertheless, you can use steam mops to clean laminate floors only as a last option to avoid damage.