Using Mops To Clean Laminate Floor Not Recommended
Using Mops To Clean Laminate Floor Not Recommended
Harsh cleaners and cotton mops may be staple in many houses for keeping their floors clean, you should not use wet mops to clean laminate floor materials. Typically, a dust mop is used on a regular basis to remove any dust and grit that can cause scratching to the surface of the floor, and an occasion pass with a damp, not wet, mop can help restore the luster of the flooring, but using mops to clean laminate floor is not always necessary.
Most laminate flooring material is designed to be water resistant, and if connected properly, even a spill on the floor will not cause much damage if it is wiped up and not allowed to lay on the floor. When using mops to clean laminate floor there is a chance excess water can get down into any unnoticed cracks and work into the underlayment of the flooring. The resins in the fiber core of the flooring usually contains waterproofing chemicals, such as paraffin wax, but the floor on which it sits probably does not have the same protection.
Laminate flooring, installed correctly, will be free of gaps where the floor panels connect, but since the flooring is not glued or nailed down, there is always the possibility of the boards slowly working loose, creating small gaps. Using mops to clean laminate floor can allow extra moisture to get between the boards and turn any dust located there to mud.
Dry Mop Usually Sufficiently For Laminate Floors
Those with experience in maintaining wood floors know how hard it can be to maintain the shine on the wood. Whether the floor is coated annually with a sealer and acrylic coating, most people also wax the wood to help protect the finish and the shine. There is no reason to wax laminate flooring to maintain the shine and, in fact using mops to clean laminate floor can cause the shine on the floor to fade over time.
For stubborn stains on the flooring, the manufacturer's recommended cleaning products and techniques should be used to insure the floor's warranty is not voided. Each manufacturer may have a different cleaning product in mind to protect the integrity of the floor. Even if it call to use mops to clean laminate floor, the mop should never be wet and water should not be allowed to lie on the flooring. If possible, the floor should be protected with throw rugs or small carpets, especially during inclement weather.