Can I use a steam mop on laminate flooring? When thinking about cleaning a laminate flooring, many wonder if a steam mop would be an ideal way to clean the surface? Steam mopping offers a fast and easy way to clean the surface of the floor, but is it the right cleaning solution for your laminate flooring?
Unfortunately, using a steam mop on laminate flooring is not a good cleaning method. The reason that using a steam mop is not the desired cleaning method really has to do with the way that a laminate flooring system is created. Once you know how the flooring system is created it will be easier to understand why steam mopping is not effective.We will also cover that. Explaining the process used to make the laminate flooring helps make it easier to understand why using a steam mop on the flooring is not effective. Laminate floorings are created in a manufacturing facility. Most often the laminate flooring planks are created to resemble a look that solid wood flooring has. It does closely resemble the natural solid wood flooring, but it has been made from multiple layers of materials that are pressed together to make a composed floor plank. The layers consist of a top layer that is the sealed coat. This is the layer that protects the materials below and gives it that wonderful shine. Below the protective top layer, is a picture of the texture of the desired design. Most often the picture is of a wood plank just like the one that you would find the solid wood flooring system. After those two layers, there is a layer of composite materials. This is the bulk of the plank and offers the most support. Then the last layer is a moisture barrier. That is the last layer and protects the flooring system from absorbing moisture from the bottom. Laminate floorings come in two different forms. Some of the systems come in squares and others come in a plank form. The forms either snap together or have to be glued together with a special kind of adhesive. |
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The adhesive can be purchased with the flooring system. The mix of composites along with the clear topcoat and adhesives also makes the laminate flooring system sensitive to heat. The flooring system is not only sensitive to heat, but it is also very sensitive to moisture and when you combine the two it is very damaging. It can cause the flooring to warp and lose quickly. Moisture and heat can also cause the top two layers to peel up and completely ruin the whole flooring system.
With all that being said there is a reason why all that information is needed and why it helps understand why using a steam mop to clean a laminate flooring is not a good idea. The reason is a steam mop combines the two things that you should never expose a laminate flooring to. A steam mop not only produces moisture, but it produces moisture that is very hot. That is how it creates steam to clean. Not only does this type of cleaning potentially damage the flooring, but in most cases also voids the warranty of many laminate flooring systems.
It is best to clean a laminate flooring with either a solution of water and a cap of dish liquid that is applied to a soft cleaning cloth. The cloth should be placed into the cleaning solution then the clean cloth should be rung out to remove as much moisture as possible. The cloth can be used to attached to a mop head or the most effective method is using the hands to wipe the floor clean. If desired a cleaning solution of vinegar very dilated in water can also be used.
Using a steam mop is not a recommended method to clean any laminate flooring and can really damage the flooring quickly. Using a method that is recommended by the manufacturer or the method above is the only way that a laminate flooring should be cleaned and cared for.
With all that being said there is a reason why all that information is needed and why it helps understand why using a steam mop to clean a laminate flooring is not a good idea. The reason is a steam mop combines the two things that you should never expose a laminate flooring to. A steam mop not only produces moisture, but it produces moisture that is very hot. That is how it creates steam to clean. Not only does this type of cleaning potentially damage the flooring, but in most cases also voids the warranty of many laminate flooring systems.
It is best to clean a laminate flooring with either a solution of water and a cap of dish liquid that is applied to a soft cleaning cloth. The cloth should be placed into the cleaning solution then the clean cloth should be rung out to remove as much moisture as possible. The cloth can be used to attached to a mop head or the most effective method is using the hands to wipe the floor clean. If desired a cleaning solution of vinegar very dilated in water can also be used.
Using a steam mop is not a recommended method to clean any laminate flooring and can really damage the flooring quickly. Using a method that is recommended by the manufacturer or the method above is the only way that a laminate flooring should be cleaned and cared for.