A steam mop is great for deep cleaning. It is an effective method of disinfection without the use of chemicals. There are special considerations when using steam cleaners in a home with laminate flooring. Laminate flooring is sensitive to moisture and needs to be handled with care. Can I clean laminate flooring with a steam mop? This technique will perfectly remove dirt without harming the delicate surface, if you follow some rules.
Features of laminate care
Laminate flooring is designed to last, but it can still become damaged or stained. Damage typically ranges from surface defects to multi-layer penetration. Here are some common sources of damage to laminate flooring:
- Moisture. The less water on the laminate during cleaning, the better. Water leads to irreparable swelling of the boards.
- Use of cleaning products. The wrong chemical cleaner makes the floor dull.
- Improper cleaning. Vacuuming or sweeping can also be harmful. No matter how soft the broom or roller brush is, it will leave scratches on the flooring.
- Sunlight. Unfortunately, the rays of the sun falling on the same place of laminated panels gradually discolor these areas.
Damage to laminate flooring can be catastrophic, so it's best to keep it away from water, sunlight and abrasive cleaners whenever possible. You can only vacuum and sweep with a soft brush, and use specialized cleaning products for washing.
Note! If food or dirt gets on the laminate, do not scrape it off with metal objects. Instead, only wooden or plastic items are used.
When can and can't you use a steam cleaner for laminate flooring?
Whether laminate flooring can be cleaned with steam depends on the following characteristics of the coating:
- type of coating (material from which it is made);
- wear resistance class;
- moisture resistance.
Most often, standard cork vinyl laminate is used as flooring in residential buildings and apartments. The most difficult to care for is standard laminate flooring. It is made from chipboard or fiberboard laminated with a wood-patterned coating. If water gets under the coating and the base absorbs it, the material may swell and deform. It can be cleaned with steam with care, observing a number of requirements described below.
Cork laminate has a solid board base. It is covered with a layer of cork, which can additionally be varnished. The varnished surface is more wear-resistant, moisture-resistant, and can be washed or cleaned with a steam cleaner. Cork without additional coating is rough, porous, and requires special care. Steam cleaning helps clean and disinfect such laminate flooring, but it must be done carefully and carefully. Vinyl laminate is made from PVC. It is moisture resistant. It can be cleaned with a steam cleaner or steam generator without any restrictions.
“Home” laminate usually falls into the following wear resistance classes:
- • 32;
- • 33;
- • 34.
The higher the class, the more durable and damage-resistant the surface of the material is. This indirectly affects the ability to wash it with a steam cleaner. The wear-resistant, durable surface of class 34 will not allow water vapor to enter the slab, and the floor will withstand washing well. Class 32 coating, designed for minimal load, will require the most delicate cleaning.
It is desirable that the laminate be moisture resistant - then it can be washed with a steam cleaner. If the coating is cork, it is good if its surface is varnished. If the cork floor does not have an additional coating, it should be thoroughly dried after cleaning. This also applies to floors made of natural wood (parquet, parquet boards): it is better to clean surfaces with a varnished surface using steam.
How does a steam mop work?
Before cleaning a laminate floor, it is important to familiarize yourself with the basics of how a steam mop cleans a floor. When steam cleaners operate, they heat water to a boiling point, which can kill most germs and liquefy any dirt deposits that have accumulated in floor cracks.
The mop will produce steam containing approximately three to five percent moisture as long as the heat source remains constant. Steam is applied to the surface to be cleaned, then the user wipes off the slightly moistened and steamed dirt using a rag attachment.
What is a steam cleaner?
A steam cleaner is a household appliance that is used to thoroughly clean and disinfect various surfaces.
Components of the steam cleaner:
- A steam boiler into which water is poured.
- A heating element that turns water into steam.
- Trigger "pistol".
- Flexible elastic hose.
- Various attachments.
- Beaker.
- Surface cleaning cloth and funnel.
Using a steam mop on laminate flooring
Even if the panels are considered waterproof, they are still not completely protected from moisture. It is extremely important to take extra care when using steam mops to clean laminate floors. It is recommended to check in advance whether the manufacturer allows cleaning laminate floors with a steam mop.
Only waterproof laminate with sealed joints will withstand cleaning with a device that supplies steam under pressure. It should only be used for occasional deep cleaning. For daily use, hot, humid steam is very harmful. The temperature on the device is chosen to be the lowest, and the steaming mode is the most gentle.
How to remove damage
Experts advise covering the floor with film before finishing the repair work. But if it was not possible to protect the laminate from construction dirt in time, you should use these tips for cleaning it:
- Collect large debris with your hands so as not to damage the protective layer of the panels. Sweep away small fragments and sand with a soft broom or vacuum cleaner.
- Remove paint stains with white spirit, preparations with acetone or ethyl alcohol: moisten a cloth, apply to the stain, hold for a couple of minutes and rub with light movements.
- Clean the mounting foam with Dimexide, a cheap pharmaceutical preparation. It must be applied to the stain, left for a while and the foam removed with a sponge or rubber spatula (scrapers and metal spatulas cannot be used).
- Remove black streaks from shoe soles with a paper eraser or sprinkle baking soda on top of them and rub with a damp cloth.
- After repair, wash the whitewash using warm water with the addition of any dishwashing gel. If it was not possible to completely clean the floor of white deposits, wipe it with another composition - dissolve ½ cup of table salt in warm water. This treatment will not only get rid of unsightly chalky stains, but will also create a kind of protective film that repels dirt.
- Mask surface scratches with a wax pencil of a suitable color.
During operation, you may encounter the problem of removing various stains. There is a remedy for each type of pollution. For example, marks from felt-tip pens can be erased with white spirit, alcoholic drinks with ethyl alcohol, and grease or oil stains in the kitchen with a damp cloth soaked in dishwashing liquid.
Bare feet leave unsightly marks on the surface of the laminate. In order not to spoil the appearance of the coating, it is advisable to wear socks or slippers.
Step 1. The blood is removed with the usual composition used for washing windows. It is enough to spray it in a small amount onto the dirty floor, then wipe it with a damp cloth. Do not allow the stain to dry out.
Blood stain is sprayed with window cleaner
Then wipe the stain with a damp cloth
Step 2. The chewing gum is removed in a slightly dry state with an ordinary plastic knife. Residues are wiped off with a damp cloth. A metal knife cannot be used as it may damage the coating.
Removing gum
Step 3. Ink, soda stains, and wine can be easily wiped off with a regular damp cloth. There is no need to use any special means. Stubborn ink stains can be removed with soapy water.
The stain is removed with a damp cloth
It is important to rinse the floor immediately after treatment
Step 5. Simply rub the shoe marks with an eraser and they will disappear.
Using the eraser
Step 6. The fat that has dripped onto the floor is first frozen - for this, any bag from the freezer is placed on it. After this, the fat is scraped off with a plastic knife. Residues are wiped off with soapy water, after which the floor surface is washed with water.
The fat must be frozen first.
Fat is scraped off with a plastic knife
Caring for laminate flooring is simple; the main thing is to pay attention to what it is used for and not to violate the rules established by the coating manufacturer. Only with proper care and proper washing will laminate flooring last for many years
Choosing a mop
When looking for a steam mop designed for laminate and similar sensitive floors, there are a few things to consider first:
- Water container. A larger tank means longer cleaning sessions without interruptions, but it also means a larger, heavier, and bulkier steam mop.
- Water. Tap water is the cheapest, but as it evaporates in a steam mop, it leaves a residue on the heater and even on cleaned floors. To avoid such marks and damage to equipment, it is strongly recommended to use distilled water.
- Water heater. Good steam cleaners should have adjustable heat settings so that the user can set the steam strength depending on the situation and the surface being cleaned.
On a note! Any cleaning head will work for cleaning laminate flooring. The rectangular shape allows you to clean larger areas faster, while the triangular shape cleans more thoroughly, especially around the edges and corners.
Using a steam mop to clean laminate flooring step by step
When working with an electrical appliance, it is easy to make certain mistakes, due to which the device will work less efficiently or even become dangerous for the user. All modern steam cleaners are easy to use and maintain, but before using them for the first time, be sure to read the manual for the device:
- Floors should be vacuumed or swept before steaming. If you skip this step, all the dirt, sand, dust, crumbs, and hair on the surface will be caught by the steam mop, hindering its performance. Cleaning floors without a vacuum cleaner also means you'll have to change your mop cloth more often.
- After switching on, the device heats up quickly. Before doing this, first fill the tank with water. Then attach a rag to the head. Connecting to the electrical outlet should always be the last step. If the water tank needs to be refilled during the cleaning process, it is best to unplug the mop before refilling.
- The minimum steam level must be set; adding steam manually is very slow. Minimum flow results in less surface heating. When steam cleaning, the main goal is to not only clean the laminate, but also not damage it.
- Sometimes housewives get distracted while waiting for the mop to heat up. If the phone rings and you need to answer, you should turn off the device. Heat accumulates very quickly - within a few seconds for some models. If a steam mop is left in one place for too long, it will apply a lot of steam and heat to a small area and possibly damage the floor.
- Begin cleaning the laminate with repeated movements, running over the same surface several times. To achieve brilliant results, it is better to clean the floor in small sections. A steam mop is passed over the surface in the same way as a regular mop, and it is better not along the panels, but across them.
Working with complex contaminants
If the contamination is complex, then prolonged exposure to steam on a certain area of the laminate is allowed without the risk of serious deformation. This way you can remove grease and caustic stains. To make it easier to remove stains from laminate flooring, you can rub the area with a cotton cloth after steaming.
Alternating exposure to steam and wiping will remove serious stains.
It is recommended to carry out cleaning at least a couple of times a week, this will avoid the appearance of difficult areas to clean, and you will not have to use steam on the same area.
Conclusion
A steam cleaner is a great way to clean laminate flooring. It will allow you to quickly clean the surface from almost any type of dirt and will be an excellent analogue of wet cleaning. The steam cleaner is safe for laminate, does not cause deformation and is easy to use.
Tips for removing stains from laminate flooring
Without taking precautions, you can damage the laminate during cleaning. Here are some tips to avoid this:
We recommend:
Disinfection of cleaning equipment: when it is carried out and what it includes
- If the floor is very dirty, you may need to change the cloth pad several times.
- Always use minimal heat for laminate flooring. Movements should be quick to prevent the floor from overheating. Do not leave the steam mop in one place.
- You should start from the far corner, making equal strokes so as not to miss any areas. If you need to take a break, turn off the mop.
- Never use all-purpose cleaners on laminate flooring. They can make laminate flooring look dull. Light steam is all you need for a good cleanse.
Linoleum
It may seem that we know everything about this material, because linoleum has been our companion in houses, apartments and commercial premises for many years.
It is loved by consumers not only for its low price, but also due to the wide variety of colors and ease of installation on various surfaces. But how can you maintain its appearance for as long as possible? Caring for ordinary household linoleum is also easy. To do this, just vacuum it or go over it with a broom, and then wet clean it with a soft cloth without abrasive.
If you do not sweep away all the dirt, then after the moisture dries, dirty stains will remain on the surface, which are clearly visible on the vinyl surface.
Grease stains can be removed from linoleum without any problems. You just need to blot them with a rag or paper towel, and then thoroughly wash the area with dishwashing detergent or turpentine solution.
In some cases, you can dilute alcohol with water and a small amount of laundry soap. This is a completely gentle mixture that will cope perfectly with the problem.
The main thing is to never wash the linoleum covering with hot water, otherwise the material will lose its structure and swelling, “accordion” and other types of deformation will appear.
Rating of the best steam mops for laminate floors
Kitfort KT-1010
A simple steam mop that doesn't cost much is probably a good choice. It is lightweight and easy to use; housewives will enjoy the ease of use and its quality. A five-meter power cord allows you to clean several rooms without disconnecting from the network. Manual steam control gives excellent control over performance.
The device is compact, so it is easy to store regardless of the size of the apartment.
Endever Odyssey Q-606
The device is useful for high-traffic surfaces that are prone to stains, spills and dirt. This is the choice for a home with children, pets and owners who lead an active lifestyle. The steam cleaner has 3 modes to suit specific needs and comes with a triangular shaped nozzle that removes dirt from corners.
