When it comes to cleaning laminate floors, understanding the proper approach regarding water is crucial to maintain their condition and longevity.
Based on best practices for laminate flooring, the most important principle is to minimize the use of water as much as possible during cleaning.
Why Limit Water on Laminate Floors?
The primary reason for avoiding excessive water when cleaning laminate floors is the material composition. Laminate flooring is constructed with a core layer, often made from high-density fiberboard (HDF), which is a wood-based product.
As the reference states, "Since laminate is made with wood, it's best to limit its exposure to moisture." Excessive water can seep into the seams between planks or penetrate the protective layers, causing the wood core to swell, warp, or delaminate. This damage is often irreversible.
Recommended Approach for Cleaning (Minimizing Water)
The reference emphasizes this point particularly for deep cleaning, advising, "The most important thing to remember when deep cleaning laminate floors is to avoid using water as much as possible." This suggests that even during thorough cleaning done every two or three months, the focus should be on using minimal moisture.
Therefore, "cleaning laminate floors with water" doesn't mean using large amounts of water or soaking the floor. Instead, it implies using cleaning methods that are very slightly damp or dry.
Proper cleaning techniques that limit water include:
- Dry Cleaning: Regular sweeping or vacuuming with a hard floor attachment to remove dirt and debris without any water.
- Slightly Damp Cleaning: If using a mop or cloth, it should be wrung out extremely well so that it is only slightly damp, not wet. There should be no standing water left on the floor surface.
- Immediate Spill Cleanup: Any spills should be wiped up immediately to prevent moisture from sitting on the surface and potentially seeping in.
In summary: While you might use a small amount of moisture with a properly dampened tool, the correct way to clean laminate floors in relation to water is to avoid using water as much as possible to protect the wood-based core from moisture damage.
