Laminate Care & Maintenance

Did you know that the makeup of laminate flooring varies based on manufacturer? While some of the newer laminate flooring includes waterproof finishes, most do not. This means that your care and maintenance routine must comply with the manufacturer’s guidelines. For example, Shaw laminate flooring includes wood, so it’s crucial to avoid using excessive moisture or a non-approved cleaning solution while caring for their laminate flooring.

At Bowling’s Carpet, we recommend the following care and maintenance routine for your new laminate floors:

• Daily care and maintenance of your laminate flooring includes sweeping, dry moping or vacuuming with a hard surface flooring attachment.
• Common household messes like spills and soil should wipe or sweep away clean.
• Liquid spills should be blotted and dried as quickly as possible to avoid warping.

For preventative maintenance:

• Place doormats at the entry to the room to capture any sand, grime or dirt that could be tracked onto your flooring.
• Heavy appliances can cause dents or marks on your flooring over time; protect your flooring by placing heavy appliances on mats.
• Use wide dollies whenever you need to move furniture across the floor.
• Add an area rug or two to protect your flooring and increase its longevity while adding warmth to the room!

When it comes to difficult stains and messes, like candle wax and chewing gum, or oil-based stains, like lipstick and olive oil, it’s best to first consult with the manufacturer’s guidelines before starting to clean. Some of these tougher stains have simple solutions, like using nail polish remover or freezing with ice before gently scraping away with a plastic scraper. For specific guidelines, visit Shaw’s laminate flooring cleaning suggestions here (https://shawfloors.com/flooring/how-to/laminate/care-maintenance/how-to-clean-laminate-floors).

For an occasional deeper clean for your laminate flooring, use a manufacturer approved hard surface cleaner.

Additional resources:

Below is a list of additional care and maintenance tips plus stain removal resources that out professionals at Bowling’s Carpet put together to help keep your laminate flooring looking beautiful:

Shaw Laminate Flooring Care Guide:
https://shaw.app.box.com/v/laminate-warranty-care

Care and Maintenance Tips:
https://shawfloors.com/flooring/how-to/laminate/care-maintenance/how-to-clean-laminate-floors

Repairing Laminate Flooring:
https://shawfloors.com/flooring/how-to/laminate/how-it-s-made/repairing-laminate-flooring

Shaw R2X Hardsurface Cleaner: 
https://shawfloors.com/shopping/r2x-cleaner