Removing buildup on the laminate floor is essential if you want to keep your floor glossy for a long time. After applying wax to your floor, the finish can be very slippery and gather dirt, which makes your laminate floor dull.
It can be excruciating seeing your once shiny laminate floor look dull because of buildup.
As regards how to remove buildup on laminate floor, vacuuming the floor is the first step, followed by scraping off the buildup, then making and properly using a laminate cleaner before wiping is the most effective way to remove buildups.
In this article, you will learn how to remove buildup on your laminate floor using materials you can find around your home.
Related: 10 Best Mops for Laminate Floors – 2022 Review
Materials needed to remove buildup on laminate floor
Table of Contents
Here are some of the materials you’ll need:
- Bucket
- Vacuum cleaner
- Broom
- Sponge
- White vinegar
- Microfiber cloth
- Hairdryer ( not compulsory)
- Microfiber mop
- Laminate floor cleaner.
How to Remove Buildup on Laminate Floor
Follow these steps to remove specks of dirt on your laminate floor.
Step 1: Vacuum the Floor
Before removing buildup on the laminate floor, the first thing to do is sweep the floor. Make sure you do it thoroughly to remove all dirt from the floor.
Using a vacuum cleaner with a hard floor attachment is advisable to avoid scratching the laminate.
Step 2: Scrape off the Buildup
After removing all the surface dirt, you should scrape off wax buildup from the laminate floor. Make sure you’re scraping using a plastic scraper — metal scrapers will damage your flooring.
Do this scraping carefully to avoid damaging your floor. Scrape along the length of the plank. If you scrape across, the wax may get into the flooring joints.
You can also soften the wax using a hairdryer on low heat. However, this is not necessary.
Step 3: Make a Laminate Cleaner
If you want to get the best result, we advise you to use a laminate cleaner. Oil and soap-based cleaners are bad options for cleaning laminate flooring.
If you don’t have a laminate cleaner, don’t worry, you can make your laminate cleaner.
You can make yours by mixing 118ml of the following:
- White vinegar
- Water
- Rubbing alcohol
This combination will make your laminate floor shiny without introducing pale stains, unlike oil and soap-based floor cleaners.
Read: How to Dry Laminate Flooring with Water Under it
Step 4: Use the Laminate Cleaner on the Floor
Spray a small quantity of your laminate cleaner on the floor. Do it in such a way that you can easily mop the floor without walking around.
If you spray a large amount, the laminate floor will get wet — which is not supposed to be so
Step 5: Use a Microfiber Mop to Wipe
Using a microfiber mop, wipe the part of the laminate floor you have cleaned gently. After using the mop, your flooring should look damp but not wet.
Note that using a sponge on the floor can leave lines and excessive moisture. Therefore do not use a sponge on your laminate flooring.
Step 6: Clean Again Until the Floor Is Clean
If there are still traces of wax buildup, pour the laminate cleaner into small parts and wipe again using the microfiber mop.
Step 7: Allow the Laminate Floor to Dry
After wiping the laminate floor with a microfiber mop, allow it to dry for a minimum of 30 minutes.
If you still notice unwanted stains on the laminate floor after drying, use a microfiber cloth to buff the areas.
Once the floor is dry, you will notice that the gloss on your laminate floor is back.
Maintenance Tips for Laminate Floor
You will find the following maintenance tips to help keep your laminate flooring in a good state after cleaning.
1. Mop the flooring regularly using the homemade laminate cleaner. Please don’t wait until there are visible stains on your laminate floor before cleaning it.
2. Place a floor mat at the entrance of your home. This will help curtail the spread of dirt and dust from outside your home.
3. Don’t use wet cleaning methods to clean your laminate floor. It may look like a suitable method but will eventually damage the floor.
4. Clean dirt and spill immediately they drop on your laminate floor.
5. Do not wax your laminate floor even if you’re tempted to do so. Using wax on the laminate floor does the exact opposite of what it does on hardwood. It will only end up attracting a buildup of dirt.
6. Use protective pads on the laminate flooring to avoid scratches from furniture like chairs or tables.
Read: 3 Easy Ways to Achieve a Shiny Laminate Flooring
Conclusion
Removing buildup on the laminate floor can be easily achieved if you follow the instructions in this article.
Generally, Laminate floors last longer than traditional wood floors. However, if you are not careful, your floor can lose its gloss in no time.
Finally, don’t forget to follow the maintenance tips outlined in this article if you intend to keep your laminate flooring shining for a long time.
The article explains in detail how to remove buildup on laminate floor and the steps to take to achieve this to give you your desired result.
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