How Often Should You Mop Laminate Floors?

Although laminate floors are durable and require low maintenance, they need to be cleaned regularly. It’ll allow you to maximize their life span and keep your home’s environment clean.

But how often do you need to mop your laminate floors? Read this article to find the answer. It‘ll help you keep your laminate floors clean without affecting their shiny look and durability.

How Often Should You Mop Laminate Floors?

Laminate floors are made of softwood fiber pieces combined with resin binder and wax. They also feature a wear layer on top for protection and it also makes them less likely to get scratched. However, dust and debris can scratch and damage this type of flooring over time.

Mopping your laminate floors is the best way to keep them clean and in good condition. Generally, you should mop your high activity laminate floors once every two weeks. This includes:

• kitchen
• kids’ bedrooms
• hallways
• entryway

You can clean floors of areas with low activity levels, such as the guest room, once a month.

You might need to mop your laminate floors more frequently if you have any of the following situations:

• Pets: most house pets shed fur, and the occasional pet urine which will need to be cleaned
• Kids: no matter the age, children add an additional amount of dirt to the house
• Shoes in the house: taking off your shoes before entering the house reduces the amount of dirt

There are ways to minimize the amount you need to mop vinyl flooring.

Can You Increase the Time Between Each Mopping Cycle?

Yes, you can increase the time between each mopping cycle by following the tips listed below. You need to spend a few minutes on these tips daily but they’ll significantly decrease your mopping frequency.

Sweep Floors Daily

Sweep your laminate floors daily using a dust mop or a vacuum cleaner. Focus on removing pollen, hair, loose dirt particles, and other solid debris from your laminate floors. 

It’ll help you keep your home clean for a longer time and you won’t need to mop your floors frequently.

Spot Treat Floors Regularly

Spills are unavoidable, especially if you have kids in your house. But it certainly doesn’t mean that they should leave permanent stains as well. You can use a dry to damp mop or microfiber cloth to remove spills from your laminate floors as soon as they happen.

If you notice any grease spots on the floor, consider placing an ice pack on them. It’ll freeze the grease and you’ll be able to remove it easily using any plastic or wooden utensil. After that, wipe the spot using a dry mop.

You can use nail polish remover or acetone to deal with stubborn color stains on the floor. Make sure that you wipe the affected surface using a damp cloth or mop right after removing the stain.

Block Dirt

Keeping your windows and doors closed and placing floor mats at the entrances will keep the dirt from entering your house. It’ll also help you keep your laminate flooring clean for a longer time and extend the time between each mopping cycle.

What Cleaning Solution to Use for Mopping Laminate Floors

You should use a cleaning fluid that’s specially designed for laminate floors. These cleaners don’t contain ammonia or any other additives that can damage laminate flooring. You’ll also need to make sure that you mix hot water and cleaning solution with the correct ratio to clean floors effectively.

Similar to vinyl flooring, while laminate floors have a protective covering on top, they’re not fully waterproof. Additionally, there can also be a little spacing between boards that will allow water to seep in.

As a result, the laminate boards will start to warp or swell, ruining your flooring. Wringing your wet mop thoroughly to remove excess water before placing it on the laminate flooring will help you avoid this problem.

Can You Use a Homemade Solution to Mop Laminate Floors?

Yes, you can make your own homemade cleaning solution for mopping your laminate floors. The easiest way to make homemade floor cleaner is to mix one tablespoon of white vinegar, a few drops of dish soap, half a teaspoon of baking soda, and two gallons of water in a bucket.

Keep in mind that a cleaning solution containing vinegar and baking soda can affect your laminate floor’s protective layer if rubbed aggressively with a mop.

Therefore, you’ll need to mop gently without applying too much pressure to avoid damaging the floor. Additionally, it’s important not to use such a homemade cleaning solution more than once every two weeks.

How to Mop Laminate Floors Correctly

Mopping your laminate floors fortnightly will allow you to keep your living space clean. You can use the following steps to mop your floors effectively.

1. Remove carpets and rugs from your room (if you have any). The areas under these floor coverings tend to capture dirt and grit, which can lead to scratched floors.
2. Use a broom, dry mop, or vacuum cleaner to collect dirt and other solid debris from your laminate flooring.
3. Use manufacturer recommendations to mix water and floor cleaner to make a cleaning solution in a bucket.
4. Dip a mop, with a flat microfiber pad, in the solution and wring it out thoroughly. You don’t want to let the water pool on the flooring.
5. Place the damp mop on the floor and start the mopping process. Don’t place the mop into the bucket again until it becomes dry.
6. Once you have covered the entire surface, use a dry mop to wipe the cleaning solution’s residue from your laminate flooring.

You can make the cleaning process easier by dividing the entire floor into multiple sections. Then, mop the first section and wipe it down before moving on. It’ll keep the cleaning solution’s residue from sitting on the floor for a long time to prevent floor damage.

Final Words

The frequency of your mopping schedule depends on how quickly your laminate floors become dirty. Generally, mopping laminate floors after every two weeks is enough to keep them clean.

However, if your floors become dirty sooner, don’t hesitate to pick up your mop and bucket to start the cleaning process.

Don’t forget to follow the mopping methods discussed in this guide to avoid damaging the shiny finish of your laminate flooring.