Can you use a steam mop on laminate? Yes. In this article, we look at a floor type; laminate. Here, the focus is on figuring out how best to steam mop laminate floors.
You’ll find this information helpful if you just moved into a home with this floor or had one installed. So, how do you steam mop laminate floors? Let’s find out.
How to Steam Mop Laminate Floors
When it comes to floor types, there are wide varieties made of different materials. Each type may require a unique maintenance or cleaning approach.
These floor types include wood, carpet, laminate, linoleum, cork, hardwood, tile, concrete, wood, vinyl, bamboo, and marble.
Other types include granite floors, engineering hardwood, ceramic, porcelain stoneware, porcelain tile, engineered wood, and slate flooring. The cleaning or maintenance approaches differ.
You’ll need to identify what cleaning approach works best to have the right cleaning outcome.
About Laminate Floors
Laminate floors come with a shiny finish that can quickly degrade when the correct cleaning technique isn’t used.
Now, it’s no secret that steam mops are widely used on various floors, including steam mops. While this is true, it’s essential to ensure the cleaning process is done in a definite way.
One commonly held misconception about laminate floors is that they’re waterproof. Such assumptions arise due to the finish and feel of laminated finishing.
In a nutshell, laminate floors aren’t waterproof. While the planks may not absorb water, moisture can still get in through seams between floor planks.
With this knowledge, specific cleaning techniques such as steam mops will need to be used in a certain way. Knowing how to steam mop laminate floors is the first step toward executing a proper job.
With that said, let’s find out the critical aspects of steam mopping laminate floors.
Things to Avoid
For effective steam mopping of laminate floors, specific procedures should be followed. Some of these include avoiding inevitable mistakes.
So, what are these mistakes? Regular steam mop cleaning of laminate floors isn’t recommended. Also, using steam mops at high heat settings can cause problems.
Harsh cloth materials can cause damage to laminate floors. Slow mop motions can prove detrimental to your flooring. All too often, people make a lot of these mistakes.
This reduces the lifespan of laminate floors and causes all sorts of problems. Let’s discuss each of the points mentioned.
i. Avoid Frequent Steam Mop Cleaning
While this point may sound a bit off for some readers, it’s something you should give real thought to.
Steam mops are used occasionally, especially when dealing with laminate floors. Such mop helps with thorough and periodic cleanup.
You can use regular and low-impact cleaning techniques for your routine cleaning needs. Steam mopping laminate floors only becomes necessary when dealing with sticky or stubborn dirt.
This helps prolong the lifespan of laminate floors as they aren’t frequently under high temperatures and moisture given off by steam mops.
ii. Avoid Using Steam Mops at High Heat Settings
High heat settings of steam mops can also cause damage to your flooring.
Laminate floors are unable to tolerate such temperatures. This is because the floor material can quickly weaken and begin to buckle. Only use steam mops at recommended temperature settings to minimize damage.
iii. Harsh Cloth Materials will Cause Damage
Avoid using harsh cloth materials when cleaning your floors to protect your laminate flooring. With more quality and softer cloth materials, your feet don’t get to bear the brunt of abrasion during cleanup.
iv. Avoid Slow Mop Motions
How you use or operate steam mops when cleaning laminate floors matters.
The moisture or steam produced during cleanup requires a faster movement or motion. In other words, you must avoid leaving the steam mop stationary for a long while in use.
The moist mopping pad could introduce excess moisture to laminate flooring, making it softer and warmer. In other words, this could affect the floor’s quality. Also, it’s essential to avoid slow motions during steam mopping.
The same effect (moisture absorption by laminate floor) can result.
Ideal Frequency for Steam Mopping Laminate Floors
We earlier stated that steam mopping laminate floors frequently could cause problems that could damage your floors. Now the logical question is how often laminate floor cleaning using this technique should be done.
Cleaning laminate floors monthly using the steam mopping technique is considered a safe interval. This helps preserve the laminate material from damage.
For routine cleanup, you may want to avoid using chemically active detergents, harsh scrubbing, or heavy equipment.
High traffic areas of the floor can be dry-mopped once a week. In the case of liquid spills, it’s necessary to mop up affected areas immediately.
Steam Mopping Laminate Floors
Safe and effective cleaning of laminate floors using steam mops needs to be done systematically.
To begin, have the floor swept or vacuumed, microfiber cloth should be checked, use a steam mop on the lowest setting, move quickly, avoid multi-surface cleaners, and start from a far corner.
i. Sweep or Vacuum Floor
The preparatory stage for getting started includes having your laminate floor swept or vacuumed. This helps with better mopping results as you avoid significant abrasions and excess dirt.
ii. Inspect Microfiber Cloth
Steam mops come with microfiber cloths that must be checked before cleaning commences and during cleanup.
When laminate floors are significantly dirty, the microfiber cloth attached to the mop must be changed midway.
iii. Use Steam Mop on Lowest Setting
We explained earlier that steam mops must be used at their lowest settings on laminate floors. This helps avoid warping or damage to floor material.
iv. Move Quickly
Also crucial to proper use is moving steam mops quickly during cleaning. This helps ensure that a limited amount of steam hits your laminate flooring.
The less the moisture, the better.
v. Avoid Multi-Surface Cleaners
Laminate floors are designed to have a radiant look.
Maintaining such will require not using certain cleaners. Multi-surface cleaners are among those to avoid when cleaning laminate floors. Just wash with ordinary water to prevent dulling the floor surface.
These are procedures involved in steam mopping laminate floors. Because laminate floors can be delicate, especially when exposed to moisture, you’ll need to use steam mops correctly.