One of the best things about laminate is how little it asks of you. A tough, sealed surface means day-to-day care is genuinely easy — but there are a couple of things that can damage laminate, so it's worth knowing the right way to clean it. Here's how to keep yours looking new.

Everyday cleaning

  • Sweep or vacuum regularly — grit and sand are what actually scratch a floor over time, so getting them up is the single most useful thing you can do. Use a soft-brush or hard-floor vacuum setting, not a beater bar.
  • Mop with a barely-damp microfibre mop — lightly damp only, with a pH-neutral laminate cleaner. Wring it out well so the floor dries almost immediately.
  • Wipe spills promptly — the 72-hour waterproof surface gives you time, but the sooner the better.

What not to do

  • Never use a steam mop. Forcing hot steam into the joints is one of the few things that genuinely damages laminate.
  • Don't wet-mop or leave puddles. Standing water and soaking mops let moisture into the joints — keep it barely damp.
  • Avoid wax, polish, oil soaps and abrasive cleaners. Laminate has a sealed surface that doesn't need polishing, and these leave a dull film or scratch it.
  • Skip the scourer. For stubborn marks, a damp cloth and a little laminate cleaner is all you need.

Protecting the surface

  • Felt pads under furniture legs — and lift furniture to move it rather than dragging it.
  • Mats at entry points — they catch the grit and water that come in on shoes.
  • Soft pads or a mat under chairs that move, like dining and office chairs.
  • Keep pet claws trimmed — laminate's AC4 surface is very scratch resistant, but it's still good practice.

Dealing with marks and scuffs

Most scuffs lift with a damp microfibre cloth. For tougher marks, a dab of laminate cleaner does the job. Because laminate can't be sanded back like timber, prevention is the game — but its tough, AC4-rated surface is built to resist the everyday knocks that would mark a softer floor in the first place.

The simple routine

Sweep or vacuum often, mop with a barely-damp microfibre when it needs it, wipe spills quickly, and keep felt pads and mats in play. Do that and a quality laminate floor stays looking sharp for years — with none of the oiling or refinishing a timber floor needs. For more on its limits around water, see is laminate waterproof?

Keep reading

See the colours in your own home before you buy — order free samples — or browse the full laminate flooring range.