Laminate flooring pairs the beauty of natural wood with easy, carefree maintenance. You’ll get years of beautiful performance from your laminate floor with a little preparation and know-how.

BASIC MAINTENANCE

Use a dust mop, soft bristle broom or a vacuum cleaner with suction only (no beater bar or with the beater bar disengaged) to remove dust, dirt and loose particulate on a regular basis. For slightly damp cleaning, spray Mohawk’s FloorCare Essentials Hardwood & Laminate Cleaner onto a cotton, terrycloth, or microfiber mop. Avoid wet-mop cleaning with water or liquid cleaners.

Use protective window coverings to block fade-causing UV rays and excessive heat from direct sunlight, and rearrange rugs and furniture periodically to help your floor age evenly. During inclement weather, avoid exposing your flooring to water as much as possible.

TIPS FOR PREVENTING DAMAGE

• Carefully remove stubborn stains (like paint, oil, tar, or markers) with acetone-based fingernail polish remover.

• Wipe up spills and spots immediately with Mohawk FloorCare Essentials Hardwood & Laminate Flooring Cleaner applied directly to a clean white cloth.

• Use ice to harden tough substances like wax or chewing gum, and then gently scrape with a plastic scraper or a credit card. Be careful not to scratch the surface and wipe the area clean with a soft, slightly damp cloth.

• If one of your planks is beyond repair, use the Quick-Step UniFix® tool to remove and replace the damaged plank in minutes.

EXTRA PROTECTION

Invest in high-quality floor mats and protective pads under heavy furniture for an extra layer of protection on your laminate floors. Place floor mats at entrances and exits—they collect and trap corrosive substances that can be tracked in, like dirt, sand, oil, grit, asphalt, or even driveway sealer. Placing mats in high-traffic areas—in front of vanities, kitchen sinks, and stoves—is an effective way to reduce wear.

WHAT TO AVOID

• Wax, polish, oils, soaps, detergents, shine enhancers, or varnish shouldn’t be used on laminate.

• Applying cleaner directly to the surface of the laminate can cause staining—lightly spray it on a cleaning cloth or damp mop instead.

• Avoid cleaning machines like spray mops, steam cleaners or mops, or power cleaners.

• Always avoid mopping with water and dry up any water spills immediately.