How to care for laminate flooring in an apartment?

Laminate is perhaps the most popular flooring material. It is much cheaper than parquet, with it much less trouble than with plank floors, and it provides much better thermal protection than linoleum. In addition, in construction stores you can find the most bizarre colors of this material, so you can give free rein to your imagination and create such an interior that no one else has. How to care for a laminate in an apartment so that the material retains its qualities and appearance attractiveness for as long as possible? - We’ll talk about this in this article.

to contents ↑

What is laminate flooring?

Before you start cleaning, it is very useful to know what this material is - then it will be easier to pick up detergents and equipment. Laminate consists of several layers:

• stabilizing, or lower;
• the main one, he is the carrier;
• decorative;
• protective.

Important! The stabilizing layer adheres to the floor. It is usually made of kraft cardboard. The carrier layer is a dense wood-fiber board. The decorative layer is the one on which the drawing is applied. On sale you can find a laminate with a variety of patterns - parquet, marble or granite, or even with a fancy pattern or even a reproduction of a famous painting. Finally, the topmost layer is a protective film.

In addition, the laminate is distinguished by the type of fastening:

• lok;
• click.

Important! The clic laminate has special latches that secure the panels together. In the material where the lok marking stands, the panels are driven in. This is a more budget option, but it tolerates moisture worse, which should be considered when cleaning.

to contents ↑

Two words about laminate classes

On the packages and price tags you can see two numbers - 21, 22, 23 or 31, 32 and 33. Sometimes the marking 34 also comes across. By the first digit of the marking you can find out for which rooms the material is intended:

• 2 - residential premises;
• 3 - public buildings.

This, of course, does not mean at all that material marked 32 or 33 cannot be used in apartments. Very possible! It’s just more expensive than that intended for rooms.

Important! If you want the floor to serve for a long time, choose a more durable one, even if it costs more. This is especially important if you are going to change the floor in rooms where it has a heavy load, that is, in hallways and kitchens. Moreover, caring for a laminate of class 33 is not much different from the methods of processing material 31 and even 21.

to contents ↑

The main enemies of the laminate

In any room, the floor is the most problematic part. Even if you walk around the apartment in soft slippers, there are corners where the environment is, by definition, aggressive. You walk into the anteroom in street shoes, and in the kitchen quite often there is high humidity and temperature changes. Like any material, a laminate has enemies that can significantly shorten its life:

• mud;
• water;
• sharp heels;
• Sharp objects with sharp edges.

The effects of these factors should be avoided whenever possible. You can take fairly simple preventative measures:

1. Lay mats in front of and behind the front door.
2. Select a place near the entrance where everyone will take off their street shoes, as well as a place to store them.
3. Try to keep your street shoes always clean.
4. Plumbing should always be in order.
5. Do not allow dirt on the laminate to dry.

to contents ↑

What do you need

If you just redid the floors and still don't know how to care for the laminate at home, take a walk to the hardware store. You will be very useful:

• neutral detergents;
• soft rag;
• mop with soft nozzle;
• plastic bucket;
• masking paste in the color of the decorative layer;
• polish for a laminate.

Important! When cleaning the laminate, do not use aggressive detergents. Abrasive pastes should be discarded, as well as liquids and gels containing chlorine, acid and alkali. Abrasive paste leaves scratches, aggressive liquids can dissolve the protective layer. However, since any dirt is washed off quite easily from this coating, you most likely will not need any extreme methods. In addition, you do not fit:

• washing powders;
• dishwashing detergents.

In the store you can easily find detergents designed specifically for laminate processing. The price range is very wide, so even a family with a very modest income has the opportunity to choose something suitable. The type of coating for which this or that product is intended is indicated on the package.

The laminate cleaner should:

• be safe for everyone, including children and animals;
• be dustproof;
• easy to rinse with plain warm water.

Important! If there is still a scratch on the laminate that cannot be removed with a special paste, or an indelible stain - it is best to simply swap the panels, removing the damaged corner to the place where it will be less noticeable.

Rag

Do not use old shirts or bathrobes for wet cleaning. You already probably do not remember from what fabric they were sewn. Some materials that are quite suitable for clothing are completely unsuitable for cleaning, because they do not absorb water well.

In addition, there may be buttons, buttons or zippers that can scratch them. It is best to buy a special large napkin for mopping in the store. It absorbs water perfectly, easily wrung out and does not damage the coating.

to contents ↑

What is cleaning?

How to care for a class 33 laminate, as well as any other? Class 33 material is more resistant to adverse conditions, because it is designed mainly for the fact that a whole crowd of people in street shoes will walk on it. Regardless of which particular laminate you have installed, there are only two cleaning options:

• dry
• wet.

Important! Dry cleaning is recommended every day, wet - once a week.

Dry clean

Dry cleaning of the laminate is a very simple matter. The main thing is that you spend it regularly. For such cleaning you need:

• ordinary household vacuum cleaner;
• soft brush for a vacuum cleaner;
• soft bristle brush or broom.

Important! The protective layer of such a flooring perfectly repels dust, therefore, to properly care for the laminate in the apartment, you just need to go with a vacuum cleaner once a day - and your floor will always shine like new.

Wet cleaning

Some types of laminate do not tolerate moisture at all. The most problematic materials in this sense are grades 21 and 22. Therefore, they should not be wiped often.

Important! Laminates, where the first digit on the marking is three, are more resistant to moisture. However, in this case too, wet cleaning should not be abused.

The procedure is something like this:

1. Pour warm water into a container.
2. Dissolve the detergent according to the instructions on the packaging.
3. Wet a rag or mop.
4. Wring it out well.
5. Wipe the floor.
6. Let the floor dry or wipe it with a dry cloth.

Additional conditions and secrets to easily care for the laminate in the apartment:

1. Try to use detergents that do not form foam.If there is foam, the floor will have to be wiped with a damp cloth a second time, that is, to double the effect of moisture on the laminate.
2. In most cases, washing off the detergent with an additional portion of water is not required. But before carrying out wet cleaning, you must carefully read what is written on the package of the liquid or gel.
3. Consider another simple rule. The harder you squeeze a mop or rag, the less stains you get.
4. If you have a laminate of class 33 or 32, a washing vacuum cleaner will greatly facilitate your life. He perfectly copes with washing the laminate - and does not affect its durability in any way.

Important! Wet cleaning should not turn into wet. The rag must be wrung out very carefully.

to contents ↑

If there is a scratch

Even the most accurate housewife sometimes has scratches on the floor. The furniture was unsuccessfully moved, one of the guests came in sharp heels, the child naughty - in general, there are enough reasons. What to do? - Your assistant is a special masking paste that will help to easily care for the laminate in the apartment:

1. Do dry or wet cleaning.
2. Dry the floor.
3. Apply the paste in a thin layer.

Important! Such a paste not only masks small cracks, dents and scratches, but also perfectly restores the protective layer. It is for this reason that it should be used, not paint.

to contents ↑

If the laminate in the kitchen

The kitchen floor is particularly vulnerable because it is regularly dripped with grease and water. A sink may leak in the kitchen at the most inopportune moment, which, of course, will not bring any benefit to the laminate. Therefore, care for the laminate in the kitchen is especially careful. However, the methods of care are no different from those that you use in other rooms:

1. Every day the floor needs to be sweeping or vacuuming.
2. If drops of water and fat get on the floor, they should be removed immediately.
3. Wet clean once a week with products that dissolve well in water.

to contents ↑

Laminate polishing

If you prefer a shiny laminate, you'll have to polish it sometimes. However, “polishing” is not quite a suitable word, because it is done differently than when caring for parquet. For polishing the laminate, special polishes are used - they can also be found in the most ordinary hardware store with a fairly large assortment of detergents.

Rules of use, so that the care of the laminate of class 33 is appropriate:

1. Clean the floor from dust and dirt.
2. Close up scratches with paste.
3. Apply polish according to the instructions.

Important! Polishes should not be used more often than once every six months.

to contents ↑

A few words about home remedies

Despite the fact that buying a detergent marked “for laminate” is not difficult, you must always have at hand vinegar - three percent or nine percent. He perfectly launders the laminate, and does not leave stains.

With severe contamination, substances such as alcohol, acetone or a solvent can be used, depending on what the stain is from.

Important! To understand what kind of laminate care is needed, it is enough to know that chewing gum is perfectly erased with alcohol, and acetone is suitable for paints.

All these substances are used according to a single principle:

1. Apply the product on a dry rag.
2. Wipe off the stain.
3. Wet or dry clean, as appropriate.

Important! Using aggressive solvents, initially test them on the less visible area of ​​the floor covering and make sure that the product does not harm the material.

You can use liquid soap to remove greasy stains. If, during a New Year's or romantic party, stearin or wax gets on the floor, remove them with a plastic scraper. The same thing should be done in the nursery, if your baby stuck plasticine cakes on the floor.

to contents ↑

Stock footage

We hope you are convinced that there are no difficulties in caring for a laminate in an apartment, especially if it is 33 class material, no. The main thing is to clearly understand what needs to be done regularly, and what is not recommended at all. Then your floor will last a long time and will not lose its color, swell, get scratches and other damage.