The Best Ways to Get a Shine on a Laminate Floor

Protect the Floor

• One of the best ways to get a shine is to protect the floor from anything that may mar it. Use rubber-backed rugs at all doors leading into rooms with laminate flooring to catch the dirt before it hits the floor and dulls it. Place felt pads on furniture legs – especially dining room chairs that are repeatedly dragged over the floor – to prevent scratches. Use a dry dust mop or vacuum cleaner when you clean, instead of a broom, which may leave tiny scratches that buildup over time, dulling the laminate.

Keep it Clean

• Keeping scratches and scuff marks to a minimum is an ideal way of getting and keeping a shine. Routine dry mopping or vacuuming keeps small dirt particles from scratching the floor. Although the scratches may be tiny, from a distance they make the floor appear dull. Depending on how much and what kind of traffic the floor receives, such as crawling babies or pets, you may need to sweep or vacuum daily. Running a damp mop over the floor also helps keep the dirt from collecting in the scratches and grooves.

Remove Built-Up Residue

• If you use a cleaning product on the floor, such as oil soap, it may buildup over time, leaving a residue. Some cleaning products also leave streaks, which dulls the floor. Combine 1 cup vinegar in a gallon of water and use a soft cloth to wipe the floor to remove residue buildup. If the layer is particularly thick, you may need to use straight vinegar on a cloth. It’s time-consuming to clean the floor on your hands and knees but once the residue is removed, the laminate will shine.

Tips

• Streaky floors are not shiny. Use a slightly damp mop when cleaning to eliminate streaks from excess water. After mopping, go over the floor with a microfiber or terry cloth to remove water and buff the finish. As the towel becomes damp, use another, dry towel. Buffing is an ideal way to produce a shine. Remove stains, such as candle wax or chewing gum, with a plastic scraper or putty knife. Don’t dig deeply into the finish, but lightly scrape the material from the floor. Use a rag dipped in nail polish remover to get rid of residue left after scraping.