Laminate floors will look better and more attractive when they are shiny. So, how to make laminate floors shine?
To make laminate floors shine, clean them with the right cleaner. You can also spray a mixture of water with vinegar or rubbing alcohol over the floor and buff it with a cloth. The mixture will remove the filth that is causing it to appear dull.
You shouldn’t use wax on laminate as the wax will gunk up on the, causing it to look blurry rather than shiny.
Why are Laminate Floors Dull and Streaky?
1. Using the Wrong Cleaner
Using the wrong floor cleaner is the main reason for the dull appearance of your floors. Not all cleaners advertised as “floor cleaners” can be used on laminate floors. Some cleans contain bleach or other chemicals that can corrode or discolor the floor.
Also, using too much cleaner can cause the floor color to fade.
2. Don’t Use Sanders
You shouldn’t use sanders, grinders, or other tools that have abrasives, as they can cause scratches on the floors. In addition, dust and filth will accumulate on those scratches, making the floor look dull.
While power sanders clean and smoothen other floors, such as concrete, they are too powerful for a laminate. If you must use a sander, then use ultrafine-grit sandpaper.
3. Heavy Foot Traffic
If a floor is used too much, it can cause it to become dull. Dirty shoes or socks riddled with sand can stain the planks as you walk. This causes them to look dull and filthy. So, avoid installing planks on floors with a lot of foot traffic.
4. Water Damage
Laminate floors aren’t waterproof, so water damage can cause them to become dull. If the laminate is exposed to constant water, the planks will develop white and black water stains. These stains will make it look dull.
Water damage can also cause the floors to bubble up. You must apply a waterproof underlayment and a floormat to prevent this.
5. Poor Cleaning Routine
Poor cleaning and maintenance routines can also make your floor appear dull. You must mop and clean the floor every week. If you don’t, dust, oils, and grime will accumulate on the floor and make it appear dull and streaky.
How To Make Laminate Floors Shine?
To make a laminate floor shine, clean the planks to get rid of the dust, and use a floor cleaner to make it shine.
Here are the tools you need:
- A mop
- Detergent
- A bucket of water
- Vinegar
- Rubbing alcohol
- A soft broom or vacuum
- A spray bottle
- Clean microfiber cloths
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. Sweep and Vacuum The Floor
First, remove furniture and all items from the floor. Put on a pair of gloves while doing it.
Next, sweep the laminate planks. Sweeping will get rid of the dust and debris. You can also use a vacuum to remove dust, but don’t use vacuum attachments or fittings as they can scar the floor.
2. Prep and Mix The Cleaning Solution
After sweeping and removing dust from the planks, prep the cleaner. You can get a floor cleaner (made for laminate) in your local shops.
You can also use Quick shine multi-surface floor cleaner as it’s made to clean, wipe, and shine floors. However, ensure that the Quick shine product is made for laminate floors. Test it on a corner before using it on the entire floor.
If you don’t have a cleaner; mix water with vinegar or rubbing alcohol and use the mixture to clean the planks.
Here’s how to make a homemade laminate floor shiner:
- Mix ½ cup of water with ½ cup of vinegar or rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle.
- Leave the bottle to settle for a few minutes.
- There is no need to shake the bottle.
- Apply the cleaner to the floor.
3. Spray the Laminate Cleaner on The Floor
Spray the cleaning mixture on the floor and ensure to cover all the areas with the cleaner. After spraying the cleaner, don’t scrub or brush it; wait a few minutes for the mixture to soak into the floor. Once the mixture soaks into the planks and removes the filth, use a mop to wipe the it and remove the loose filth.
4. Buff The Laminate Floor
After removing the loose filth, clean (wipe) the laminate with a microfiber cloth. The microfiber cloth will buff the floor and restore its shiny appearance. After buffing it, leave it to air dry for a few hours.
Can You Use Floor Wax on Laminate Flooring?
You can’t use floor wax on a laminate as it will gunk up on the planks, and cause them to appear blurry or muddy. Also, floor wax will attract more dust and debris. So, the floor wax (in a paste form) won’t shine laminate planks and shouldn’t be used on them.
Floor wax makes wood floors, such as hardwood, shine. That’s because hardwood floors are porous and not sealed. So, the wax will penetrate the hardwood and form a shiny water-resistant layer. But, this doesn’t work with laminate.
Laminate floors are sealed and have a slick top coat. So, if you apply wax floor over them, the top layer will repel the wax coating. This causes the wax to gunk up and make the floor appear dull. So, to make laminate shine, don’t use wax, instead; use a laminate cleaner.
How To Keep Laminate Floors Shiny?
To keep laminate floors shiny, do the following.
- Clean and wipe drink spills immediately after they happen.
- Mop the floor every week to remove the filth.
- Don’t use bleach or other harsh chemicals to clean it.
- Use waterproof or rubber carpets.
- Use dust mats to prevent dust and filth from accumulating on the planks.
- Don’t use a vacuum with abrasives or brushes, as they can scratch and dent the floor.
- Don’t use floor wax to brighten it, as it makes it dull and streaky.
- Don’t install laminate floors outdoors, as the weather elements will make the floor appear dull.
Final Words
You can make laminate floors shine by removing the dust and filth from the surface and cleaning it with a floor cleaner. The cleaner will remove the dirt and give the floor a shiny appearance.
You can use a mixture of water with vinegar or rubbing alcohol to clean the floor and make it shine. Don’t use floor pastes, wax, or polish, as these products will make the floor appear darker rather than shiny.
Clean the floor every week to keep them shiny.
