Short answer
Dust-mop or vacuum, and clean with a barely damp microfibre mop and a cleaner made for laminate. Water is laminate's enemy: wipe spills quickly, never wet-mop or steam-mop, and skip wax and polish. Felt pads and mats prevent most scratches.
Laminate has a hard, scratch-resistant wear layer on top, but its core is wood fibre, and if water gets into the joints, the edges can swell. Care is all about keeping it dry.
Everyday cleaning
- Dust-mop or vacuum on the hard-floor setting.
- Clean with a barely damp mop (wrung almost dry) and a laminate cleaner, or a light spray-and-wipe. No puddles, ever.
- Wipe spills right away, especially around sinks, dishwashers and pet bowls.
Avoid
- Wet mopping and steam mops. Water and steam get into the joints and swell the edges, which doesn't go back down.
- Wax, polish, oil soaps and "shine" products, which leave streaks and a slippery film.
- Abrasive cleaners and scrub pads, which dull the surface.
Protecting the floor
- Mats at entrances and in front of the sink and dishwasher.
- Felt pads under furniture; chair mats under rolling chairs.
- Lift, don't drag, heavy furniture.
- Leave the expansion gap alone. Laminate floats and needs its gap at the walls. Don't caulk or wedge baseboards tight against it.
Chips and damaged boards
Small chips can be filled with a colour-matched laminate repair kit. A badly damaged or swollen board can usually be replaced, so keep a few spare boards from the installation. Laminate can't be sanded and refinished like hardwood.
Laminate in wet areas
Some newer laminates are rated water-resistant, but in bathrooms and basements prone to moisture, vinyl plank or tile is usually the safer choice. See LVP vs laminate.
More care guides: see all our floor care guides.
