How do you clean faux wood floors?

Question

I am afraid to get my fuax wood floors wet because I know it can ruin them. So I was wondering how to clean them properly.

Answer 1

Swifer Wet Jet

Answer 2

By faux wood do you mean Laminate, like Pergo flooring? If so thats what we have and we have used the Orange Glo Laminate stuff, they have a special mop with a duster head, cleaner head, and polisher head. Then they sell the spray cleaner and the shine/protectant. We also use a Swifter Wet Jet. I like the Swifter better, the Orange Glo is a spray that you have to spray by hand, and the shine/protectant takes forever, you have to move everything from the floors and not put them back on for atleast an hour, so the couches and stuff have to sit in the dining room while we wait for it to dry and set. We ended up only doing the shine/protectant in one room because it took so long!
Just read the labels on the cleaner. There is a Swifter fluid for wood floors, so make sure that you dont get that one. It says on the bottle that it can be used on laminate floors.
Good Luck!

Answer 3

The floor may not be the actual problem. If you are mopping them consistently and still you're getting black marks on your feet, I am thinking that it may not be the floors themselves. Cleaning is cleaning, and as long as you use proper materials and amounts of water (I always take a towel and wipe it over floors -- including vinyl), you shouldn't be getting dirty. Do you have an oil heater or is the hot water tank powered by oil? If so, then that could be emitting black dust. The solution to that would be to have a plumber come in and do maintenance. Cleaning the vents and any filters might solve the problem. And what ever is on your floor (which you notice) is also getting into everything else, including your lungs. It may also be related to pollen (not all of it is green/yellow) or some type of a mold issue. As noted in other post, laminate flooring absorbs water. So if it's been washed too much, there may be mold growing in the part of the floor you can't see.

Answer 4

I found these articles and links very helpful... happy mopping :)

Maintenance and Repair
Laminate floors require very little maintenance. The material handles surface moisture well, but if the core material gets wet it can expand and damage the flooring. In bathrooms and kitchens, make sure that surface water is wiped up after spills and over spray. Unlike hardwood, laminate does not require sanding and refinishing every few years. Routine cleaning with a vacuum or damp mop is all that is needed. The process for repairing damaged boards is similar to that of hardwood. Precision cutting and fitting is required, so a professional should be hired to replace any damaged pieces.

Text by David Figueras
Copyright BobVila.com © 2001

Laminate Floor Cleaning Product you may want to try this recipe for a homemade cleaner that makes them look bright, streak free and clean!
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1 gallon very warm water (for quicker evaporation)

Dampen a towel in the mixture and wring out all the excess moisture. Use the towel as your mop. No need to rinse. Dry the floor if necessary.

Self-wringing mops can leave excess water on the floor, which works between the boards warping the edges. Then sanding and refinishing becomes necessary. Water also contains alkaline, the culprit behind water spot damage on glass shower doors. It leaves damaging water spots on your wood floors. Vinegar neutralizes the alkaline helping to eliminate the problem.

**Mary Findley spent 12 years professionally cleaning homes and answers your questions as moderator of our DoItYourself.com Cleaning Forum. Visit her website at www.goclean.com for her free bimonthly cleaning tips.

Answer 5

Sure wish you had posted the brand of flooring you have. Some can not stand any water some are not bothered by water. To be safe use only the wet swifter. Not the jet swifter that sprays water. Another way is with Windex and paper towel. Spray with Windex and wipe with the paper towel. You could also call the place you purchased the flooring from.and just ask. Remember not all laminates are equal, some are very good some are just trash, contact paper on a paper board.

Answer 6

How do I care for my new wood floor?

Daily general maintenance is highly recommended to help keep your real wood floor looking its best.

General Maintenance - Immediately blot up spills or spots with a damp cloth.

Biweekly - Vacuum or sweep your floor.

Monthly - Clean floor with Anderson cleaner. Apply the cleaner to a clean, dampened sponge as directed and wipe the surface of your floor. Follow up with a clean, dry terry cloth towel to dry the surface. Never pour cleaner directly onto the floor.

Answer 7

Here's what I do to keep my fake wood floors clean and shiny: sweep with a dry dust mop, mist with ZEP hardwood & laminate floor cleaner (from Home Depot), mop immediately with a dry mop such as Swiffer. Don't let the ZEP dry before mopping.

Answer 8

carefully !!! Do not mop them as you would a ceramic tile floor... If you could get a sponge mop and get it DAMP only.. then clean the floors with that.. You can add a little Mr. Clean or Pinesol if you want but the key is MOIST and not sloppy wet

Answer 9

a bucket of water , a rag ,hands and knees
Or get one of the flat Square mops ( at home depot) and some ploorspray for the floor(woods dloor cleaner) and just squirt and mop .