How to Deep Clean Laminate Floors to Help Sell Your House
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April Blake, Contributing AuthorClose
April Blake Contributing AuthorApril Blake is a freelance writer and editor, located in Cayce, South Carolina. She is a homeowner who appreciates following the real estate market in her area. April also frequently writes about food, health, wellness, and lifestyle topics; and enjoys yoga and ice cream in her free time.
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Sam Dadofalza, Associate Refresh EditorClose
Sam Dadofalza Associate Refresh EditorSam Dadofalza is an associate refresh editor at HomeLight, where she crafts insightful stories to guide homebuyers and sellers through the intricacies of real estate transactions. She has previously contributed to digital marketing firms and online business publications, honing her skills in creating engaging and informative content.
Being economical and durable are two hallmarks of the laminate floor, which came into existence in the 1970s alongside advances in technology and engineering. While laminate floors might not have the same appeal as other types of flooring like hardwood or marble, they have their place in many homes, even higher-end ones, thanks to continuous innovations over the years.
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Laminate floors are composed of a particle board base, an “image” layer with the visible print, and a transparent coating layer atop that. Prints on a laminate floor can be made to mimic wood, marble, stone, or present other man-made designs. Laminate floors can come in rolls or pre-cut squares, depending on how each manufacturer creates its products.
Though laminate floors used to be much more popular, they are not as common anymore, especially in certain parts of the United States, such as the southern areas. Despite its positive qualities, the humble laminate floor can have a bad reputation among home buyers.
As you prepare to list your home for sale, it’s important to get it looking its best. It’s important to know what to do — and what not to do — before deep cleaning laminate floors.
Why deep clean floors?
Clean floors convey a higher sense of value to buyers when they walk through your home. It shows the home has been cared for and well maintained. In contrast, a dirty floor is unappealing and can leave a bad impression. In fact, it may cause potential buyers to wonder what else may not be maintained in the house.
Dingy or faded laminate floors that have been worn down or neglected over time can still be made more appealing, at least enough to help sell your home. Buyers who have plans to make major renovations in the home may not mind dingy floors, especially if the floor style looks dated.
However, it’s still wise to make them as clean as possible and present them in their best light with a deep cleaning tailored to your specific flooring.
How is deep cleaning different from regular cleaning?
Regular cleaning includes dusting, organizing clutter, wiping down surfaces, and clearing dirt and debris from floors to give the home a fresh feel and a brighter appearance. Deep cleaning goes beyond surface appearances to remove dirt, grime, and scum in the house and focuses on sanitizing and disinfecting to help keep people healthy. It has longer staying power and more noticeable results, but it typically takes longer because it involves more detailed work.
Deep cleaning is also different from normal cleaning because it’s more intensive and not done as often. Regular cleaning might be performed once a week for the average household. Deep cleaning is applied less frequently — perhaps only a few times a year.
We consulted with Scott Johnston, the owner of Carpet Care of Carolinas in Raleigh, North Carolina, founded in 1970. Johnston has been involved in the family business his entire life and has become an expert on how to clean laminate floors.
He explains how to pay special attention to laminate floors to prevent them from becoming damaged, discolored, or warped. Floors that have been too enthusiastically scrubbed or neglected may require services like his to restore them beyond what the home DIYer can accomplish, or a professional may recommend replacing them entirely.
Before you start cleaning, make sure you know how to give your laminate flooring the special treatment it deserves to sparkle for years to come. “Identify what type of floor you’re dealing with first,” Johnston advises. “It’s a good idea to research and find out what type of floor you have because you can’t treat all floors the same, there are so many types of materials now.”
What you’ll need for deep cleaning laminate floors
Before you begin cleaning your laminate floors, gather the materials you’ll need for an easier session. Tools and products you’ll need to deep clean your laminate floor include:
- Broom
- Dry mop
- Clean, soft microfiber towels
- Vacuum
- Wet mop
- Water
- Medium-sized bucket
- Water-based laminate floor cleaners, such as Bona or Black Diamond
Steps for deep cleaning laminate floors
When it comes to cleaning laminate floors, Johnston recommends starting with the easiest steps first and progressing further as needed. “Less is best when trying to clean flooring,” he says. “Always start with dry cleaning a floor, or if you have a good vacuum that won’t cause damage to the floor.”
Use dry methods
Step 1: Use a broom or vacuum to remove loose dirt and dust.
Step 2: Use a microfiber dust mop to remove smaller particles.
Introduce water only
Step 1: Clean the microfiber or use a fresh one and wet the microfiber. Lightly work it across the floor to loosen caked-in dirt or dust.
Step 2: Repeat if needed with a wet microfiber cloth.
Add cleaners as needed
Step 1: To tackle stubborn buildup, use a cleaner designed for your flooring’s finish. This will not only help prevent further buildup but also protect the finish from damage.
Step 2: Scrub. “You can be more aggressive with them when deep cleaning,” says Johnston.
Step 3: Use water again to keep buildup from the cleaner from sticking to the floor.
Other than adding some elbow grease, Johnston doesn’t recommend much more than this for homeowners to keep their laminate floors clean. “If you’re going through the steps above, a little muscle and a soft pad are what you want to use,” he says. “If you have a good finish, it’s impossible for dirt to get into or under the finish, it’s made to keep everything on top of the finish.”
Find an Agent Who Knows What Adds Value
If you’re thinking about selling your house, partner with a top real estate agent early in the process. A proven agent will have the experience to know what to fix and what not to fix — and what to replace and what can just be cleaned. It takes two minutes to match you with the highest-performing agents in your market.
Best practices for stain removal
Although laminate is naturally stain-resistant, it’s not completely stain-proof. Here are the best practices for effective stain removal:
- Use the right cleaner: Stick to laminate-friendly cleaners and avoid harsh chemicals that can damage the finish.
- Tackle stains gently: Use a soft cloth or sponge with a small amount of dish soap and water. Scrub gently, never aggressively.
- Apply baking soda paste: Mix baking soda and water into a paste and gently rub it onto the stain. Then, wipe clean with a damp cloth.
- Avoid abrasive tools: Don’t use steel wool or abrasive scrubbing pads, as these can scratch the surface.
- Dry properly: After cleaning, always dry the floor thoroughly to prevent moisture damage.
The biggest mistake people make when cleaning laminate floors
Laminate floors can take a little more abuse when being cleaned than natural surfaces. But still, certain chemicals should never be used on floors. Bleach is the top no-no for floors. “Bleach is a terrible thing to ever clean with, it may help with certain issues,” says Johnston. “But if it gets into the tile or ceramic, you can take the color out.”
Soapy cleaners are another big product to avoid. “[It’s] much more difficult to get off and will stick to your flooring, which attracts more dirt,” he explains. “Most products we use to clean, the chemistry turns into a dirt magnet.” Look for products by Bona, or other ones specifically recommended by the flooring manufacturer.
How to keep your laminate floors protected day-to-day
Once you’ve cleaned your laminate floors well following Johnston’s advice, you’ll want to keep them looking good from day to day. Luckily, Johnston doesn’t recommend daily cleaning, especially for lower-traffic rooms.
“If you have a room you’re never in, like a dining room, you don’t need to clean daily or even weekly,” he says. “For a main hallway or kitchen, it’s a good idea to go over it with a dry mop daily, then with a wet mop and no cleaning solution once or twice a week.”
How they build and install laminate floors is how they will remain, Johnston advised. A dry or wet mop is generally all it takes to maintain a clean-looking laminate floor.
It can be a tough sell, but getting into a regular floor cleaning routine will help keep floors looking nice, as it will cut down on the number of dry particles that can damage the floor. You should not use cleaning products on your floors every time you clean, only when you do a deeper clean, bi-monthly at most.
When it comes to laminate floors, the key is routine
Johnston says that most people ruin their laminate floors by letting particles scratch deep into the surface over time. For this reason, routine light cleaning is one of the best ways to maintain and protect your floors.
Cleaning the floors of your home — both deep cleaning and regular cleaning — sends the message to potential buyers that you value your home and have taken good care of it over the years.
An experienced real estate agent can help you prepare your home so it’s in top condition before you place it on the market. HomeLight’s free Agent Match platform can connect you with an agent who knows the value of a clean, cared-for laminate floor, and more.
As you prepare your home for sale, know what it might be worth by trying HomeLight’s free Home Value Estimator. In less than two minutes, you can see a real-world ballpark home value estimate.
Header Image Source: (New Africa / Shutterstock)
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