Advertisement

It’s true that laminate flooring is popular because it’s attractive and affordable. But you do have to exercise a bit of care when it comes to maintenance. Mopping the laminate flooring with a microfiber cloth is a good idea, but you need to make sure you use the right cleaning solutions.

The problem is that there are quite a few harsh cleaning solutions out there, and they may end up damaging the floor. To make sure you only use a safe cleaning solution, why not make it yourself?

Here are some cleaning solutions you can make yourself:

Laminate Floor Cleaner with Vinegar

This is one of the more popular options for cleaning your laminate flooring. Most households have some vinegar in the kitchen, so it’s not hard to get. It’s also obviously natural, unlike synthetic compounds that might contain harmful particles.

These harmful particles may be too harsh, and may end up damaging the floor if you’re not careful. They may also be dangerous for crawling children and pets, and may not be as friendly to the environment as you would want.

Here’s how to prepare the vinegar solution:

  • 1 cup of distilled white vinegar
  • 2 cups of warm distilled water
  • (optional) 5 to 10 drops of your favorite essential oils (try the citrus scents)

Vinegar is acidic, and pure vinegar may not be all that good for your laminate flooring. But when mixed with equal parts of water, then it works as intended. The vinegar acts as a disinfectant.

Some people mix in a bit more water to be on the safe side. While that’s not a bad option, you should make sure that you don’t over-dilute the vinegar. That might keep it from working properly as a disinfectant.

It’s true that the vinegar smell isn’t all that pleasant. But it won’t last long, and the smell disappears when the floor dries completely. Also, the essential oil (if you use it) covers the smell up with a much more pleasant smell.

Laminate Floor Cleaner with Soap

This recipe doesn’t just use any regular soap. It specifies castile soap, which is a type of vegetable oil-based soap that originated from the Castile region in Spain. It’s a gentle soap that doesn’t contain any harsh compounds, and it’s very eco-friendly. It’s very safe to use for household surfaces.

To make this cleaner, you need:

  • 2 cups of warm water
  • 2 drops of castile soap
  • 5 drops of tea tree oil
  • 5 drops of citrus essential oil (optional)

The tea tree oil helps in killing bacteria, along with mites and fungus. Then you can add a few drops of the citrus essential oils for the great scent.

You don’t want to use too much soap, as you run the risk of ending up with a slippery floor. That may just lead to slip and fall accidents.

Laminate Cleaner with Vegetable Oil

This contains vegetable oil, which acts as a natural floor polish. It’s a good way to get your floor all shiny again.

  • 2 cups of warm water
  • 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
  • 5 drops of citrusy essential oils (optional)

This contains only a little bit of the distilled white vinegar, as you also have the vegetable oil. But the vegetable oil is quite strong, so you don’t want a lot of it either. Apply this solution sparingly, and don’t let it pool.

Laminate Floor Cleaner with Rubbing Alcohol

Pre-Covid, lots of people went for the homemade laminate floor cleaner without alcohol. You shouldn’t use undiluted rubbing alcohol directly on your laminate flooring, as that might damage the top layer of the floor. You will have to dilute it into a solution.

These days, rubbing alcohol may be a more popular option to make sure you don’t have viruses saying around. There are 2 recipes here that can work nicely for your laminate flooring.

Here’s the first one:

  • ½ cup of 70% rubbing alcohol
  • ½ cup of white vinegar
  • ½ cup of warm water
  • 6 drops of essential oils (optional)

That’s a lot of disinfecting power right there, when you have equal amounts of rubbing alcohol with the vinegar. But if you feel that this might be too harsh, you can try a gentler version.

  • 1 cup of warm water
  • 4 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol
  • 1 small squirt of Dawn dish soap

Additional Notes

Most of these recipes list a few drops of essential oils as an option. If you’re living alone, then you can pick your favorite scent among the essential oils. But for a household with several members, citrus is perhaps the best choice. It’s almost universally pleasant for everyone, and hardly no one objects to the smell. That’s why the vast majority of commercial household cleaners come with a lemon or orange scent.

But if you’re going to put in some drops of essential; oils, use a glass spray bottle. Essential oils can degrade plastic. Put all your ingredients in the glass spray bottle, give it a good shake, then spray just a small bit when you mop the floor. You’ll end up with clean laminate flooring in just a short while!

Categorized in: