If you have found your way to this article you have likely become annoyed with your laminate floors.
No matter how much you clean them they always seem dull and streaky. You see your friends’ houses looking like showrooms with their shiny laminate floors and you can’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.
You may be thinking “What am I doing wrong?” and “I should have just kept the carpet!”. However, in this article, we are going to make sure that you never feel like that ever again.
We are going to be exploring the different ways and methods you can enlist to take your laminate floors from drab to fab.
Also, check out our recent article on solid vs engineered hardwood flooring here..
As well as this, we will also be looking at the potential reasons your laminate flooring may be getting dull and streaky in the first place.
After all, just because a Pinterest post swore that they had the miracle cure for streaky floors, does not mean it works.
The methods you thought were working for you clearly haven’t been, and so we will be exploring why that may be.
If this sounds like the post you need (and if you are struggling with dull, streaky laminate floors it definitely is needed), then we highly suggest that you keep on reading and you will be well on your way to showroom worthy shiny floors in no time!
Why Are My Laminate Floors Dull and Streaky?
Before we go ahead and tell you exactly how to get those gorgeous shiny floors you have been dreaming of, we think it would be helpful to see where you have gone wrong in the past.
As we mentioned in the introduction, it can be easy to follow random advice that claims to get your floors shining with miracle solutions.
We’ve all seen the articles “Clean your whole floor with orange peel” and “Shine up those wood floors with a teabag”. You know the type.
However, lots of these methods don’t have any backing to them, and generally, it can be hard to tell whether they work for all floors.
Sometimes, what we think might be cleaning our floors and helping them shine could actually be doing them more harm than good. As well as this, some other surprising factors can affect how your floors look.
The most common reason our floors are streaky and dull lies in the products and cleaning methods we use on our laminate.
Whether we use the wrong cleaning products or too much of the right ones, either can wreak havoc on our floors. First, let’s tackle the wrong cleaning products.
As tempting as it can be to use a soapy product on your floors to give them a good scrub, this can be really harmful to your laminate.
It may also be tempting to use abrasive cleaners thinking that they will clean your floors, but these can be too rough for your delicate laminate flooring.
As well as this, polishes and waxes are not suitable for laminate flooring.
You should remember that laminate flooring should not be treated the same way as wood flooring. Whilst waxes and polishes are great for wood floors, it can cause damage to your laminate.
Even if you are using the right products, sometimes you can be using too much. Laminate flooring can be sensitive to water.
Whilst it is often water-resistant, it is not waterproof. This means that you should use very small amounts of your cleaning product on the floor so you do not saturate it.
Another factor that can affect the appearance of your laminate floor is the method you use for cleaning. By this, we don’t mean the cleaning products themselves, rather, what you used to apply them.
A mop, for example, is a good idea in theory, but if that mop is dirty from another floor, or completely sodden with water, it will make your laminate streaky and dirty.
Another cleaning method for laminate floors that may actually be doing more harm than good is the steam mop.
Steam mops are becoming increasingly popular and it’s easy to see why.
They do a thorough job and are very convenient. However, because of the construction of laminate flooring, the hot moisture from your steam mop can actually cause the floor to warp. This damage can, in turn, create streaks, dullness, and an uneven appearance.
The most surprising reason for streaks and dull laminate flooring is sunlight.
When the sun is at its highest and brightest, it can actually cause discoloration and damage to your laminate flooring.
In turn, this can make it look streaky. Ensure you have curtains or blinds up to block out the worst of this light if you think it may be having a direct effect.
Luckily, whilst there are clearly many cleaning methods that can cause streaks, there are equally some fantastic and easy steps you can take to get your floors from dull to shiny.
“How do I do that?”, we hear you ask. Well, keep on reading to the next section to find out.
How Do I Get My Laminate Floors to Shine?
The good news is, even if you have done all of the above, resulting in dull and streaky laminate flooring, it can still be saved!
In this section of the article, we are going to be detailing the various methods you can enlist and the easy steps you can take to achieve shiny, showroom ready laminate floors in no time.
The first thing you need to get to grips with is prevention. You need to be doing what we think of as damage control daily to ensure your laminate flooring is kept in pristine condition.
You may well be thinking that it’s too late for that as the damage is already done. However, there is no such thing as too late.
Adopt these good laminate flooring habits now to ensure that from now on tour floors will be easier to maintain and keep their shine for longer.
The first thing you can do in terms of prevention is to ensure that all the furniture on your laminate flooring has furniture pads on the bottom.
This will stop the furniture from scratching the laminate.
This may seem irrelevant to the shininess of your floors, but take it from us, it is far easier to maintain a scratch-free laminate flooring than one that is riddled with deep scratches and indentations.
It allows for smoother cleaning and a more even appearance.
The next thing to consider in terms of preventative measures is damage caused by pets and children. Pet food and water bowls and spillages caused by children (and adults) can cause damage to your laminate flooring.
If water leaks from a pet bowl it may be a few hours, or at least a little while before you notice it, resulting in a permanent dull patch.
Make sure you are always on the lookout for water and other liquid spillages, mopping them up quickly with a clean, dry cloth or microfiber cleaning pad.
As long as you keep these preventive measures in mind you should find the shining of your floors easy to keep up with.
The different methods for making your laminate floor shine are so simple you probably already do a lot of them anyway.
Before you go ahead and use any products, water, or mops, the most important thing you can do is to ensure your laminate flooring is completely dust-free.
To do this you can either vacuum your floor or use a soft broom. You can also dry mop it with a dust mop specially designed for wood or laminate flooring.
When the dust has all been removed you can then go ahead and begin your shining. To do this we thoroughly recommend that you get your hands on a laminate flooring specific cleaner.
The one that we like is Black Diamond. You should use this cleaner to remove dirt and grime. After all, it’s no good having a shiny floor if it has dirt and grime covering it underneath the shine.
Black Diamond
[su_button url=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0056IV0AA/?tag=woodfloorscleaner-20″ background=”#FF2700″ size=”10″ center=”yes” radius=”0″ rel=”nofollow”]Check Latest Price[/su_button]
Tackle it section by section, using a very small amount of the cleaner and applying it with a clean, dry mop.
The mop should not be saturated in the cleaner. It should be damp rather than wet.
The last step you should take to get that gorgeous showroom shine on your laminate flooring is polishing.
Before you reach for that wood floor polish we mentioned earlier on, why not try our way instead. Simply grab a dry cloth, ensuring it is clean.
Microfiber cloths work well. Buff your floor a section at a time to get a gorgeous shine that will last for ages (provided you follow our prevention steps, too).
Final Word
There you have it! That was our foolproof guide telling you exactly how to make laminate floors shine.
We are sure that you have enjoyed the article and are just so keen to get started on taking those easy steps from dull to shiny floors.
Follow our guide exactly and your laminate flooring will be the envy of all your family and friends in no time.
Remember, if you are still struggling with streaks and dullness on your floor, check out the many reasons why that may be and fix what you are doing.
Shiny laminate flooring is simple, as long as you know how to do it! Now, go and close all those ‘new carpet’ tabs on your computer and bask in the glory of your new shiny floor.
By doing so, you are protecting yourself from the sort of irreversible, fatal injuries that in the past have affected pro surfers such as Owen Wright and Mercedes Maidana.
Not only do helmets protect you from collisions with objects and the impact of huge waves, but they provide essential protection from both the sun and the cold, depending on the weather conditions. Over the past few years, manufacturers have made helmets much more socially acceptable in their sleeker, more fashionable designs.
They are now worn widely amongst the surfing community with many professional surfers now championing their use.
When looking for a surf helmet, there are several factors to consider. We understand the internet can be overwhelming with the number of options available and that due to the nature of the product, how difficult it can be to make such a major decision.
To make the process slightly easier for you, we have put together some information about what to look for when buying a surf helmet, along with a list of our top 5 picks of surf helmets that are on the market today.