What Can I Put on Fake Wood Floors to Make Them Shine?

Dirt

• One of the best ways to keep your laminate floors shining is to keep them free of the dirt and grime that creates a dull appearance. Use a broom, dust mop or vacuum cleaner to gently remove dust and debris at least daily, or more often if the laminate flooring is in a high traffic area of your home.

Spot Cleaning

• Keep your floors looking shiny by cleaning small messes when they occur. For general spot cleaning, warm water on a soft cloth works best. Use a small amount of warm water to clean the mess, then dry the spot quickly with a cloth. Alternatively, use a gentle floor cleaner to remove spots and spills. Clean up messes as soon as they happen to ensure that they do not spread across your kitchen or get tracked around the rest of the house. Leaving small messes on your floor can cause staining and damage your laminate floors over time, making them look dull and dirty.

Mopping

• Mop laminate wood flooring weekly or more often if needed. A mixture of one cup of distilled white vinegar and one cup of warm water, applied sparingly and dried quickly will leave your floor clean and sparkling. Ammonia mixed with warm water is also effective. Alternatively, use a gentle floor cleaner mixed with warm water to clean your floors. Many laminate flooring manufacturers recommend particular products for cleaning their floors, so these products may be the best choice for your floor. When mopping, use cleaner and water sparingly and dry your floor quickly using a soft cloth to avoid moisture damage.

Avoid

• Certain cleaners will leave a coating on your laminate floors, making them look dull instead of shiny. Do not use floor waxes or polishes to make your floors shine, as these products will leave a film that becomes dirty and grimy over time. Similarly, heavy, soapy cleaners will leave a film, especially if they are not rinsed. Avoid using abrasive cleaners and scrubbers, which will scratch the surface of your floors and reduce shine.