Degraaf Interiors

LAMINATE WOOD

Follow routine maintenance guidelines to clean your laminate flooring

• Use a damp cloth to blot up spills as soon as they happen. Never allow liquids to stand on your floor.
  
• For tough spots, such as oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink, or tar, use acetone/nail polish remover on a clean white cloth, then wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue.
  
• Sweep, dust, or vacuum the floor regularly with the hard floor attachment (not the beater bar) to prevent accumulation of dirt and grit that can scratch or dull the floor finish.
  
• Periodically clean the floor with cleaning products made specifically for laminate floor care.
  
• Do not wash or wet mop the floor with soap, water, oil-soap detergent, or any other liquid cleaning material. This could cause swelling, warping, delamination, and joint-line separation, and void the warranty.
  
• Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or strong ammoniated or chlorinated type cleaners.
  
• Do not use any type of buffing or polishing machine.
  
• For spots such as candle wax or chewing gum, harden the spot with ice and then gently scrape with a plastic scraper, such as a credit card. Be careful not to scratch the flooring surface. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
  
• A more frequent dust-mopping or vacuuming schedule may be required in very sandy areas such as a beach home.

Protect your laminate flooring to keep it looking like new

• Entry mats will help collect the dirt, sand, grit, and other substances such as oil, asphalt, or driveway sealer that might otherwise be tracked onto your floor.
• To prevent slippage of area rugs, use an approved vinyl rug underlayment.
• Use floor protectors and wide-load bearing leg bases/rollers to minimize the chance of indentations and scratches from heavy objects. As a rule, the heavier the object, the wider the floor protector.
• Maintain a normal indoor relative humidity level between 35% and 65% throughout the year to minimize the natural expansion and contraction of the wood.
  
a. Heating season (Dry): A humidifier is recommended to prevent excess shrinkage due to low humidity levels. Wood stove and electric heat tend to create very dry conditions.
b. Non-Heating Season (Wet): An air conditioner, dehumidifier, or periodically turning on your heating will help to maintain humidity levels during summer months.

• Avoid excessive exposure to water during periods of inclement weather.
• Keep your pets nails trimmed to prevent them from scratching your floor.
  
• Never try to slide heavy objects across the floor.
  
• A protective mat should be used for furniture or chairs with castors.