Is A Steam Mop Safe For Laminate Floors

Laminate flooring is made up of prefinished planks and the seams between the planks are not sealed.

Is a steam mop safe for laminate floors.

Start in the furthest corner and work in sections until the entire floor is clean. Stocki says it s best to avoid using a steam mop on laminate which is made of fiberboard because the heat could damage the plastic. Of course i have a selection of steam mops at this point so i use the one that doesn t get as hot as the others. If it were laminate i d do the same thing.

I use the steam mop in those two areas because i figure we re just going to redo the floors when the kids are older anyway. Quick effective and minimal steam mops are the favorite tool in many a homemaker s broom closet. When floors are sealed and installed properly these mops can be valuable cleaning tools for quick and quality cleanings. Even for non wood flooring you need to exercise caution.

Never use a steam mops on any unsealed peeling or unfinished floors and even though mop manufacturers claim it is safe we caution against using them on wood and laminate floors too. Though most steam mops are safe to use on laminate floors it is best to always test a small area first to ensure there are no unwanted effects. Most experts will answer this question with a strong no steam mops drive moisture down between the planks which is exactly what you want to avoid. When a steam mop is used on laminate flooring steam soothes over the laminated floor cleaning off the dirt and only a tiny amount of leftover moisture is present which can not cause any harm.

But is it truly safe for the longevity of your floor. More importantly it is a chemical free sanitation method that can kill about 99 of all the germs on the floors. It consists of a steamer head and a long bendable handle with an ergonomic gripping area unlike in most other steamers the cleaner head is square shaped with a handle located right in the middle of it thanks to such a design a mop can rotate 360 degrees to reach every corner and nook without. The seams can let steam reach the core of the flooring material which is highly vulnerable to moisture.

Also avoid using a steam mop on any type of flooring that should not have hot water on it or on adhesive tiles with lifting corners. High heat steam cleaners may cause damage to porous marble floors but steam mopping is still an undeniably effective way of removing dirt from marble. For steam cleaning tile floors or your laminate mix the water rubbing alcohol and vinegar in a mixing bowl and then add in the dishwashing soap.