Can I clean laminate floors with a steam cleaner?

Is it possible to wash laminate flooring with a steam cleaner?

Laminate is the most popular floor covering, combining visual appeal, durability and low cost. It is easy to care for, but it has its own nuances. Cleaning the floor with large amounts of water is prohibited; the slabs quickly absorb moisture, become wet and become deformed.

A convenient cleaning tool is a steam cleaner. It works using water, but very little gets onto the floor surface. Removal of dirt occurs not due to the dissolution of the latter, but mainly due to the steam boost; the jet simply knocks deposits off the outer layer of the laminate. In this case, the condensate with which the floor comes into contact evaporates almost instantly and does not have time to damage the sensitive material.

Attention! For normal cleaning using water, a special moisture-resistant laminate is suitable. However, it can also suffer from constant mopping.

Laminate flooring of class 33 or 34 with temperature resistance is suitable for steam cleaning

Lower price segment (up to 6,000 rubles)

Most low-cost models are hand-held steamers. Among them are the brands Kitfort, MIE, KARCHER.

MIE Forever Clean

A hand-held compact steam cleaner with a 0.48 liter tank. The power of the electrical appliance is 1200 W, the highest steam pressure is 4 bar.

Advantages:

• Compact.
• Makes it easier to clean lightly soiled surfaces.

• You can iron outer garments.
• Suitable for cleaning in homes where allergy sufferers live.

Flaws:

• Heavy at the beginning of work.

• Short power cord.

• Ineffective for removing old stains.

Useful for cleaning the car interior and light dirt. The set includes attachments for furniture and mirrors. To clean windows, simply steam and wipe off excess moisture with a cloth. The cost of the device is from 3790 rubles.

KARCHER SC 1

SC 1 is a small-sized model. You need to fill it with 200 ml of water. The device is ready for use in 180 seconds. Steam pressure indicator – 3 bar.

Advantages of the model:

• Lots of accessories for different surfaces.
• Helps keep your entire home clean.

• Cleans grease and splashes in the kitchen in hard-to-reach places: the junction of the stove and work surface, sink and countertop.
• Excellent for cleaning suede shoe uppers.

Disadvantages of the model:

• Short operating time due to small tank volume.

• Doesn't wash away heavy old stains well.

• High cost of purchasing branded additional attachments.

The SC 1 cleans and disinfects most surfaces throughout the home. But you have to frequently add water and spend time heating it.

The device helps to refresh the textiles of sofas, beds, and pillows. It is used to disinfect surfaces in places of high humidity: bathrooms, sanitary facilities. The cost of a manual cleaner KARCHER SC 1 starts from 4,499 rubles.

Kitfort KT-908

The floor-standing version of KT-908 holds 1.5 liters of water. The maximum steam pressure is 4 bar, the heating time is 900 seconds. The length of the power cord is 2.5 m. Dimensions: 34X24.5X28.5 cm. The set includes many accessories: for the floor, a corner brush, a small brush.

After starting to use, some disadvantages of the model are discovered.

Advantages of the device:

• Excellent for cleaning plumbing fixtures: limescale, stains.

• Disinfects upholstered furniture and carpets.

• Copes with heavy stains in the kitchen.

Flaws:

• Long heating period.
• Reduction of steam power after 10 minutes from the start of cleaning.

• No water level indication.
• Often splashes during operation.

This model refreshes carpets and cleans stains on upholstered furniture. It does an excellent job of disinfecting bathroom walls: it removes mold, mold stains, limescale, and cleans the seams between tiles. Kitfort KT-908 removes stains in the kitchen: from grease, cleans grates on the stove, and washes the walls of the oven from the inside. Prices start from 4,680 rubles.

Which steam cleaner can be used to clean laminate flooring?

If the coating is of sufficient quality and suitable for hot steam cleaning, it can be processed with almost any unit. All steam cleaners operate according to the same principle and help quickly get rid of dust, dirt, hair and old greasy stains on the floor.

For regular cleaning, it is better to use equipment with the ability to adjust the temperature and intensity of the jet. Since the laminated surface is sensitive to moisture, it is better to set the minimum settings for the household unit before cleaning.

An important requirement for a cleaning device is that it must be equipped with a special fabric attachment. You cannot clean laminate flooring with hard brushes. They are designed to use a steam cleaner to treat small contaminated areas, but they will not be able to cope well with a wide area of ​​the floor. In addition, brushes can leave microscopic scratches on the outer layer of the laminate. Over time, more damage will occur, and the floor covering will lose its attractive appearance and quality characteristics. A napkin made of natural soft material, meanwhile, does not harm the surface and does not disrupt its structure in any way.

Determination of moisture resistance of laminate

Most manufacturers have refused to put laminate flooring in classes 21, 22 and 23 on the market because the material is not washable. The moisture resistance level of fibreboard intended for commercial areas falls into classes 31, 32, 33 and 34. However, is it possible to wash such a laminate with a vacuum cleaner?

Moisture-resistant and water-resistant materials are suitable for wet floor treatment. The panels have a base plate with protective layers and impregnation, and the upper part is covered with water-resistant protection.

Before vacuuming the floor with washing equipment, it is necessary to identify the type of technology used in the production of panels. You can obtain information by examining the packaging and the corresponding 3-symbol labeling:

1. DPL - production of direct laminate. This category of slabs is not allowed to interact with water. Cleaning is permitted using a classic vacuum cleaner or the foam wiping method. Similar requirements apply to cleaning cached products;
2. DPR - direct printing technology. Models can be cleaned manually with water no more than once a week, followed by treatment with a dry cloth;
3. HPL is a method of producing products under high pressure. Wet cleaning is allowed once every 7 days. The coating resists moisture, so the use of a washing cleaning unit is permitted. Before washing the floor, it is recommended to test on an inconspicuous area. If there is no deformation, cleaning can continue.

   
   DPL

   
   HPL

   
   DPR

The resistance of the material to moisture also depends on the methods of laying the floor covering. The main task is to prevent water from getting under the boards, otherwise the panels will become limp.

If the tongue-and-groove method of gluing the plates was used, then over time, cracks will appear on the floor. Accordingly, water will flow under the boards, which will lead to additional costs.

Note: to clean the floor, you should not use alkaline solutions, brushes with hard bristles, as well as products based on silicone and wax, as they cause stains that are difficult to remove.

To avoid destruction and deformation of the material, experts advise using water-repellent putty or silicone-based sealants as grout. It is noteworthy that many manufacturers present a product line with a Click type lock. The technology makes it possible to fix boards with additional sealing.

Types of laminate locks

Often a rubber strip or wax impregnation is used to prevent water from getting under the panel. Resistance to moisture can be qualitatively increased by using sealants from WEICON.

How to properly clean laminate flooring with a steam cleaner

Washing laminate flooring with a steam cleaner follows a simple algorithm. The scheme allows you to effectively remove dirt from the floor surface without damaging the coating itself:

1. The first step before cleaning is to prepare the room for wet cleaning. All large debris and scattered items are picked up from the floor. Furniture is moved so as to provide convenient access to walls and corners.
2. Before cleaning, remove dust, wool and other dry dirt from the surface of the laminate with a vacuum cleaner or broom. If you skip this step, then after using the steam cleaner, microscopic scratches may remain on the coating.
3. The required amount of water is poured into the unit in accordance with the instructions and put into operation. A special fabric nozzle is installed. If you don’t have one, you can tightly wrap a wide brush with a regular rag, but this is not advisable. Hard lint can still pass through the fabric and scratch the floor.
4. After the steam cleaner reports that it is ready for use, begin the actual cleaning. The floor in the room is washed in the direction from the windows to the doors; there is no need to press the nozzle firmly against the coating. Cleaning steam is released in batches to effectively distribute the impact force.
5. Complex stains on the floor can be treated several times. This increases the likelihood of surface damage, but a steam cleaner is still gentler on laminate flooring than a wet mop. On old stains, you can apply a little vinegar or a mild chemical and additionally rub the problem areas with force with a regular rag.

When cleaning laminate flooring, do not use gels or solutions containing glycerin or beeswax. Under the influence of a steam cleaner, they will melt and leave a new stain on the coating, and it will be almost impossible to remove it. For the same reason, laminate with mastic and wax as part of the top layer cannot be processed at high temperatures. A steam cleaner will ruin the floor in the apartment and ruin its integrity and attractiveness.

A steam cleaner not only removes dirt from the floor, but also disinfects the surface

Warning! Laminate flooring should be cleaned with steam regularly - once every 1-2 weeks. This will avoid the occurrence of complex contaminants and reduce the load on the coating during cleaning.

How to properly clean?

A steam mop can do more than just clean floors from dust and dirt. Its undoubted advantage is the disinfection of the premises. Hot steam kills most germs and bacteria. However, to prevent the laminate from deteriorating during cleaning, you should follow 5 important rules:

1. It is allowed to carry out wet cleaning no more than once every 3 days.
2. If there is large debris and dirt on the floor, it must be vacuumed first (a steam mop does not replace a vacuum cleaner).
3. Complex stains and stains require the use of special detergents.
4. When using each new detergent, it is important to make sure that it does not spoil the laminated surface (does not contain abrasive particles, does not have a high alkaline or acidic environment).
5. If, after washing the floor with a steam mop, wet stains remain, the laminate should be immediately wiped dry with a napkin or rag.

If, after cleaning, individual boards still become deformed and swollen, there is no need to be sad or panic. In most cases, the problem can be solved simply - you need to remove the baseboard, open the windows and let the laminate dry with natural air circulation.

Undoubtedly, a steam mop will make cleaning the floor covering easier, making it better and more convenient. This household appliance has a built-in water tank, which allows you to forget about buckets and basins. Reviews advise choosing a device of medium size and weight, with a long cord and a steam generator that is removable. This will allow you to wash not only the laminate, but also vertical surfaces: windows, bathroom tiles, upholstered furniture and much more.

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Reviews about whether laminate flooring can be cleaned with a steam cleaner

Andrey Vladimirovich Ivanov, Moscow
After the renovation, at first, out of habit, I washed the laminate flooring with a mop. But then I found out that this was harmful for the coating, and besides, there were still contaminants in the narrow joints between the boards. I decided to use a steam generator and did not regret it. It takes very little time to clean the floor, the effect is much better than manual cleaning, dirt can be removed even from hard-to-reach places. There is no deformation on the laminate - it looks like new.

Kuznetsova Anastasia Aleksandrovna, 28 years old, Ryazan

For the first time after purchase, I used the steam cleaner only when cleaning the kitchen and bathroom, as well as for cleaning windows. But then I found out that you can also wash laminate flooring with it. After the first cleaning, the floor was literally transformed; it was visible to the naked eye that it had become much cleaner. The unit did not cause any harm to the laminate. But I’m still wary of using it weekly and carry out general cleaning once a month, and the rest of the time I wipe the floor with a slightly damp cloth.

How to clean linoleum after renovation

Every year, people make cosmetic renovations to their living space. In the process of carrying out repair work, the floor covering becomes very dirty. Sometimes it is impossible to wash it even at home. It is best not to rush and do everything step by step.

First of all, the housewife should get rid of large pieces of dirt and dust. To do this, it is best to use a brush and vacuum cleaner. After this, you need to get rid of the lime that has fallen on the floor. To do this, it is best to rinse everything with a damp cloth. If there are traces of paint on the floor covering, it is best to use a knife or blade.

In the next step, you can move on to wet cleaning. In this regard, the question arises: how to wash linoleum after repair so that no traces remain? It is best to prepare a solution of water and bleach. It is important to mix the components in proportions of 10 to 1. For severe stains, you can add a little lemon juice. Such a solution will not only clean, but also renew old linoleum.

Cleaning instructions

Can I clean laminate flooring with a steam mop? The cleaning process itself is not something super complicated. You just need to know a certain plan of action:

1. Before you start using a steam cleaner, you should first get rid of dust and dirt. Use a vacuum cleaner or a regular broom.
2. Next, fill the reservoir with water. Turn on the device and set the desired temperature.
3. Wait until the steam generator heats up and starts producing steam.
4. After this, you can start cleaning. Move freely over the surface of the laminate.
5. To change the outlet or add water, you must first turn off the steam mop.

After cleaning, it is recommended to pour the remaining liquid from the container.