Is It Safe To Use Steam On Snap Together Laminate

First let s review the basics for cleaning laminate floors.

Is it safe to use steam on snap together laminate.

In a live chat with an armstrong customer service representative today i directly asked if i could use a steam mop on their laminate flooring and she said no it is not recommended. Plug the mop in. Steam can and will make its way into the joints and steam is water. Check the steam cleaner s owner s manual to determine if it is cleared for use on laminate floors.

My gut feeling is no it is not ok to use a steam mop on them. It s ok to sweep or vacuum your laminate floor as long as you don t vacuum with a beater brush. As much as the commercials try to say otherwise i think they leave too much water on the floor. This steam from a steam mop can cause damage to your floor in the form of peeling bubbling and swelling.

That they apply so little water compared with traditional mops that the occasional use may be safe or even preferred. Most lvp manufacturers advise against using a steam mop on their product. Steam and dripping water can seep between the planks and loosen the glue that holds them in place. The steam can cause swelling and warping of the product.

The heat produced by the mop may also damage the vinyl causing it to warp or bend. Never use any steam cleaning machine that does not advertise its ability to clean laminate floors. Using a steam cleaner for wood and laminate floors thereby injecting hot water at them is a definite wrong thing to do. The joints in between the laminate planks lock together nicely and we work to ensure that they lock together very well but they are not waterproof.

Most steam cleaning machines that are safe to use will be referred to as steam mops. She said any damage caused by the steam mop would not be covered under the warranty. The extreme heat from the steam mop can forcibly bend the planks and wrap along edges. To use a steam mop fill the tank with water.

Water and laminate are not good together. I plan on using my terry cloth mop head wet and well wrung out plus a spray cleaner on my floors. This is how i currently clean my real hardwood. Using a steam mop.

If you know who the manufacturer is you might want to contact them for a recommendation. Unlike heavy duty steam cleaning machines steam mops use a very small amount of steam that will not soak the laminate floors. Steam mops create too much moisture for laminate floors which are often manufactured with a compressed fiber particleboard layers. Always use a microfiber dust mop and laminate floor cleaner in a spray bottle.

Only spray the microfiber dust mop and not the laminate floor directly.