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Written by Grove Collaborative

Grove's 4 easy steps to fully clean that laminate wood floor.

Last Updated: April 30, 2021

Looking for the lowdown on how to clean laminate wood floors? Follow this quick and easy step-by-step guide to help keep them looking fresh, shiny, and germ-free.

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Keeping your floors clean can be a chore at times, no matter what type of flooring you have. Carpeting tends to collect all the things deep in the carpet fibers and can be a stain magnet.


Meanwhile hard floors like tile or laminate, while not being stain collectors per se, tend to show off every spec of dirt or debris that makes its way into your house like it’s under a spotlight on Broadway.


Laminate floors in particular require some special TLC to keep them looking clean and gently gleaming.



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How to easily clean laminate wood floors

How to clean laminate:

Step 1:

Clean the dust. You can do this by removing as much of the dirt and gritty particles from the laminate floor as possible. This is because any gritty dirt can cause scratches to the floor when you use the damp mop. You can do this step using either a dry mop or a vacuum cleaner that has a hard floor setting.

Step 2:

Before you start mopping, prepare a cleaning solution to mop with. You can use a specially-designed laminate floor cleaner, or make your own solution using household items.

Step 3:

Mop that floor like a champ! Using your cleaning solution, spray on small sections and mop immediately so as to not give the solution a chance to absorb into the laminate. Your floor should dry within a minute or two of mopping, otherwise you’re using too much liquid.

Step 4:

Dry it properly. This is super important! To take your cleaning efforts to the next level, dry the laminate floor to give it a nice shine. You can do this by using a moisture-absorbent cloth or a microfiber mop head. Simply buff the floor, gently working in circles, until it’s dry and gleaming.

Grove tips


  1. Be sure to properly remove any gritty substances from the floor before cleaning it to prevent scratching and damaging the laminate.
  2. Use as little cleaning liquid as possible. It can leave behind a residue that can give a dull look to the floor.
  3. Wring out the mop as much as possible until it’s just damp, to prevent the liquid from seeping into the floor and causing swelling and/or discoloration.

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Best natural DIY products to clean laminate floors

How to make DIY floor cleaner

Most of the time, plain water is enough to clean laminate wood floors effectively. For deeper cleaning, exceptionally dirty floors, or in the case of laminate flooring that has stains, you can also use homemade DIY cleaners composed of natural ingredients to clean. Most of these ingredients you’ll find readily available at home, which is super convenient!

Rubbing alcohol and water

Dilute a cup of rubbing alcohol with a gallon of water and then use the solution carefully to clean your laminate.

Black tea

Brew a cup of black tea and allow it to cool. Fill a spray bottle with the tea and apply it to the floor in sections. Clean with a mop or soft cleaning cloth.

Water and vinegar

Take equal parts vinegar and hot water in a spray bottle and again, use it sparingly. You can also add a few drops of an essential oil of your choice, like lemon or eucalyptus to help mask the scent of vinegar and leave behind a more pleasant aroma.

Water, vinegar, and rubbing alcohol

Another effective cleaning solution for laminate wood flooring is a mixture of water, vinegar, and rubbing alcohol in equal parts. Again, be careful using this and work as quickly as possible.

For tougher stains, try using:

Baking soda

You can do this by making a paste with baking soda and water. Cover the stain with the paste and then wipe it up after a few minutes. Repeat as needed.

Rubbing alcohol

You can do this by dampening a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and wiping the stain. Allow it to sit and then rinse the stained area with water after a few minutes. Be careful to not leave the alcohol on the floor for too long as it can damage the protective layer.

Jojoba oil

This method is pretty simple as well. Take a soft towel and pour a few drops of jojoba oil on it. Place the towel on the stain and press for a few minutes. Wipe the residue with water and repeat as needed.

Why should you mop a laminate floor?

Laminate floors are basically a hybrid flooring that’s made of wood boards topped with transparent wear layers for protection and durability.


Since it’s made from sustainable wood and wood by-products, it’s incredibly eco-friendly. Not to mention, laminate floors can look quite stunning sans the heavy price tag that often comes with solid hardwood flooring.


Though laminate doesn’t require a lot of cleaning, the cleaning method can be somewhat technical as laminate flooring does not fare well when it comes to liquids and moisture (Remember the tips above about wringing out the mop!). Mopping allows you to clean the transparent layers on top of the wood in an easy and effective way to get that daily dirt and grime up off your floor.

How often should you mop laminate floors?

To keep your laminated floors fresh and shiny looking, vacuum or dust mop daily to remove surface dirt to ensure it doesn’t permanently mar the finish of the floor.


For deeper cleaning, mop your laminate floors once a month. Unless, of course, it’s a kitchen or some other area with high traffic; in which case, clean once a week. Be sure to use gentle cleaning products as well as a gentle cleaning method to avoid damage.


Also, if you spill a liquid or moist item on the floor, clean it immediately before it stains the floor or the moisture becomes absorbed.


Cleaning laminate flooring can be tricky. But, using these recommended methods for effective and gentle cleaning that leaves your laminate floors looking on point is a good start!

Ready to tackle the dirtiest spots in your home? Grove Collaborative has you covered with Clean Team. Each week, we’ll do a deep dive into how to clean a different place or item in your home. No spot is too small — and we’ll tell you how to conquer them all, naturally.

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