Steam mop on laminate floors?

jwheeler · 03-04-2011, 07:35 PM

Hi everyone,

I hope I am posting this in the right place! We are getting ready to install new 12mm high gloss laminate flooring in our home. I have heard a lot of great things about steam mops from several of my friends who have them and was thinking about purchasing one for our new floors once they are installed. Our new laminate is the extremely thick and heavy kind (12 mm) and is guaranteed to be able to stand up to water and came with a 30-year warranty. The flooring store we purchased our floors from recommended using their soy-based laminate/hardwood cleaner that comes in a spray bottle with a dry microfiber mop or a very lightly dampened sponge mop, which I will probably try first to see how that works, but I am seriously considering a steam mop. Has anyone every used one on a high gloss laminate before? Does it do a good job? I certainly don't want to cause any damage to the beautiful shiny finish of our brand new floors, so I thought I'd gather some opinions before making the purchase!

rusty baker · 03-04-2011, 07:37 PM

I would not use one.

NCpaint1 · 03-04-2011, 07:41 PM

My wife bought one and immediately returned it. I call her "the mop nazi ". As the manufacturer recommends, that's the best way, and the way we do it.

We had surprisingly good luck with our laminate in our last house. 2 big dogs...and 3 years later not a scratch on it.

Take a scrap or sample from the company, play with it some to see how much abuse it'll take.

jwheeler · 03-04-2011, 08:03 PM

So the steam mop on laminate is a bad idea? I was kind of on the fence about it at first because I was worried about it damaging the finish, but I have several friends who also have laminate and bought steam mops and they all raved about it, so that's the only reason I was considering it.

We currently have laminate installed, but I don't really like the color, plus it's the cheaper kind that is only 7 or 8 mm thick, so we are upgrading.

We have two Golden Retrievers as well as cats, so laminate works well for us.

NCpaint1 · 03-04-2011, 08:08 PM

The high gloss part scares me a bit. Wouldn't it show more dirt, foot prints, or paw prints in your case?

Even pet hair would really stand out on a high gloss finish.

jwheeler · 03-04-2011, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCpaint1

The high gloss part scares me a bit. Wouldn't it show more dirt, foot prints, or paw prints in your case?

Even pet hair would really stand out on a high gloss finish.

We have very good friends who have the exact same floor that we just purchased through most of their house and they also have pets and even young kids. They have had theirs for a little over a year now and it's very easy to keep clean and still looks great. They just use a microfiber mop on it and it still looks as good as the day it was installed. It's very low maintenance.

Mikef5000 · 03-04-2011, 08:34 PM

Keep that steam away from your laminate! Moisture is that material's worst enemy, and the steam mop is basically forcing it in there.

Use the spray cleaner with the microfiber mop. It should go on like windex, spray, wipe, and instantly evaporate. No time to soak, and no pressure.

I sell 6 brands of laminate (including 3 of the 12mm high gloss) and not a one recommends a steam mop.

From my personal experience, I've seen them work fine for some people, and others it will pucker the seams the very first time.

jwheeler · 03-04-2011, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikef5000

Keep that steam away from your laminate! Moisture is that material's worst enemy, and the steam mop is basically forcing it in there.

Use the spray cleaner with the microfiber mop. It should go on like windex, spray, wipe, and instantly evaporate. No time to soak, and no pressure.

I sell 6 brands of laminate (including 3 of the 12mm high gloss) and not a one recommends a steam mop.

From my personal experience, I've seen them work fine for some people, and others it will pucker the seams the very first time.

Thanks for the advice! I'm glad I asked. I guess I'll just stick with the spray bottle cleaner and a microfiber mop. I know that water/moisture is laminate's worst enemy, but I figured this stuff might be able to hold up to it since it's a much thicker laminate. We just spent a fortune on this flooring, so the last thing I want to do is ruin it!

rusty baker · 03-04-2011, 10:05 PM

Even the Swiffer Wet Jet will ruin laminate.

Floor Doc · 03-04-2011, 11:18 PM

Go to HD and get some Bruce hardwood cleaner and a micro fiber mop .
Please , No water of any kind .

timbitkid · 10-28-2012, 08:08 AM

I was wondering the same thing. I am planning on putting my 12x12 laminate tile in the kitchen. I will be doing every seam with a joint sealer cause you never know what could spill in a kitchen. So with a joint sealer would that make one of those H20 steam mops safer to use?

joecaption · 10-28-2012, 08:23 AM

Joint sealer on laminite

If you install in a kitchen I'd suggest only using below grade rated laminite and just glue the joints as you assemble it. It looks like Elmia's white glue and is sold in the same area as the flooring.
Go on the website that makes the flooring and double check what they suggest also.

rusty baker · 10-28-2012, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timbitkid

I was wondering the same thing. I am planning on putting my 12x12 laminate tile in the kitchen. I will be doing every seam with a joint sealer cause you never know what could spill in a kitchen. So with a joint sealer would that make one of those H20 steam mops safer to use?

Never heard of a 12x12 laminate tile. You must mean vinyl tile.

timbitkid · 10-28-2012, 01:45 PM

No it's a no-glue 12mm laminate flooring 15 1/2 x 15 1/2 put out by goodfellow

Canarywood1 · 10-28-2012, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusty baker

Never heard of a 12x12 laminate tile. You must mean vinyl tile.

Canadian company

03-04-2011, 07:35 PM	#1
jwheeler Newbie Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New England Posts: 5	Steam mop on laminate floors? Hi everyone, I hope I am posting this in the right place! We are getting ready to install new 12mm high gloss laminate flooring in our home. I have heard a lot of great things about steam mops from several of my friends who have them and was thinking about purchasing one for our new floors once they are installed. Our new laminate is the extremely thick and heavy kind (12 mm) and is guaranteed to be able to stand up to water and came with a 30-year warranty. The flooring store we purchased our floors from recommended using their soy-based laminate/hardwood cleaner that comes in a spray bottle with a dry microfiber mop or a very lightly dampened sponge mop, which I will probably try first to see how that works, but I am seriously considering a steam mop. Has anyone every used one on a high gloss laminate before? Does it do a good job? I certainly don't want to cause any damage to the beautiful shiny finish of our brand new floors, so I thought I'd gather some opinions before making the purchase!

03-04-2011, 07:37 PM	#2
rusty baker Pro Flooring Installer Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Missouri Posts: 3,154	Steam mop on laminate floors? I would not use one. __________________ "I'm twisted, not sick. Sick implies, I'll get better" Semi-Retired Installer Installing since 1973

03-04-2011, 07:41 PM	#3
NCpaint1 Coatings Nerd Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 364	Steam mop on laminate floors? My wife bought one and immediately returned it. I call her "the mop nazi ". As the manufacturer recommends, that's the best way, and the way we do it. We had surprisingly good luck with our laminate in our last house. 2 big dogs...and 3 years later not a scratch on it. Take a scrap or sample from the company, play with it some to see how much abuse it'll take. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Benjamin Moore, Sikkens, TWP, PPG, Airless sales and service

03-04-2011, 08:03 PM	#4
jwheeler Newbie Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New England Posts: 5	Steam mop on laminate floors? So the steam mop on laminate is a bad idea? I was kind of on the fence about it at first because I was worried about it damaging the finish, but I have several friends who also have laminate and bought steam mops and they all raved about it, so that's the only reason I was considering it. We currently have laminate installed, but I don't really like the color, plus it's the cheaper kind that is only 7 or 8 mm thick, so we are upgrading. We have two Golden Retrievers as well as cats, so laminate works well for us.

03-04-2011, 08:08 PM	#5
NCpaint1 Coatings Nerd Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 364	Steam mop on laminate floors? The high gloss part scares me a bit. Wouldn't it show more dirt, foot prints, or paw prints in your case? Even pet hair would really stand out on a high gloss finish. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Benjamin Moore, Sikkens, TWP, PPG, Airless sales and service

Steam mop on laminate floors?