Yes, a steam mop is considered to be ideal for use on a laminate floor as it uses only water, and will not cause any damage to the laminate flooring. In fact, steam mops can be used on all kinds of surfaces such as clean wood, marble, carpet, granite, linoleum, parquet and Terrazzo. See www.steammopsdirect.co.uk/about_steam_mops.html for more information, this is where I got my information from. Steam mops work by heating water to about one hundred and twenty degrees Celsius, under pressure, and releasing it. The reason for such high temperatures (and pressures) is that the water is contained within a small space. As the temperature of the water increases, so does the pressure (directly proportionally, according to the gas laws). The boiling point of the water therefore increases due to the increased pressure so it stays as a liquid. When the water is released, the drop in pressure causes the water to turn into gaseous form (steam). This high temperature and pressure water dissolves grease and kills most bacteria and micro organisms such as dust mites, so steam mops do not require detergent to be added for them to work. This is advantageous as detergents can damage some surfaces, for example the alkaline conditions of some detergents can damage marble floors, and wooden surfaces are susceptible to mechanical damage from scrubbing. However precaution should be taken as most steam mops are electrical, and this, in close proximity to high pressure steam is quite dangerous. This information was extracted from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_mop
I have been laying laminate flooring for over 25 years. To see how good your laminate is get a piece of it and put it in boiling water for 10 minutes, most of it will expand, don't forget most laminates are made from mdf and doesn't have any waterproofing agent in it. The golden rule is laminate and wood floors do not like water. Clean them with a dry fibre mop and if you have to clean them, use a very very dry squeezed out cloth with metholated spirits and water. Laminate flooring can even expand in winter when just the air is damp - I have seen a floor expand by up to an inch all around during winter - a very cheap quality one though. Hope that helps
Sweep or vacuum the floor regularly, making sure there is no beater bar moving on the vacuum. Keep a mat outside to clean shoes before walking on any floor. NO! Do not use steam mops to clean laminate floors. Wood and laminate floors change when moisture is applies to the floor. Most manufacturers sell cleaners to clean their laminate flooring. Put some cleaner in a spray bottle and spray the cleaner into the air. The cleaner will fall over the floor then use a microfiber floor mop to dry the floor. Do one section at a time. Make sure the floor is dry when you are finished. It’s almost like washing a window. Never use wax or polish on a laminate floor.
I think the point is being missed on why using a steam mop on laminate is a bad idea. I don't have to tell you that steam is water vapor. When using a steam mop you are pushing this vapor into the small seams in the laminate floor. Since laminates are nothing more then a veneer glued to a fiber board (mdf, hdf, or something like it) it does not take a lot of water being forced into those seams to cause an issue. Beyond that, laminates are floating floors. They expand and contract with humidity (thus the 1/4" to 1/2" gap at the wall). Steam is changing the moisture content of the floor, causing it to rapidly expand and contact. The movement in the joints makes them brittle.
The statement on the boxes of the mops say "safe on sealed hardwood". If you own a laminate, that's NOT you. Your floor is plastic on a composite wood board. You cannot add polyurethane to a laminate since its surface is plastic and has no pores to bond to. I take exception to its safety on a polyurethaned floor anyway since the seams of the poly are broken between ajoining boards every time the floor contracts in the winter months.
To say that it's okay because you haven't had an issue is like making the argument that smoking is safe because you haven't developed cancer yet. Virtually the entire flooring industry is shouting that steam mops are ruining people's floors. Manufactures of these floors want to make cleaning them as appealing as possible. If using a steam mop was safe, what reason would that have to void your warranty? Why wouldn't Pergo or Mannington have their own brand of steam mops?
As someone who has sold various laminate floors for nearly 12 years, I'm begging you to listen to reason. STEAM IS BAD!!! If they ruin your floors, the mop manufacture will not replace your floor. The first line in any of their warranties state you must contact your flooring manufacture on using steam. The first line in a laminate warranty is they don't cover damaged cause by water....which would be steam too. Listen to a manufacture on how to clean. Never anything more then a damp mop. A lot of the streaking people see on the floor is residue from the cleaning products. Vinegar and water is what I used with a mop that is nearly dry. I always sweep well before. If cleaning this way isn't for you, sadly neither is a laminate. A lot of people tell me their floor wasn't damaged by steam because they have used the mop for years, only to have Pergo or another manufacture to state the damage came from water.
The use of steam on laminate often depends on the type of laminate and the quality of it. A high quality material will include guarantees in the packaging that ensures the laminate is water, heat and damage resistant. Cheaper laminate is prone to warping so if you don't know the quality of your laminate you may choose not to take the risk.
I just purchased a Shark Steam Cleaner and tried it on my laminate flooring. Rather disappointing. It left a dull and streaky surface.
So what I'm going to do is go back to my old method of cleaning my flooring with clear water from a spray bottle, followed by an old bath towel to wick up the moisture. That really seems to work the best.
The steam mop is great for the kitchen and dining room, which both have vinyl flooring, primarily because the drying time is very short.
Although I'm a little disappointed over the fact that my Shark Steam Mop didn't perform as well a expected on my laminate flooring, I figure it will eventually pay for itself in the amount of money I'll be saving by not having to buy floor cleaner all the time. So I'm good.
I've used my Shark Steam mop at least 6 months on my laminate floor (purchased at Home Depot and installed by them) and I've had no warping at all. I like the fact that it stops steaming when you don't push it so if you put it down to answer a phone it doesn't keep steaming in the same spot on your floor (which would probably warp it). I've read that the Haan that keeps steaming and comes with a floor pad still steams through the pad and warps some floors. Love my shark.
I have laminate flooring, I just vacuume it then go over it with a vinigar and water solution I mix up myself, no streaks leaves a nice shine and no it does not leave a smell of vinigar, you can also add a little lemon to the mix if you want for a fresh smell,
I have wood laminate floors in my living room and family room. I use a steam mop with any problems other than some streaking which I go over with a dry towel.
I would not use a steam mop on laminate floors. You can buy special floor cleaners for laminate flooring, the cost is inexpensive as I have bought it before.
Yes you can, make sure to set it to lowest (dust) setting, that way you wash the floor but it dries very quickly and DOES NOT warp the laminate, even the cheaper one. I have dogs and kids and my floor must be cleaned couple of times a week. No problems with steam mop SET ON LOW
I install floors and I would not do that there are cleaners out there that are safe for your floors at home depot made by bruce. I would not use wax it can hurt the finish no your floor. All I use on my is no wax furniture polish on a dustmop.
If you clean a floor with a mop, when you wash the mop you will see the dirts in the water turn grey, using a steam mop the dust just get into the microfiber cloth. The steam and heat just help to ease off sticky stuff on the floor, your tidy microfiber cloth unless you wash it often, it'll become dirty very quickly.
Think it yourself constant applying heat steam to your laminated or hard wood floor is like using water soak into the wood, it will wear out the floor much quicker. I would using it on any wood floor at all, it's ok for carpet or tile floor though.
Sure you can if the floor has been installed properly and there are no gaps between the joints, and just don't over do it the laminate has been sealed in the factory so the steam wont penetrate the finish ,but will go in between the cracks if any ,just don't over do it..
Yes, every kind of steam mop works on laminate floors. We have one, and use it on our kitchen's laminate floors all the time, including the tile floor in our bathroom. I'm not sure about using steam mops on treated wood floors though.
