How to wash a laminate with a washing vacuum cleaner and not spoil the coating?

Dry cleaning does not bring the desired result, and washing floors with a rag or a mop in the age of high technology is a little lazy for you, moreover, everyone around is talking about washing vacuum cleaners that easily remove dirt from any coatings? Or maybe you get such an assistant? That's just how safe a washing vacuum cleaner for a laminate, laid in most of the apartment, is not entirely clear.

Want to know how to wet the laminate with a vacuum cleaner and not spoil the coating? We tell you!

The importance of laminate flooring technology

Ideally, you need to ask yourself about cleaning the floor before choosing a coating, because not all boards have the same moisture resistance, which will create the inevitable risk of bloating during the first wet cleaning. In the process of choosing boards, it is important to pay attention to the technology of their production: it is much more truthful than advertising, it will tell about the possibilities of the products in front of you.

• DPL, or direct lamination. Such boards are strictly forbidden. Cleaning is carried out with an ordinary vacuum cleaner or a broom.
• Caching. This production method also eliminates moisture on the laminate, so it is forbidden to wash it.
• HPL, or high blood pressure. Boards made using this technology can be washed, but not too often: the maximum frequency of wet cleaning is once a week, which is quite enough for most residential premises.
• DPR, or direct printing. It has similar parameters with the previous type of laminate, so there is nothing dangerous in washing it if you do not resort to wet cleaning more than once a week.
• CPL, or continuous pressure. These boards have increased moisture resistance, and you can wash them with a washing vacuum cleaner without a doubt.

Fortunately, most mid-priced models can be washed once a week. Yes, you will have to approach the cleaning process carefully, but the impeccable cleanliness of the floors is worth it.

Tip

If the laminate is already laid and it is not possible to find information on the method of its production, it will be necessary to conduct a “water test” on the spot. Well, if you have an extra board left and you can give it away for the experiment. If you have material that is exclusively on the floor, then select the most inconspicuous place, for example, under a closet or bed, and slightly moisten the seam between the two boards. If the board began to delaminate and swell, it is better to forget about the washing vacuum cleaner for the laminate and even about the usual wet rag.

The importance of the characteristics of a washing vacuum cleaner

Most models of trusted companies are suitable for wet cleaning of your laminate, provided that the board itself can withstand moisture. And, nevertheless, it is worth paying attention to several nuances of the closely looked model.

• Water spraying should not be plentiful, otherwise the moisture will have time to flow deep into the cracks and soak up the tree, which will lead to deformation of the coating, especially if you do this cleaning on an ongoing basis.
• The suction power of the sprayed liquid should be chosen from 450W for the same reason: the remaining moisture will certainly leave its mark on the integrity and evenness of the board. This is just a matter of time.
• Try to make sure that the vacuum cleaner does not form smudges, because this will not only affect the even gloss of the floors, but can also ruin their structure.
• A good vacuum cleaner should have the function of drying the coating after washing, which will relieve you of worries about the water flowing in the gap.

Tip

Many vacuum cleaners combine with specially designed fluids for washing a laminate, which will reduce the risk of swelling at times. Often you can find out about the availability of such a tool on the manufacturer's website.

The nuances of wet laminate

Even choosing a high-quality washing vacuum cleaner and making sure that your laminate flooring is moisture-resistant, you should not abuse wet cleaning and treat this process connivingly.

There are a few things to keep in mind at all times.

• The more often the water will fall into the joints between the boards, the less time the coating will last. To extend the service life with regular washing with a washing vacuum cleaner, it is worth at least once a year to process the joints with a special grout or mastic, or even better to take care of the tightness of the joints at the stage of laying the laminate.
• Laminate does not tolerate high temperatures, so the steam function, if any, in your vacuum cleaner is best left for tiles or carpets.
• No need to wash the laminate too often. In the long run, daily wet cleaning may be too tough for even the most moisture-resistant laminate.
• If the developers did not give the vacuum cleaner the function of drying the coating after washing, be sure to walk on the wet laminate with a dry cloth if you are interested in its long service life.

Of course, there are subtleties in using a washing vacuum cleaner to clean a laminate, but following these tips you can count on a clean floor without dust and stains, which will not become worthless after the first wet cleaning.