Laminate is a photographic wear layer bonded to a fibreboard core, and the core swells when water reaches the joints. That single fact explains both rules: use very little water, and never leave the floor wet — especially at the seams and the edges of the room.
Damp mop, neutral cleaner, dry pass
Vacuum or dust-mop first, then mop with a pH-neutral cleaner at label dilution using a mop wrung almost dry. Follow with a dry pass, and keep water away from the joints and the skirting. Never use a steam mop, an oil soap or a wax product on laminate.
Prices are Freshway catalogue prices as at 16 September 2026 and are subject to change. Confirm the current price, and whether GST applies, before quoting.
Why laminate is still dirty after mopping
Three causes, in order of likelihood:
- The mop is too wet. Water sits in the joints, lifts dirt from the core, and then dries as a grey line along every seam. That is what "still dirty" usually means.
- The cleaner left a film. Alkaline or soap-based products leave a residue that attracts soil; the floor looks dull and smears within a day.
- Dry soil was never removed. Mopping over grit spreads it. Vacuuming or dust-mopping first is what stops the grey haze.
The routine, step by step
- Vacuum or dust-mop the whole area, including under furniture edges where grit collects.
- Dilute a neutral cleaner to the label rate in a bucket. More product is not better.
- Mop in sections with a flat microfibre mop wrung until it is barely damp.
- Dry immediately with a second, dry mop head or a clean towel. This is the step that prevents joint swelling and streaks.
- Deal with spills on contact — a spill left overnight is how a laminate floor gets its first blown joint.
| Product | Use | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Agar pH-7 Neutral Detergent | Everyday neutral cleaning, 5 L | A$36.00 |
| Freshway Neutralex 383 | pH-neutral, safe on sealed floors | A$34.00 |
| Actichem Pro Neutro | Neutral detergent, 5 L trade size | A$60.00 |
| Supastar floor cleaner | General commercial floor cleaning | A$42.43 |
What you should not use on laminate
- Steam mops. Heat and moisture reach the joints, which is exactly where laminate fails.
- Oil soap, wax and polish. They build a film that dulls the surface and traps dirt.
- Vinegar and citrus cleaners used routinely. Acid dulls the wear layer over time.
- Abrasive pads or powders. They scratch the photographic layer and dull the pattern instantly.
Laminate compared with timber and vinyl
The materials look similar and behave differently. Solid timber can take a damp mop and occasional re-oiling; laminate cannot take water at the joints at all; vinyl is the most water-tolerant and hates abrasives. Where a site has all three, the practical answer is one neutral cleaner at the same dilution, three mop heads, and a colour code so nobody crosses them. Our guide to cleaning timber floors covers the timber-specific method.
Marks, scratches and swollen joints
Surface scuffs on laminate come off with a melamine pad used lightly in the direction of the grain, or with a specialist laminate cleaner. Deep scratches cannot be polished out: the pattern is printed on the layer below, so a scratch that goes through the wear layer is visible forever. Where a board is badly damaged, the practical repair is board replacement, and on a click system that means picking up the run from the nearest wall.
A swollen joint is the one problem that cannot be fixed. The core has absorbed water and expanded, and no cleaning product shrinks it back. It is also the reason to deal with a dishwasher leak, a pot plant or a pet bowl immediately rather than at the end of the week.
Questions we get asked most
- What is the best thing to clean laminate flooring with?
- A pH-neutral floor cleaner at label dilution, applied with a flat mop wrung almost dry, followed by a dry pass. Neutral chemistry protects the wear layer.
- What is the best way to clean laminate flooring?
- Vacuum first, mop in sections with minimal water, and dry immediately. Spills get dealt with on contact rather than at the end of the day.
- What should you not clean laminate floors with?
- Steam mops, oil soaps, waxes, abrasive pads, and routine use of acid cleaners. Each one either damages the wear layer or builds a film that attracts soil.
- Why is my laminate floor still dirty after mopping?
- Usually because the mop was too wet and the dirty water dried in the joints, or because a soap-based cleaner left a film. Vacuum first, use a neutral cleaner, and dry as you go.
- Can I use vinegar and water on laminate?
- Occasionally, and it is not a routine cleaner. It is acidic, it dulls the wear layer with use, and it does nothing for the greasy film that a neutral detergent removes.
References
Mixed floor types on one site?
Tell us what the floors are and how much traffic they take, and we will set one dilution and a colour code that covers all of them. Browse carpet and floor care or ask our team.