If you do any research online about cleaning, you’re likely to come across someone singing the praises of alcohol. To be certain, it’s an excellent cleaner but is it something that should be used on laminate flooring?
Rubbing alcohol can be used on laminate flooring safely as long as you don’t use too much of it or use it too often. Since it is pH neutral, it will not damage the surface of the floor. Use caution so you don’t get the floor too wet.
For the purpose of this article, we are going to discuss the use of rubbing alcohol. There are other types of alcohol that can also be used for cleaning, such as denatured alcohol and even some alcoholic drinks.
There is a reason why people recommend alcohol for cleaning. It is the simple fact that it works. You can use it on most surfaces without having to worry about the damage it will cause.
That being said, there are some specific considerations when it comes to using alcohol for cleaning laminate flooring. Some of this has to do with the way a laminate floor is made.
Can You Use Alcohol To Clean Laminate Floors?
As the name would suggest, laminate flooring is made of several different layers that are laminated together. The inside layer is a fibrous material and it makes up the bulk of the floor.
The layer that is visible when you have the flooring installed is only a thin layer of laminate on the surface. It is what creates the appearance of wood, allowing it to be used instead of actual wood, which would cost a lot more money.
The laminate section on the outside of the floor is also somewhat waterproof. It will not absorb water but there are cracks in the floor and if you get too much water in the cracks or along the edges, it could cause problems.
This is true, regardless of whether you are using rubbing alcohol or water. In either case, if it gets into the fibrous interior of the laminate flooring, it is going to cause a significant amount of damage.
That is why it is generally recommended that the only way you use rubbing alcohol for cleaning a laminate floor is to do so sparingly. You will be mixing the alcohol in water, so the mop should be wrung out thoroughly before using it.
In addition, even though alcohol is pH neutral, using too much of it too frequently could cause damage to the surface of the flooring. This can cause the flooring to look dull.
Using rubbing alcohol or any type of alcohol on the floor has benefits. It’s a great way to clean and disinfect the floor but you just want to do so in moderation.
Throughout this article, we will take a look at some of the specifics about using alcohol for disinfecting and cleaning laminate flooring. We will also consider if you can ruin the surface of the flooring, as well as the specific method that should be used for cleaning.
Will Alcohol Disinfect Laminate Floors?
If you are going to use alcohol to clean your laminate floor, can you use it as a disinfectant?
Alcohol has very strong disinfectant properties that can easily break down the surfaces of bacteria and viruses. As long as it is diluted in water, it can be used as an effective disinfectant for your laminate flooring.
As you may be aware, alcohol is also used in many types of sanitizers. Not only does it work on hard surfaces, such as laminate flooring, but it also works well at cleaning and sanitizing your hands.
That being said, you probably also know that sanitizer can be very damaging to your skin. It can also damage laminate flooring if it is used too frequently or if it is not diluted properly.
The bottom line is, sanitize and disinfect your floors with alcohol but do so with caution. You could damage the laminate flooring surface if you are not careful.
Will Alcohol Ruin The Surface Of A Laminate Floor?
When you use rubbing alcohol or any other type of alcohol for cleaning laminate flooring, can you do so without damaging it?
Using rubbing alcohol diluted in water on occasion will not ruin the surface of a laminate floor. If you use it too frequently or if you use full strength often, it could wear down the surface and cause it to look dull and worn.
Although we recommend that you could use rubbing alcohol on laminate flooring on occasion, we do not want you to use it too frequently. It’s important to understand the truth behind this statement because it can save your floors from damage.
Rubbing alcohol does not typically cause damage to the laminate flooring because it is pH neutral. The damage will likely come if you use it too frequently because it can eventually wear down the surface.
You should also be cautious when diluting alcohol in water and using it for laminate flooring. If the liquid should get into the fibrous inner core of the flooring, it could cause permanent damage.
Is It Safe To Use Alcohol To Clean Laminate Floor?
It is one thing to ask if it is possible to use alcohol on laminate flooring. It is quite another to ask if it is safe to do so.
All types of alcohol, including gin, denatured alcohol, and rubbing alcohol are pH neutral. As a result, they will not cause damage to the laminate floor and can be used safely in moderation.
Now that we have that out of the way, it’s also important to recognize that there are some safety factors associated with cleaning laminate floors using rubbing alcohol. Some of these involve the floor and others involve you.
Rubbing alcohol can dry your skin out very quickly so if you have it coming in contact with your skin, you should wear some gloves. You should also avoid getting rubbing alcohol in your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Make sure that you dilute the alcohol with water before using it. This will ensure that you are not causing too much damage to the floor in the cleaning process. Dry the floor with a towel after washing it.
This content is owned by Wabi Sabi Group and was first published on Mar 10, 2023..
What Types Of Alcohol Can You Use To Clean Laminate Floors?
The most common type of alcohol that is used for cleaning laminate floors is rubbing alcohol. Is it the only choice available?
Any type of alcohol is pH neutral and can be used for cleaning floors. This includes rubbing alcohol, denatured alcohol, and even some alcohol used for drinking such as vodka or gin.
Although it is possible to use many different types of alcohol in the cleaning process, some are going to be more useful than others. Most people use rubbing alcohol because it is less expensive without sacrificing effectiveness.
What Other Cleaning Liquid Can You Use With Alcohol To Clean Laminate Floors?
If you are thinking about mixing alcohol with any other cleaning liquid, you need to stop and rethink your decision.
Rubbing alcohol may be used along with water or mild soap but you should never use it with bleach. Using rubbing alcohol and bleach together creates chloroform, which is a potentially deadly gas.
This article was first published on Mar 10, 2023 by Wabi Sabi Group..
Don’t make the mistake of mixing these two chemicals with each other. If you are going to use rubbing alcohol, use it diluted in water on its own. It is always the safest choice to not mix cleaning chemicals with each other.
How To Use Alcohol To Clean Laminate Floors
If you use alcohol for cleaning your laminate floor, you must ensure you are doing it the proper way. Here’s a process that will work well.
Step 1: Initial Cleaning – Before you use any cleaning product on laminate flooring, you should run a dry mop over the floor or sweep it thoroughly. The key is to get as much dust and dirt off of the floor so you are not grinding it into the laminate as you are mopping.
Step 2: Heavy Soil – If there are any heavily soiled areas, they should be cleaned first. You can use the same solution of alcohol mixed with water to clean those areas. Be careful you don’t get the floor too wet in the process.
Step 3: General Cleaning – Mix 3/4 cups of rubbing alcohol in a gallon of water. You can use 70% alcohol but 91% alcohol will also be fine. Denatured alcohol is another option to consider.
After making the mixture, make a mop wet and wring it out thoroughly. Mop the floor, being careful not to get it overly wet to clean and remove dirt and grime.
Step 4: Dry – This is a step that is skipped by most people. After you mop the floor, it is good to go back and dry it with a towel.
You can safely use alcohol for cleaning laminate floors. It should be diluted in water and you should be cautious not to over-saturate the floor because you could damage the fibrous interior core. After washing the floor with alcohol and water, you should dry it with a towel.
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WabiSabi Group is the owner of this article and was published on Mar 10, 2023 and last modified on .