Part of the job of a flooring specialist is to ensure businesses and individuals choose the right surface for their needs, but the other part is to ensure they can easily maintain, take care of it and enjoy it for a very long time.

Unfortunately, in the case of one particularly popular type of flooring, quite a few of the most logical cleaning products will not only not successfully clean it but could cause significant damage.

One particularly unique flooring solution that causes issues is laminate, which is typically seen as a functional, aesthetically pleasing alternative to a hardwood or engineered wood floor if the expense is a concern.

Essentially a particle board base with an image later and transparent wear layer, laminate feels great underfoot but needs special care to ensure it remains at its best for a long time.

The first cleaning solution to avoid is floor polishes, waxes and oils. Because the actual surface you are walking on is not wood, it will not be absorbed, instead leaving a film on your floor that can potentially cause a slip hazard.

Next, try to avoid using bleach-based cleaners, as the sodium hydroxide that many of them have will eat into the transparent finish, slowly destroying it over time.

Finally, and most significantly, avoid using a steam-cleaning mop on laminate flooring.

Whilst an excellent choice for carpets and good for most hard floor surfaces as well, the hot wet steam breaks through the different layers of the laminate and starts to break apart the particle board that forms its base.

Over a relatively short period of time, it will not only break the surface layer but damage the middle as well.

As well as this, avoid using soaps, exposing the laminate to too much water, or abrasive cleaning tools such as harsh chemicals or wire wool.