Best Vacuum for Laminate Floors

Posted on by Emma

Laminate floors are a great alternative to hardwood. They’re more affordable and give your home an elegant look.

To keep them in good condition, getting the best vacuum for laminate floors is vital. This ensures that you clean your home’s floors thoroughly without scratching or damaging their delicate surface.

The thing is, not all cleaners are suited for this type of flooring. Using the wrong type of appliance can dull or damage them, ruining your investment.

In this article, we explain what to look for when choosing a vacuum for this type of surface. And, tell you which are the best products for your needs.

 

Our Picks: Top Choices for Laminate Floor Vacuum Cleaners

 

What Is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate floors came out in the 1970s. It is a synthetic flooring created by fusing together different layers of materials to make one board. The layers are combined through lamination, a process which uses heat, pressure and adhesion.

Construction

During the early days, manufacturers glued these layers which made the floors look like plastic. Today, these floors are made from high-tech processing. They now come in “snap on” or “glue on” options. The former is more popular because they’re easy to install. And, you can do this yourself. The latter however, is more resistant to moisture.

Then, there’s the digitally enhanced images that make them look very similar to real wood. These improvements transformed laminate floors from a cheap throw away to a beautiful, more affordable alternative to hardwood.

Structure

While laminate does look like wood, there are no wooden materials in it. Instead, they are made with fiberboard and resins. Here’s how your laminate flooring looks by layer.

  • (A) Top Layer: This is the protective layer. It prevents scratching, wear, fading and staining. It is also treated to make them durable and protect against moisture.
  • (B) Image Layer: This layer uses a realistic digital printing of a floor’s image. It is what gives your laminate floor its looks and design. . The image is often wood grain which replicates the look of hardwood. But, you can also get ceramic tile, stone patterns and others. Thanks to modern technology you can make the image on the laminate replicate different floor types.
  • (C) Fiberboard Core: This section is made with high density fiberboard. This is what gives your floor’s surface its structure and stability. It is made from wood ships and sawdust that’s coated with resin and pressed to make sheets.
  • (D) Backing Layer: This fiberboard core layer sits atop a backing layers which serves as a stable support. Often this is the moisture barrier. Together with the water resistant top layer, this backing layer creates a water tight seal to protect the core material.
  • (E) Underlayment: Often made with foam rolls and cork, they are at the very bottom of the laminate. Besides offering a stable and level support for the structure, it also helps reduces noise levels produced when you walk on the floor.

The entire floor is made by pressing these layers together using high pressure and heat. You’ll typically see pressure between 300 and 1300 psi, and temperatures as high as 400 degrees.

Once pressed together, they are cut to individual planks and have click-lock tongues and grooves cut into them (for “click-on” laminate). These are the ones you see installed in your home.

Why Get Laminate Floors?

Laminate floors have become popular because they look good. Good quality laminate flooring looks very similar to real wood even when you’re looking at it closely. From after, it’s easy to mistake it for hardwood.

Its bigger draw is it is much cheaper than hardwood. Plus, it is durable. This type of flooring is also stain resistant and mold resistant. Together, these features make it popular in living rooms, hallways and other high traffic areas.

Laminate can also be made to be water resistant. This is one reason you’ll see them today in kitchens, bathrooms.

 

Pros and Cons of Laminate Floors

Pros

  • They look very close to hardwood floors. This makes them a beautiful addition to your home.
  • They’re much more affordable compared to real wood floors.
  • They can simulate almost any floor type. These include different natural wood, tiles, even brick.
  • Very durable. This makes them ideal for high traffic areas and homes with kids.
  • They’re protected against UV rays. So, they’re less likely to fade due to sunlight.
  • Easier to clean and maintain. Also, they’re less expensive over the long run compared to other floors.
  • They’re protected against stains, wear, and moisture. They’re also resistance to mold and bacteria.
  • Easy to install. Easy to expand later on if you need to.

Cons

  • Can’t be refinished. If a certain section gets damaged, you’ll need to replace the pieces involved. This is because they have a single protective layer (top layer) that’s fused with the other layers.
  • Can have noise when you walk on them. Some floors may make a hollow noise when you walk on them. This is dampened by the underlayment layer, which insulates the sound. But how much it noise it negates depends on your floor’s quality.
  • Different feel from wood. The printed layer does make it look like different floor types. But, you’ll still feel the composite wood if you touch the floor. It has a different feel from hardwood, or stone. Unlike wood, it is also harder and doesn’t give in.
  • Lifespan. High quality laminate floors do last for a long time. Cheaper ones, which use lower quality materials in the core and protective layer, tend to last for shorter times.

 

Laminate vs. Hardwood vs. Vinyl

  • Laminate floors are ideal for homes with kids and pets. They’re more durable and less delicate. This lets you worry less about damage or scratching compared to hardwood. Another plus, is they’re easy to clean and maintain. Laminate flooring is much more affordable than real wood. But, looks very similar to it.
  • Hardwood is the most luxurious among the three. It’s natural, looks better and feels better as well. It is more expensive. Solid hardwood is made from 100% wood. Laminate and vinyl are both synthetic floors, though each use different materials. The only similarity between hardwood and laminate floors are the way they look.
  • Vinyl floors are another type synthetic flooring. They’re a close alternative to laminate. Instead of using wood composites they use vinyl. They’re similar to laminate in that they’re a hard surface. But they are resilient. This means they are more flexible and ‘give way’ when you walk on them. The material also makes them 100% water resistant. Vinyl is similarly priced to laminate, is just as easy to install and looks similar to hardwood as well.

 

Choosing the Best Vacuum for Laminate Floors

When buying a vacuum for laminate floors, there are a few things you want to look for. Some features are essential. They will ensure that you thoroughly clean your floors. And, more importantly, keep them safe and looking pristine.

Here’s what to look for in a laminate floor vacuum cleaner.

1. Bare Floor Tool or Roller Brush On/Off Switch

Among the features to look for this is the most important. The others will help you clean more efficiently. But, this one is necessary.

Laminate floors are more durable and resistant compared to hardwood. But like all surfaces they will still scratch given the right amount of pressure. Having fine scrapes on your laminate floors makes them look duller and old. That’s not good.

To prevent this you’ll want one of two features. Either one will work.

a. Bare floor tool/attachment: This tool is designed for flat surfaces. It works well in cleaning tile, hardwood and laminate. More importantly, it won’t scrape or scratch the floor.

b. Brush roll on/off switch: If you’re going with an upright vacuum, it’s likely you’ll get one with a brush at the bottom of the vacuum’s head. This brush is important for cleaning carpets. But, it is harmful for hard surfaces, including laminate and wood. As such, it is important to get a vacuum that lets you turn the brush roller on and off as needed. This way you can switch in on for carpets and runs. Then turn it off for your laminate surfaces.

2. Suction Settings

One nice feature to have is a vacuum that lets you select suction power. Not all vacuums have this. But it is a nice feature to have. This lets you control how much suction you need. It will let you use more suction for bigger objects and less on dirt so they don’t end up being pushed away.

Again, this is optional, not a necessity.

3. Ability to Clean the Edges and Corners

A good vacuum should be able to clean corners and edges efficiently. This means you want an easy to handle device that’s maneuverable.

The design of the head also helps in ensuring you get all the dirt in the corners instead of pushing them all there.

If your vacuum doesn’t do the corners well, it isn’t a deal breaker though. You can always use the included crevice tool to do some extra cleaning. It does use up more time and effort on your part though.

4. Cleaning Path Width

If you have a large area to clean, you’ll want to choose a vacuum with a wide cleaning path. Vacuums come in many shapes and sizes. Some have narrow cleaning paths, as small as 8 inches wide. Then there are the uprights that offer as much as 14 inch wide mouths.

The bigger the space you need to clean, the wider the cleaning path you may need. This reduces the number of passes you make to cover the entire area.

In general, something in the range of 11 inches or so is a good place to start.

5. Other Considerations

As with buying any other vacuum, here are a few other factors to consider.

  • Price
  • Upright, Canister or Stick
  • Bagged or Bagless
  • Corded or Cordless
  • How long is the warranty?

 

Best Vacuum For Laminate Floors Reviews

Shark Rocket with DuoClean HV382

This is a lightweight stick vacuum with a twist. Unlike your traditional stick/broom vacuum cleaners, the body of this device is easy to carry and lift. This lets you clean your floors, walls and ceilings. In addition, you can detach the neck extension and use it as a handheld.

It performs very well on bare floors, carpets, stairs and pet hair.

We like this vacuum for delicate surfaces including laminate flooring because you are able to control its suction power. The device lets you choose between high and low settings. And by choosing the latter, you’ll ensure that your delicate floors like hardwood and laminate are free from scratches.

The Shark Rocket HV382 also comes with a dual brush roll system. This lets you switch rollers depending on the surface you’re cleaning. As a result, you get optimal agitation for carpets and a softer, more delicate touch for bare surfaces.

  • It comes with a soft brush roll that’s designed for delicate bare floors. This keeps your floors safe yet gives you the ability to pick up dust that’s stuck and bigger particles. All you need to do is insert it in. When you’re done, press the eject button on the nozzle and it will release the soft brush roll. This lets you easily wash the roller when it gets dirty.
  • When it comes to carpets, the regular brush roll is likewise able to handle high pile and thick rugs and carpeting. Its ability to do so lets you clean different floors at home.

Its suction is boosted by the tools and accessories that come with it. This is one of its best features. These include:

  • A 2 in 1 pet multi-tool that picks up pet hair.
  • Upholstery tool
  • Dusting brush
  • 12″ crevice tool and 18″ flexi crevice tool
  • Flexible hose
  • And many more.

Overall, we like this lightweight vacuum for laminate floors. It has good suction power capable of handling large particles, dust and pet hair. It works very well for delicate surfaces like hardwood and laminate. Plus, is great on stairs, carpets and pet hair.

It is a great, more affordable alternative to the Dyson V6 and V8 vacuum cleaners.

Bissell PowerEdge Pet Hard Floor Vacuum 81L2A

This is a more traditional stick vacuum. It’s cheap and performs well.

The Bissel PowerEdge Pet Hard Floor is a lightweight bare floor vacuum that’s designed for pet owners. That’s where it excels.

This makes it ideal for homes with pets and/or hard flooring. So, if you don’t have carpets and want to clean up pet hair efficiently, this is a good choice.

One note though, is that it is more suited for small to medium sized homes. You may use it for larger spaces, but it will take more time due to its size, power and cleaning path width.

This Bissell pet vacuum is unique in that it comes with a V-shaped head. The design helps bring dust and dirt particles to the middle of the head where suction is strongest. This lets it pick up as much debris as possible, including pet hair.

The light weight of the unit along with smooth wheels and swivel head make maneuvering easy. They also keep the vacuum from scratching or scraping your floor or walls. At the bottom of the nozzle are soft rubber attachments. They help pick up pet hair and dirt particles. At the same time, the rubber keeps the vacuum from damaging laminate and wood floors.

A few things to note about this device is that is comes with a 20 foot cord. It also doesn’t have any tools or attachments. So, all you get is the vacuum cleaner.

Overall, this unit is great for pet owners and homes with hard flooring. It is inexpensive and light in weight. Plus, it performs well in these environments.

Hoover Linx BH50010

So far, our reviews have covered corded vacuum cleaners. If you prefer not having to wrestle with these devices, the Hoover Linx is a good choice.

This is a popular cordless vacuum because it combines good suction power with features.

The unit comes with a removable lithium ion battery pack. This lets you purchase an extra battery pack and use them together for longer run times.

Similar to the Bissell PowerEdge Pet vacuum above, this one comes with just the vacuum cleaner. There are no tools or attachments. This makes them more limited compared to the Dyson V6 in this area.

But, it stands up to the Dyson V6 when it comes to performance. At 3 to 5 times less the price, the Linx is definitely a better value for money choice. It performs very well on flat surfaces as well as carpets. You can also rely on it for picking up pet hair.

When it comes to hardwood and laminate floors, turn down the cleaner to the low setting. At the first setting, the device’s brush doesn’t turn on. This lets you vacuum delicate surfaces without worrying about scratches or scrapes.

As with almost all cordless vacuum cleaners, there’s the compromise between power and battery life. The Linx’s batter life is quite good at 20 or so minutes. That’s pretty much where most top end cordless vacuums are. Its main advantage is you can switch out the battery for a fully charged one and continue vacuuming.

Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E

For homeowners who have multiple types of floors at home, this is our top choice. It packs more power than stick vacuums, is relatively lightweight and can handle various floor styles.

This Shark vacuum cleaner performs well on flat surfaces including hardwood, laminate and tiles. It also excels in carpeting as well as awkward surfaces like stairs. Finally, it does a great job with pet hair and above floor areas.

This Shark Navigator vacuum is a lift-away model. By that, it means you can pull out the mid section of the device, which is a canister module with an extension hose attachment. This essential transforms your upright vacuum into a canister model when you need it.

We like the NV356E because you have a couple of options when it comes to cleaning laminate floors.

  • Turn off the brushroll and use it as an upright vacuum. This lets you vacuum delicate floors without scratching them.
  • Detach the canister module and use it. This lets you vacuum using suction only. Many people argue that this is the safest way to ensure your hardwood and laminate floors are free from scratching.

Overall, we like this device because it offers excellent power. Its strong suction (compared to stick vacuums) gives it an edge for other areas of the homes like carpeting and pet hair. We also like is anti-allergen mechanism and HEPA filtration.

Finally, there’s the versatility of being able to use both canister and upright vacuums with just one device. These both work for vacuuming laminate floors.

Eureka Mighty Mite 3670G

If you prefer going with canister vacuum cleaners instead of upright designs, this is an affordable yet reliable option. The Eureka Mighty Mite is small, but offers high performance.

The device offers both vacuum and blower capabilities. This lets you use it to clean the home and garage. And, blow away leaves during the fall.

This canister vacuum excels in bare floors, including wood, laminate and tiles. It also works well for low pile rugs and carpets. Do note that it isn’t the best for medium to high pile carpets.

We like that it is compact. It weighs close to 9 pounds and is easy to carry. The unit comes with wheels on the back. This lets you pull it with you while you vacuum.

When it comes to vacuuming laminate and other delicate floors, the device’s bare floor attachment is the way to go. This lets you clean your floor thoroughly and safely. Of course, you can always resort to using suction only. Though that method is safer, it isn’t as efficient in picking up debris.

Do note that the Mighty Mite is a bagged vacuum cleaner. This means you’ll need to use dust bags to operate it. Bagged vacuums do cost a bit more because of having to replace the bags. But they also keep your home’s air cleaner.

 

Caring & Cleaning Laminate Floors

Laminate floors are relatively easy to clean and maintain. They’re designed to resist scratching and wear. They also don’t require polishing or waxing.

Still, you’ll want to keep them dirt free. Dirt particles, especially the small ones, can cause fine scratches on laminate. This happens when you walk over them or heavy objects slide them across the floor.

As such, cleaning the floor regularly helps prevent this from happening.

Cleaning

When it comes to cleaning laminate flooring, here are a few tools you’ll need.

  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Dry mop
  • Damp towel

Here’s a step by step look at cleaning laminate floors thoroughly.

  1. Vacuum the floor. Make sure to use your vacuum’s hard floor tool. This tool is designed to clean hard surfaces without damaging them. If your vacuum come with a brush roll, make sure to turn it off. The bristles spinning at high speeds can leave fine scratches on the surface.
  2. Mopping. Once the vacuum is done removing the dirt and debris from the floor, you can mop it. Mopping is optional. But it does give the floor a nice, bright look that vacuuming can’t. When mopping, it is important not to leave standing fluids on any section of the floor for long periods of time. This includes the wet bucket. Also, change the water as needed to keep it clean.
  3. Buffing. To give it a nice shine, you can use a towel made from terry cloth to buff the floor. Also, don’t use polish or wax on your laminate. These may give it more luster. But, they also leave a layer of film on the floor that leaves streaks and attracts dirt.

Caring Tips

  • Use floor mats to keep dirt from the outside from getting to the floor. Positioning them in entryways is a good way to reduce dirt.
  • To prevent scratching from furniture, use gliders on chairs.
  • Don’t use abrasive cleaners or soap based ones on the floor. These can dull the decorative layer and harm the finish.
  • Clean up fluids and spills immediately. Don’t let liquids sit or dry up on the flooring.
  • Never refinish, sand or lacquer laminate surfaces.

Spot Cleaning

  • To remove paint, pen marks or oil, using a white or light colored cloth and neutral cleaner. You can also use alcohol or nail polish.
  • To remove liquid stains including juice, sauces, blood and soda, use warm water. For stubborn ones use a neutral cleaner and light colored cloth to prevent color transfer.
  • For sticky things like gum or wax, let them harden first. You can use ice to do this too. Then, scrape them off gently. Once removed, you can wipe the area with a cloth and warm water.

Similar Articles

Also: More Home Appliances