Laminate flooring can be susceptible to scratches, dents, scuff marks, and other types of damages; especially in areas with heavy foot traffic or when you move furniture, such as chairs, across the flooring on a regular basis. In some cases, humid weather or the toenails of your pets can also damage laminate flooring. To protect your laminate flooring, you can cover specific areas with rugs, make slight modifications to your furniture to prevent accidental scratching, maintain the humidity levels in your home, and more.
Step One
Attach felt protector pads to the bottom of furniture that is light in weight. This will help prevent the feet of your furniture or other sharp corners and parts from scraping or scratching against your laminate flooring. Purchase felt protector pads, or felt discs, with adhesive on one side that you can stick to the bottom of your furniture. Periodically examine the felt protector pads you attached. The pads may need to be replaced when the felt becomes compressed due to regular wear of the furniture.
Step Two
Lift furniture instead of dragging it when you move it around. Lifting your furniture will prevent the scratches and scuff-marks that can be caused by dragging your furniture. Ask friends or family to help you with lifting furniture that is too large or heavy for you to move by yourself. If you still have difficulty moving large or heavy pieces of furniture, place plastic discs with padding on one side (also known as furniture sliders or moving discs) underneath your furniture. These discs will allow large and heavy furniture to glide across the laminate flooring without causing damages. Soft, thick towels or heavy blankets can also be placed underneath heavy or large furniture as an alternative to plastic discs.
Step Three
Place carpets or rugs on your laminate flooring. Rugs or carpets can be placed in areas with heavy foot traffic or under furniture to prevent scratches and scrapes from marring the laminate flooring. Place rubber or non-slip pads beneath your rugs in heavy foot traffic areas to prevent them from sliding around.
Step Four
Place entry or “welcome” mats at your doorways that lead outside. This will allow you, your family, or other visitors to wipe their feet before entering your home and reduce the risk for pebbles, dirt, and other debris on the bottoms of shoes from scratching your laminate flooring. You can also enforce a rule that bans people from wearing shoes inside your home, which may help eliminate any debris that is tracked onto the laminate flooring from shoes.
Step Five
Keep the humidity levels in your home between 35 and 65 percent. This will prevent your laminate flooring from warping due to the expansion or contraction of the laminate flooring materials. Use a humidistat to measure the humidity levels in your home. You may already have a humidistat built into your thermostat or humidifier, or you can purchase one from a retail store that specializes in home repair. Use a humidifier during dry conditions to prevent your laminate flooring from shrinking, and use an air conditioner or dehumidifier in wet conditions to prevent your flooring from expanding.
Step Six
Clean or mop up spills from the laminate flooring as soon as they occur. This will prevent liquids from entering any cracks or joints in your flooring, which can eventually weaken your laminate flooring or cause it to warp. Use a soft cloth or mop to clean up spills instead of an abrasive sponge or other material that can scratch your flooring. If you are required to use a cleaning product other than water to clean up spills, use a commercial window cleaner that does not contain ammonia. Ammonia contains properties that may strip away the protective sealant from the laminate flooring.
Step Seven
Keep the nails of your pets trimmed. This will prevent your pet’s nails from scratching or gouging the floor by accident. Take your pet to a groomer or trim your pet’s nails using nail clippers designed for use on pets