I recently bought a fixer-upper house that has light-colored laminate plank flooring. It would be really nice, if I could get it clean. It has stuck-on stains, like someone left melted ice cream on the floor until it dried (don't know if that's what it actually is.) I've tried the Hoover hard floor scrubber, I've tried a steam cleaner; nothing will loosen this gunk. What else can I try?
Flooring – How to remove stuck-on stains from laminate flooring
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Related Solutions
Benefits are:
- cost (less expensive)
- easier to install (can = less cost if labor costs are involved)
- easier to remove (in case the future owner hates it and/or you need to make repairs)
- uses less finished wood (arguably more 'green' though with bamboo, it's already fairly green to begin with)
Downsides:
- the finished surface is thinner, so you can't refinish the floor as much as you can with solid wood
- being thinner, you may have a different 'feel' underfoot.
You should consider doing something mosaic-y there because the size difference will always prevent you from putting in a milled transition piece.
If you try to install something that looks perfect, it will always look imperfect. But if you go with something that is intentionally imperfect, it will look intentional.
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Best Answer
Very few things can "stain" a laminate floor, the top coat is non porous and made with a silicon dioxide material that is very hard. You can scratch or gouge them, or get water between the joints that can bubble, but staining is very uncommon.
You don't say what you think the material is so it is difficult to recommend a solution. "Melted ice cream" sounds like possible paint drips. Try carefully scraping with a plastic putty knife or finger nail, and work up to a razor blade being extremely careful not to gouge the floor. Once you have the majority of the material cleaned off try household cleaners, or a paint and grease remover like "Goof Off" (available in the paint section of most home stores)