Asked on May 21, 2016

How to restore laminate flooring

Terdallaujar
by Terdallaujar
Has anyone ever restored old laminate flooring? At first glance I am still satisfied with the way they look. However when the light hits it you can see scuffs, footprints, dulling..etc. I feel as if the top protective layer is gone from normal wear and use. There has to be a way to restore them without having to replace them. The floor is probably 17 + years old. Thanks!
Photo without the light shining on it.
Floor in the light
Floor in the light
  24 answers
  • Ellen Childers Ellen Childers on May 22, 2016
    There is a very good product that I use called quickshine.
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on May 22, 2016
    Try using the professional cleaning products from Bona. They have a cleaner for laminate and a refresher.
    • See 3 previous
    • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on May 22, 2016
      @Gina S. To be honest with you that may be the problem. Please understand many products on the market today are truly not meant for laminate flooring. I have this floor all through my house.I either use white vinegar and water on my knees or recently just switched over to the Bona with a all in one mop system.Thank goodness no more knees. I have used the swifter which does leave streaks. Just trying to give you advice .
  • Susan Caswell Susan Caswell on May 22, 2016
    In my experience, Mop&Glow will turn eventually turn into a white flim and can b very hard to get clean. It will get into any cracks or crevices. I don't really have an answer for you but I do know I personally would never use any of the above products again. That's my opinion & I stand by it.
    • Gina S. Gina S. on May 22, 2016
      Hi Susan...I damp the sponge mop before I use the Mop & Glo. The floors are not completely shiny but it helps my floors from having that dull look. My husband use some type of polish and the floors were to slippery. That's why I tired the Mop & Glo. The Bona in my opinion really didn't bring a better shine just a clean floor.
  • Sdholly5 Sdholly5 on May 22, 2016
    I have used the Quick Shine products, purchased at Walmart, and it's looks great. It also last pretty long time before redoing again.
  • Kelsey Lucy Kelsey Lucy on May 22, 2016
    Rejuvenate from Walmart is a restore product for laminate floors
  • Kat5474920 Kat5474920 on May 22, 2016
    I have wood floors throughout my home and twice a year I use reguvinate, bought at Home Depot or lowes. People always ask me what I do to keep them so beautiful. Takes 15 minutes of your time.
  • Kay Kay on May 22, 2016
    I've heard that reguvinate stuff is really good maybe i'll try it .I have three grandkids I really need something.
  • Shari Shari on May 22, 2016
    I have laminate and hate it. What a big, expensive mistake it was for me to select that. Ugh! I've read the professionals say laminate is really only good for about 7-ish years so I'm really impressed that you've gotten 17 years out of yours. The problem you describe is part of the problem with laminate. It is basically layers of pressed board with a pretty wood-looking design laminated on top. Once that decorative layer has worn down, there isn't much you can do to restore it since it can't be sanded down and top coated like real wood. Your best chance of getting some shine back is some sort of artificial shine product for laminate floors. I've used Bruce Hardwood and Laminate Cleaner on mine but that's more for cleaning than it is for shine. One thing you might want to consider... if you have been using Mop & Glo, you may have a build up of product residue that is making the floor appear duller than it really is. Try removing any residue with white vinegar or ammonia and water. Even a steam mop will work to remove residue but you have to be VERY careful using a steam mop on laminate since laminate is so water-sensitive.
    • Ednamae Smith Ednamae Smith on Dec 08, 2017

      The decorative layer is very well protected by a layer of plastic...hence name plastic laminate. The plastic obviously can wear down but as most floors offer a long warranty I suspect most damage is fine scratches from dirt, etc. I have 20 year old laminate floors and the only damage I have is under a wool rug with canvas backing...a fine haze. I think it is from dirt abrasion. Plastic scratches white and nothing can fix it. Never use any abrasives on plastic laminate, but wd-40 or acetone are ok on my floor. 1996 Formica, kronotex says acetone is ok on theirs, too..

  • William William on May 22, 2016
    Rejuvenate or Bona are good choices!
  • Jean Myles Jean Myles on May 22, 2016
    I have used Rejuvenate with good results
  • Terdallaujar Terdallaujar on May 22, 2016
    It looks great right after I clean it. But shortly after it becomes dull and you can see footprints. I guess I will just not look at in the light.😁
    • See 1 previous
    • Terdallaujar Terdallaujar on May 23, 2016
      @Shari The non traveled areas of the floor still look good. After reading and researching, I know the problems I am having is the floor is worn from people and pets. At first I thought , I was thinking it was from cleaning using the wrong products. I am convinced this is not the case. The local hardware suggested putting down some type of surface sealant. Not sure I want to go that route just yet.
  • Linda Glowacki Linda Glowacki on May 22, 2016
    Do not use Mop & Glow or One Step someone used it in our current house and the floors are now a mess and nothing I do completely removes it.
    • See 1 previous
    • Linda Glowacki Linda Glowacki on May 23, 2016
      @Jennie Lee I did try ammonia in cool water and it left a white film--I have been using white vinegar, rubbing alcohol and blue Dawn on a weekly basis. The white film is slowly going away. Thanks for the tip!
  • R Walter R Walter on May 22, 2016
    Don't know if this will work on laminate but a blogger at Addicted to Decorating used Waterlox to finish her hardwood floors. It might be worth a shot and you could go to her website and ask if it will work. Here is the link for the sealer http://www.amazon.com/Waterlox-Original-Sealer-Finish-Quart/dp/B009LKWLJI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463945481&sr=8-1&keywords=waterlox this is the link for the web site http://www.addicted2decorating.com/ hope this helps
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on May 22, 2016
    There is nothing wrong with Laminate flooring.The trick is to find the right cleaners.Comments of I hate it or it does not hold up are of no use.I would simply try one cleaner at a time and see if something works. I said it before and I will say it again there is a build up of nasty cleaner that do not work on the floor.
    • Terdallaujar Terdallaujar on May 23, 2016
      @Janet Pizaro I did have a build up several years back and ended up on my hands and knees for days removing it. I have been VERY careful not to do this again. I am convinced that my problem is wear. I do have to say that when laminate flooring became popular, all you heard was how durable it was and will last for years. This is why I choose laminate. Have not heard very much about what it looks like after years usage. Yucky!
  • Gina S. Gina S. on May 22, 2016
    I understand what your talking about I have the laminate floors throughout the downstairs. I bought a steamer off T.V. I haven't use it I was waiting until I went to Lowe's to get something to bring some shine. I asked the man in Lowe's about what was the best thing for laminated floors, he told me not to use steamer. He gave the same advice clean the floors with vinegar and water, I did try it but I just did not get that look I wanted. Thank God me and my husband are empty nester we don't have that much tracking in the house. Thank You! :) Gina E.
  • Laura gamroth Laura gamroth on May 22, 2016
    There are several different products from Rejuvenate - I've used the Shine Refresher on my floors and it looks fantastic. I use it maybe every third time I mop. + http://www.rejuvenateinfo.com/allfloors.php
  • Marilyn Zaruba Marilyn Zaruba on May 22, 2016
    IF you just can't bring them back to look the way you like, paint them. I have always wanted to live in a house with painted wood floors. My Sunday School teacher when I was nine had a little gingerbread cottage with painted floors and I have wanted my own for the last 60+ years. Doesn't look like it will happen.
    • See 1 previous
    • Ednamae Smith Ednamae Smith on Dec 08, 2017

      yes. It would not last at all. Some people get a few years out of epoxy paint on plastic laminate coutertops, more if very careful. Floors, I doubt it. But the epoxy paint used on garage floors may be an option. I recommend the 59 cent laminate at home depot instead...just replace if going to all that work.

  • Wanda.ll Wanda.ll on May 23, 2016
    I've given the answer to this many times but here goes again. Quick and Shine is the best thing I've found for this and for real wood floors. I've used it for years. This man( Johnnie checks things out before e sells at his store or even carries it. You can trust the products he uses. I've done so fro years.Always look at his website or call his lumbar yard here in Texas. They can always give you the right info on stuff to use. http://www.happyhandyman.com/product-p/120000027a.htm
  • Barbara C Barbara C on May 23, 2016
    Never put water or steam on Laminate floors.They are not real wood and cannot take the water.
  • Darrel Rose Darrel Rose on May 23, 2016
    You can clean and restore shine to laminate floors with a half cup of White Vinegar to a half bucket of warm water, do not use hot water, then in your rinse water use a capful of baby oil and rinse your floor with it, your floor will come up shiny as if you just waxed it, scuffs will come off if you rub with a new tennis ball, do not use detergent or floor cleaners with this method just plain ol white vinegar and some baby oil, p.s. the baby oil will not make the floor slippery when dry, I personally do this with my floors and that of my housecleaning service clients.
  • Marilyn Zaruba Marilyn Zaruba on May 26, 2016
    I believe you need to cover them with a polyurethane or something similar....talk to the paint experts at your local Home Depot, Ace or Lowe's. OR do some online research...you will find tons of examples. It probably wouldn't work with all decorating styles, but there should be something for most. Check these out....they will have you oohing and awwing...at least they did it for me: https://www.pinterest.com/explore/painted-wood-floors/
    • Ednamae Smith Ednamae Smith on Dec 08, 2017

      Laminate is plastic. Nothing wants to stick, so a fantastic product to keep clean. Not so much to paint. The only wood floors I would ever paint would be totally trashed floors or exterior, like a porch. Or plywood If thats what youve got.

  • Jane R. Jane R. on May 26, 2016
    Laminate floors can be sanded lightly to remove scuffs. Get a professional to do it for you.
  • Hazel Adams Hazel Adams on Jul 07, 2016
    This flooring looks great. I think that it is important to be able to have great laminate flooring because it is so sturdy. Thanks for the great ideas on what to do to fix it. http://naplesflooringgallery.com/