FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

Now that I have a laminate floor…

| Posted in General Discussion on May 9, 2000 10:45am

*
Tina: We installed Wilsonart flooring in our kitchen, laundry room and hallway a couple of years ago. It is loud, and watching our dog try to get her footing is a real hoot! But water is it’s enemy. In fact, we found a slow leak in the laundry this year and had to have the whole laundry room floor replaced.

But cleaning. My wife uses an old credit card to scrape off anything that sticks. She uses ammonia and water. What really seems to have made a difference is the type of mop. A sponge mop will leave streaks everytime. She uses one of those synthetic chamois twist mops. And drys the floor with an old towel. Yeah, it is a lot of work, but she really hates the streaks.

Reply
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Replies

  1. Annie_Fitt | May 11, 2000 02:31am | #14

    *
    Jerry is so right!

    Living in a 1929 fixer-upper Cape with 8 dogs and constant fixing-up projects going on I know from doghair, dust, and things you don't want to examine too closely! I belong to the Joan Rivers School of Housekeeping (You make the bed, you do the dishes, and six months later you have to start all over again.), and keeping the floors halfway respectable has always been a struggle. One of the saving graces to this house was it was built pre-cheap wall to wall carpet and has strip red oak flooring (albeit 1/2" - have you ever even seen 1/2" solid oak? I had to have some specially milled to do some replacement work...) Whoa! Catch your breath, Annie! Anyway, sweeping, vaccuming, damp mopping never quite gave me the results all that @#$#% work involved ought to produce. The local supermarket had a big intro sale on the Swiffer, and I figured if it did half the job the box said it would it was worth it. Well, my floors have NEVER looked so good! I do still have to sweep first to get rid of the Dust Tigers otherwise it uses too many of those little sheets, but they REALLY do pick up all the dust!

    1. WILLIAM_F_PHILLIPS | May 13, 2000 08:38pm | #15

      *Tina G.Rip it up and put down a real floor - well, someone had to say it!Bill

  2. Guest_ | May 15, 2000 12:07am | #16

    *
    Bill....believe me, I've thought about it. But we'll live with it. Because it's a floating floor, it won't be all THAT difficult to replace someday. Actually, it's not all that bad, and we don't have to worry about beating it up. Now, if I can just find a housekeeper willing to brave 20 miles of dirt road each way to come chase the dust bunnies every week....

    1. Guest_ | May 15, 2000 12:18am | #17

      *...not that you didn't hear enough negative comments about the stuff the first time around!Geez, Tina, can we hear about what you -like- about your new place?

      1. Guest_ | May 16, 2000 02:08am | #18

        *Ok Ok Ok! We actually love the new place now that most of the old screwups are covered over or fixed (we left the original basement stairs exposed in the basement, over which we had to build a second set of stairs to provide a safe landing on top and bottom. We left the old stairs exposed so we could show people an example of the heartburn we've been through). The kitchen came out wonderfully, with exposed timbers and juniper countertops, glass block instead of backsplash behind the counters (under wall cabinets), great dog kennels, master bedroom with a huge east-facing picture window that catches big sky sunrise over distant mountains, fabulous arbor over south facing deck, russian fireplace with huge juniper log as mantel, tile floors where there isn't laminate, timbertech deck that looks good, high ceilings, lovely finish carpentry......is that better? I'll post pictures once I get them all taken, because, as I've said before, much of the beauty of this house is thanks to help from all of you!

  3. WILLIAM_F_PHILLIPS | May 16, 2000 09:12pm | #19

    *
    Damm! (am I allowed to say that?)

    sounds nice, Tina,

    I'll bet the rest of the house components are also "wundern' how that floor got in here"

    Bill

  4. Guest_ | May 16, 2000 11:57pm | #20

    *
    OMG, Tina, I just read how your house looks and am considering not helping you due to extreme jelousy. No, I shouldn't say that. My DH just got done remodeling my kitchen from a 3' across, 5' length floor space to the kitchen it is today. 4 people can move around fairly easily in it now whereas before 2 people really was too much - no exaggeration. There weren't even any upper cupboards, only 2 lower (including a lazy susan corner cupboard). But, I digress. I have Pergo travertine and all the crap on my floors just blend in beautifully. I clean it with a rag (but will get the swiffe or whatever it is someone recommended) and use that. I love my floor. (Thanks for the cleaning recommendations!) Your house sounds remarkable - I'm happy for you. I also have a real nice house. It's nothing like what yours sounds like but it's "perfect." It's the first house I've ever had, and it's real pretty. And we live in the woods, and the river's behind the house. There's peace here and love, and we've done beautifully with what we have. Every single day, bar none, when we pull in the driveway, or when we wake up in the morning (or both times), we comment about how much we love our home, how blessed we are. I kid you not.

    1. Guest_ | May 17, 2000 09:16am | #21

      *Tina, sounds grand, but just one question. Where did you put the airstrip?

      1. Guest_ | May 17, 2000 02:56pm | #22

        *Rich -- that reminds me of one other thing we actually like about the place...but maybe someone else wouldn't -- because we're so remote, the area is used for occasional Airforce low-level training flights...I have a picture of a B1-B screaming over a contented herd of antelope mingled with our cattle...they (animals) could care less. We also get B1s, F16s, C-130s, and Warthogs flying so close we can almost see the whites of the pilots' eyes. One actually waved as he went by at my eye level as I stood on the porch! So, no airstrip, but maybe a parachute zone?

        1. Guest_ | May 18, 2000 12:35am | #23

          *Tina, I'd like to hear more about your "Not from Ikea" countertops. We've got some junipers, not sure about the alligator part though. Any chance of pictures of counters too? And a brief description of what/how you did? Joe H

          1. Guest_ | May 18, 2000 02:36am | #25

            *Joe -- pictures are in the works. The juniper are called alligator because their bark looks like alligator hide. These particular ones grow primarily in parts of New Mexico and Arizona...don't know where you are. These junipers also have fabulous grain because they grow twisted. The ones we used were about 2 ft to larger in diameter. We used very old, dead, fallen junipers so that the wood was already totally dried before we milled it. Then our carpenter, who has a mill at home, milled them into boards about an inch thick. Our kitchen island is huge...about 6 ft by 10 ft, on two levels, the upper level 2 ft. deep at bar height, the rest at 3 ft. counter height. We broke up the long 10ft expanse with cross planks so we could make the best use of the wood... which can have big knots in it. Since we did not put any "barstop" or other plastic surface over the wood, only Velvit Oil which is a food grade, beautiful hardening and sealing oil/stain, we could only use wood that had minimal knots or holes. Once all laid out, carpenter did the finish trimming, lots and lots o' sanding, then glued planks to chipboard underlayment and bicuited planks to each other, with wood glue, too. We filled cracks with a mix of sawdust, velvit oil and (hmmm, I'll get back to you on what the final recipe was). Then more sanding until glass smooth. Then I stained with velvit oil, wet sanding the oil into the wood after 1/2 hour, wiping it all down in an hour. Second coat, no sanding, the next day. and voila! I've attached the only picture I have for now (doesn't show island) but will be posting more and better in the Woodshed when I get it all together.... Tina

  5. Guest_ | May 18, 2000 02:36am | #24

    *
    how do I clean it? Instructions say damp mop....all that seems to do is smear the dirt around and leave streaks, even if swept/vacuumed first.

    Not thrilled with this floor in general. Has a plastic feel to it....virtually impossible footing for dogs, especially old ones. Even the young ones lose their grip when trying to jump onto bed (I know, I know...but we're weak...)and end up vaulting face first into the side rails. It was a compromise floor for back half of house (other floor is fabulous Endicott tile). But I thought it would be easy to keep clean!

    Anyway, wondered if any of you out there (Andrew?) have figured out the secret to the "all you need to do is damp mop" sales pitch?

    Tina

    1. Guest_ | May 06, 2000 04:48pm | #1

      *Hi Tina,You might try TSP and dilute it until you find a good mix.You will have to use an area rug under your bed large enough to extend out for the dogs traction.Most of these laminates are murder on dogs.Gabe

      1. Guest_ | May 06, 2000 05:10pm | #2

        *I don't know about that but when the muddy boy and his dog run through the house I pick 'Boarding School' every time.

        1. Guest_ | May 06, 2000 05:10pm | #3

          *Have you ever thought about end-grain wood block flooring?(running for cover...)

          1. Guest_ | May 06, 2000 08:10pm | #4

            *Oh Mongo, Mongo, Mongo....no end block floor this time, but that whole discussion did get me to thinking, and our kitchen countertops are all out of alligator juniper milled right here on the ranch...old, fallen trees, probably older than all of us added together, hard as nails and incredible grain...so all was not for naught.Jeff...am I being obtuse..or what is "Boarding School?"Tina

          2. Guest_ | May 06, 2000 09:00pm | #5

            *Not that Mongo is a sore loser or anything... Now consider: dirt on floor must go somewhere. Open-grain floor lets dirt get into floor and stay there, forgotten, while plastic floor just lets dirt be pushed from place to place. Is it more important to appear clean or be clean? Mind you, I'm not the Plastic Floor King, we have about 100 sf of it and I hope to get responsibly sourced hardwood (solid or engineered) in the new areas.Not to get personal, but what kind of dirt do you have? I just sweep, but our house is still in the "throes" of remodeling (or should I just be honest and call it demolition?) so we're not shooting for super-clean. We're also not dealing with oily or muddy dirt, just dry plaster dust and dust bunnies which sweep easily, and damp mop takes up water-based stains like coffee drips, etc.....If you have dirt that smears, it's not water-soluble, which means you need either (1) a non-water solvent cleaner or (2) more appropriate for households (!) a detergent which by definition makes nonsoluble materials dissolve or suspend in water. I don't know what the mfr wants but I'd try dilute ammonia, it's cheap and has some disinfectant properties.Get area rugs with rubber traction pads under them. Get the pads for carpet-on-hardwood, not carpet-on-carpet. Maybe a ramp or stairs to the bed would be nice too for the aging inhabitants. Tina, I'm starting to think you might not be happy with anything short of embossed steel plate. :) Tile is too cold and hard for me bare feet. The one kind of floor I just can't warm up to, however, is wall-to-wall carpeting, although it is nice as a practical matter in bedrooms.

          3. Guest_ | May 06, 2000 09:42pm | #6

            *... i think there was a warning about limited traction and careening doggies posted a while ago ... The sound of nails clicking alone would probably drive me nuts! Do they make dog track shoes, minus the spikes?Just so people won't assume I'm making up the durability of the floor, here is a snapshot of the pantry floor I installed when i converted the space into an extension of the kitchen in one of my first home improvement projects -- ever. Now, my plans were not so ambitious in those days, specifically i didn't intend to rip off the roof as part of a second floor addition I'm now doing, nor to haul over this floor the tons of brick debris from the interior chimney i demo'd -- simply, this floor has seen a LOT of abuse. Visitors really like the floor, partly I think because they're familiar only with vinyl in kitchens. (Note the nearby mop and damp appearance of the floor, just for the picture... Now you know that a guy CAN pick up a mop.)I did find the first significant damage just now, an impact crack probably from when I dropped a joist from the floor above ... at least the joist missed my wife ... heh-heh, it was an accident, really ... I'll patch or replace the crack when it finally does look like I'm putting in the finishes once and for all. At least a floating floor is VERY fast to remove! It's plastic but I'm pleasedTina, could you post of picture of your "Endicott tile"?

          4. Guest_ | May 06, 2000 10:40pm | #7

            *Thanks, Andrew. I just happened to have put a fresh coat of seal on the Endicott tile (our first houseguests arrive in an hour) so it's looking particularly spiffy. Will get the camera out... be patient...it's a long way to the local drug store to get the film developed....Our laminate, too, took a beating during construction. The dirt is mostly dust, dog hair (vaccuum cleaner takes care of that), mud when it rains (we could use more). We also have laminate (tile form) in bathrooms, but they're incredibly forgiving (have a textured surface that hides everything) to the opposite extreme -- I can never tell if they're dirty or not! I s'pose I should fess up that housecleaning is not my favorite activity. My grandmother used to say there are two types of people in the world -- those who like to cook, those who like to clean...and never both in the same person. I'm happier in the kitchen...so I really fell for the laminate pitches about damp mopping. I guess I shouldn't complain about a few streaks...Will post endicott pictures as soon as I can... Tina

          5. Guest_ | May 07, 2000 07:20am | #8

            *Pergo's ad has a mud-covered boy and dog running through the house and offers three choices:Pick one:(a) Boarding School(b) Sanding and varnishing(c) A damp mopIt has to be (a) since sanding and varnishing the kid would be considered child abuse, right? O.K. you don't watch TV ...

          6. Guest_ | May 07, 2000 11:08am | #9

            *I just wondered, with the PL floor providing so much entertainment, do you still hanker for that pirouetting TV cabinet? Sliante.

          7. Guest_ | May 08, 2000 12:29am | #10

            *Why sure...picture it...dogs vaulting, pirouetting, slipping, sliding, while TV echoes their antics. A house alive....and if we then turn on the ceiling fan directly above...pure poetry in motion!

          8. davidvh | May 09, 2000 10:45pm | #11

            *Tina: We installed Wilsonart flooring in our kitchen, laundry room and hallway a couple of years ago. It is loud, and watching our dog try to get her footing is a real hoot! But water is it's enemy. In fact, we found a slow leak in the laundry this year and had to have the whole laundry room floor replaced. But cleaning. My wife uses an old credit card to scrape off anything that sticks. She uses ammonia and water. What really seems to have made a difference is the type of mop. A sponge mop will leave streaks everytime. She uses one of those synthetic chamois twist mops. And drys the floor with an old towel. Yeah, it is a lot of work, but she really hates the streaks.

          9. Guest_ | May 10, 2000 12:38am | #12

            *I can't believe you guys! And of all people, ya'll here at Breaktime should know exactly what would take care of Tina's problem. Tina made her selection--some tried to dissuade her--and now she has to develop some new coping skills.Tina, kindly disregard anything anyone has said in this thread. I have the answer for you. The perfect solution is not great amounts of area rugs (flooring over flooring) nor is the answer found in using a different cleanser formula. Oh!, I get giddy when I think how overccome with joy you will be when informed of the way to a clean floor. And it is easy.Tina, have you considered your sweeping technique? There exist many methods of sweeping, but there are five basic methods--American Classic; English Manor; Hungarian Brusque; Appy Quarter Sweep; French Maid Broom Twist--to complete your mastery of sweeping any floor. Once having mastered these techniques, you'll be able to keep any floor clean. Be warned though, mixing sweeping styles can actually increase the dirty conditions of your floors.I suggest you start with the American Classic style and work up to the French Maid Broom Twist. The American Classic easily demonstrates how to finish the stroke with a wrist flick to give the dirt and dustballs the necessary topspin to keep it low to the floor where it belongs. There are other tricks to be learned, but first you must master the varying hand grips. Truly, you will find it difficult at first to use the correct grip, but with practice you will wonder how you ever were satisfied with what you now know to be incorrect.Since you don't have a nearby college offering adult evening classes, I suggest you conduct a 'net search using distance learning as your key word. I hope it goes well for you and be sure to let us know how it goes. Glad to be of help. Chow.

          10. Guest_ | May 10, 2000 05:38am | #13

            *Tina....life is too complicated as it is.Go to your nearest Wmart or other such shopping outlet and purchase one of those new 'static' type dust mops....'Swiffer' for one.They do a fantastic job on hardwood,tile and linoleum,and the best thing is once they get dirty just pull off the sheet and put on a new one! Regards...Jerry

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

FHB Podcast Segment: Repairing an Old Home While Maintaining Its Integrity

Learn about different approaches to making updates and repairs to older homes with historic charm.

Featured Video

Builder’s Advocate: An Interview With Viewrail

Learn more about affordable, modern floating stairs, from design to manufacturing to installation.

Related Stories

  • Podcast Episode 684: Masonry Heaters, Whole-House Ventilation, and Porch Flooring
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Repairing an Old Home While Maintaining Its Integrity
  • Tools and Gear for the Moms Who Get it Done
  • An Easier Method for Mitered Head Casings

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2024
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers
  • Issue 327 - November 2024
    • Repairing Damaged Walls and Ceilings
    • Plumbing Protection
    • Talking Shop

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 81%

Subscribe

Enjoy unlimited access to Fine Homebuilding. Join Now

Already a member? Log in

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data