Cleaning Laminate vs Hardwood Floors in Ontario Homes
Both laminate and hardwood are common in Ontario homes, but they require different cleaning approaches. Using the wrong products on either surface can cause irreversible damage — swelling on laminate, finish dulling on hardwood. Here's what to know.
Hardwood Floors
The core rule: Minimal moisture. Hardwood expands with water, and repeated damp mopping causes the finish to cloud and eventually the boards to cup. Professional cleaners use well-wrung microfiber mops — barely damp, not wet — with a hardwood-specific cleaner (Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner is the Ontario industry standard).
- Use: Bona Hardwood, Method Wood Floor, or equivalent pH-neutral hardwood cleaner. Barely-damp mop
- Avoid: Steam mops (strip the finish and swell the wood), vinegar (acidic — dulls polyurethane finish over time), all-purpose cleaners, bleach
Laminate Floors
The core rule: Even less moisture than hardwood. Laminate's core is compressed wood fibre — it swells faster than solid hardwood when wet, and the damage (bubbling, separation at seams) is permanent. A dry or barely-damp microfiber mop is correct.
- Use: A laminate-specific cleaner or plain water with a nearly-dry mop. Bona Laminate is a reliable choice
- Avoid: Steam mops (a laminate-destroyer), vinegar, anything that leaves residue