I have fake wood floors with grooves. Will this harm floors ? Will this clean and sanitize?
1426661
A "weak spot" for many laminates that involve click-lock or tongue-and-groove wooden boards is the seams where these boards meet. Unless you have something like a Pergo floor in which you glued the seams after laying each row, the steam may penetrate and cause swelling of the wood below the "fake wood" surface. Flooring installers call this type of swelling/warpage "cupping" and a user introducing this kind of moisture would void the warranties I've read. (Disclaimer: DIY person who has installed several brands of flooring.)
1426662
you don't have fake wood floors. You have modern, sophisticated and upscale LAMINATE WOOD FLOORS. Not old, high-maintenance, high-cost wood floors.
1426663
Yes, it should work fine. There are three temperature settings, so start on the lowest temperature. There are two pads, one soft and one rough. Use the soft pad at first as well. Also, make sure you don't leave it sitting in one spot for more than a few seconds if it is in steam mode. Keep it moving (in any direction) and you should be fine. When you are ready to turn it off, pick it up and press the temperature buttons until it goes back to stand by mode. Then you can put it back down again without worrying.
1426664
It will definitely clean and sanitize any floor surface, smooth or textured. It removed grunge from the textured vinyl floor in my laundry room that I didn't even realize was there. It also did a great job on my daughter's textured tile. But you don't say whether your "fake wood" floors are vinyl (planks?) or laminate. Flooring manufacturers offer "fake wood" looks in both materials (as well as tile). This mop will be fine on vinyl. However, from the research I have done, steam mops are not generally recommended for laminate or real wood floors unless they are sealed. Laminate floors are essentially like layers of pressed cardboard with a pretty fake wood-looking top layer. However, with that being said, if your laminate is not sealed, it probably depends on the quality of your laminate whether or not you can use the steam mop on it (and how often) without problems. Although my laminate has a high wear rating, it is not sealed so it is super-sensitive to water. The seams swell and bubble really easily if any water is left on it for very long. When I first got the Powerfresh mop, I tried it on my laminate at the lowest steam setting. I ran the mop very quickly, not allowing it to steam in one place, nor did I rest the wet mop head on my laminate when I stopped mopping. I didn't notice any problems but frankly I would be hesitant to steam my particular laminate very often. (I primarily bought the mop for the tile and vinyl floors I also have in my house.) Another thing I tried on my laminate was to allow the mop pad to get wet (but not soaked) with steam and then I turned the steam completely off and just damp mopped the laminate without actually steaming it. It still cleaned my floor really well but hopefully eliminates the risk of steam being forced into the seams. This was far easier than damp mopping with a traditional mop and I feel much more comfortable using this method on a more regular basis with my laminate. I would say if you have laminate, use a steam mop with caution, especially if it is not sealed.
1426665
As long as you move fairly quickly and don't EVER let the steam mop sit in one spot too long then it's ok. If you have any stuck on grime that the mop won't clean after one pass then it's best to clean it by hand. The heat can become too intense for laminate flooring.
1426666
The PowerFresh is designed for use on hard floors such as ceramic tile, vinyl, laminate, marble, stone, and sealed hardwood floors. If your flooring does not fall under these categories it may be a good idea to check with your flooring manufacturer for their recommend cleaning method.
1426667
Is a very iffy proposition, for there is a good chance it might cause some discolorations. Steam can be tricky when not used on already tested surfaces. The part about clean and sanitize, it will do that with no problems. Best of lucks.
1426668
I would be scared to use on your floor, it puts steam tand would probably ruin the floor.
1426669
This steam mop, on the lowest setting, caused permanent damage to our laminate flooring. Use with caution.
1426670
I also have laminate floors, and it works great. I've been using it for a few months now and no ill effects, just clean floors.
918334
I tried it on my floors (solid wood Bamboo flooring). It was ok, I will probably try again in the future because I wasn't incredibly impressed and I want to see if maybe I can figure out some sort of trick to make it work better. It is safe for the wood flooring though. It will clean them but I didn't notice that it brought my wood surfaces "back to life" like the ad claims.
1914324
Used it on my hardwood. It didn't hurt it, but it didn't clean it any better than Zep.
1611853
I use this product in my Hoover floormate so I clean all the floors at the same time so the answer is Yes. I would say It is not as aggressive on the tile as the wood since the PH level is different with the tile cleaner. I have both on hand so this is also not a problem on my end. It also leaves a pleasant smell after cleaning and with the machine it requires no rinse after use. I would not recommend as a simple mop and go.
1295596
I would try it without cleaner first, the steam will often be all the liquid you need to get the grime off. If you use a cleaner, I would suggest something organic like vinegar and water mixture or other cleaner that your floor surface recommends. It will not harm the steamer since you are using the pads that come with it.
303855
A STEAM CLEANER WILL WORK GREAT ON SEALED HARDWOOD FLOORS BUT I WOULDN'T USE IT IN YOUR CASE SINCE THE STEAM COULD WARP THE WOOD WHERE IT IS NO LONGER SEALED. YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN YOU USE A STEAMER ON SEALED HARDWOOD SINCE SOME MODELS CAN PRODUCE A WET STEAM WHICH WILL TAKE TOO LONG TO EVAPORATE. ALSO, BE SURE TO USE DISTILLED WATER ON THE HARDWOOD FLOORS SO YOU WON'T LEAVE WHITE MINERAL STREAKS ON THE FLOORS.
1016023
No it doesn't stain or damage wood floors. We have them throughout our home. It will leave a residue. It is pet and human friendly. Don't wash the residue off or your defeating the purpose. It is strong when you spray so make sure you wear a inexpensive mask or scarf. We have asthma. It bothered us a bit at first but then it went away.
1097805
I have wood and tile ..... honestly don't think it would damage floors it is lightweight and usually what goes in it is too...just bulky
1583855
Not at all. I use it on my hardwood and on my porcelain ceramic tile floors. If your floors are sealed, I would not worry. Mine are & I have been using pine sol or Lysol for 5 years with no probem. The pad is so easy to attach, you just throw it on the floor & press down, it velcros to it
2180477
I do not know. I have wood laminate floors and the Oreck does not harm them at all.
127016
I use either plain water, water and vinegar with a drop of dish detergent, or water and hydrogen peroxide. I don't use floor cleaners that require a rinse.
2021532
Gene sounds knowledgeable here- all I can say is that the bottle says "For Use ON: vinyl baseboard, vinyl floors, solid vinyl upholstery, vinyl tops..."among others. It only says "damages may occur to worn vinyl floors." I agree- try goo-gone first (or even orange essential oil has worked for me and less toxic). This stuff is potent.
978588
Not sure on' real wood' floors ...I have Pergo....Sprayed on and wiped off right awayAfter REPEATED use I it worked a little.....but NO MIRACLE!!! I
1391975
Yes, I have prefinished hardwood floors in the entry way of my home and I use the steamer on them with no problem. I was weary at first because of the finish and glue but it hasn't affected either.
1174393
I've used vinegar and water to clean tile and had no problems with machine. Not used on wood floors.
1126697
I would not use this product on wood floors. Real soap is alkaline and would likely damage the finish. Do a search for natural floor cleaner. They are all based on vinegar (acidic) or alcohol (neutral).
2175963
Sorry, I don't. If you're thinking of the disinfecting properties, I follow the instructions to use shorter, slightly slower strokes on tile. (I wouldn't do that on wood.) I have two indoor/outdoor dogs and though I'm concerned about disinfecting, I wouldn't rely totally on a steam mop to do the job. Mine does a good job cleaning, but I also occasionally use a disinfecting spray/cleaner on tile. (I don't have young children to worry about the wood floors.) Hope this helps.