We'll show you how to get tough on plastic laminate stains. Using the right cleaner and having some patience will make even the most stubborn stains go away. Just follow our advice and you'll get rid of those ugly stains for good. We'll show you how to get tough on plastic laminate stains. By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine You might also like: Soak stains with baking soda Stubborn stains on countertops can be frustrating, but they don't have to be permanent. Standard household spray cleaners will remove most of them. Check the label and make sure any product you use is recommended for laminate countertops. The secret to success with these products is patience; let the cleaner work for five minutes or so before you wipe off the countertop. A plastic brush is helpful on stubborn spots. If a standard cleaner won't do the job, try baking soda. Paste made from baking soda and a little water often removes stains left by fruit juices and other liquids (Photo 1).

Baking soda is slightly abrasive and can leave fine scratches, so don't scrub. Just let the paste work for one to two hours and then wipe it off gently. Don't let any type of cleaner or solvent pool over seams in the laminate or along the edges. It can seep under the laminate, weaken the adhesive and damage the particleboard substrate. Gentle solvents like paint thinner, or harsher solvents like denatured alcohol, acetone and nail polish removers, often work on the toughest stains, including ink (Photo 2). These solvents are flammable and give off nasty fumes, so the best way to use them is to apply a small amount to a soft rag or cotton ball. Most solvents won't harm or discolor plastic laminate, but play it safe and test them on an inconspicuous spot first. Don't clean laminate with abrasives like steel wool, scouring pads or scouring powder. They may remove stains, but they may also leave micro-scratches in the surface, making future stains more likely. There's no doubt that bleach is a great stain remover.

Some laminate manufacturers suggest using it undiluted on stains, while others warn against using any product that contains bleach. Since you may not know what brand of laminate you have, test bleach before using it. Wipe a little on an inconspicuous spot and let it dry. Check the spot for discoloration before you use bleach on a stain. The best way to prevent stains is to wipe up messes immediately; the longer something sits, the more likely it is to leave a stain. A coating of countertop polish can also help (Photo 3). Coating products usually aren't necessary on newer laminate. But years of wear leave the surface more porous and stain-prone; that's when these protective coatings can make a big difference. One such product, Countertop Magic, is available home centers and hardware stores. Any coating product will wear off and should be reapplied every few weeks. Laminate Flooring in the Kitchen How to Install Snap-Together Laminate Flooring Laminate Flooring for Basements

How to Install Underlayment and Laminate Flooring How to Install Laminate Flooringbest steam vacuum mop Why You Should Choose Laminateclean fan toshiba satellite laptop Laminate is a great choice if you’re looking for a hardwearing floor that offers a natural wood effect at an affordable price. best way to clean dog urine from leather couchPerfect for busy family lives, our laminate floors are available in a range of designs and colours to match your home and décor.easy way to clean vinyl mini blinds Our Engineered Wood Flooring offers the best of both worlds, combining resilience and durability with aesthetic appeal. best way to clean grease off oven hood

Each multi-layered board is solidly constructed and topped with real wood for a genuinely natural finish.*Also known as Real Wood Top Layerbest vacuum cleaner for tiled floors uk Tile Effect Laminate Flooring Colour Matched Threshold Bars Flooring Fitting Tools & Maintenance Flooring Adhesives & Sealants Hard-wearing non-slip doormats to keep the mud and moisture off your floors. Choose from a range of attractive designs to suit your home. Carpet & Cork Tiles A well-installed laminate floor will provide a flat, flush, smooth surface in your home. Unfortunately, something like an unsightly adhesive spill, even a small amount, can be enough to ruin the look of your beautiful laminate flooring. Thankfully, even if the glue has dried, with a little effort, these methods will clean away the adhesive without damaging your floors. 1. Nail Polish Remover

If there are only tiny spots of glue on your laminate floor, this can be a good quick fix. Dab a small amount of nail polish remover on a cloth and gently rub at the adhesive. The liquid and the rubbing will soften the adhesive and allow it to come off easily. Warning: Using an acetone-based nail polish remover will be even tougher on adhesives, but be aware that such a solvent will also be accompanied by heavy fumes. 2. Heavy Solvents or Thinners Removing large areas of glue takes something more aggressive. Mineral spirits, paint thinners, or even lighter fluids are all capable of removing dried adhesives. Soak a clean cloth in the liquid and spread it on the adhesive. Leave for several minutes to allow the liquid to soak into the glue. Remove the cloth and scrape away the adhesive using a paint scraper. At this point, the chemicals have done most of the work, so you only need to lightly scrape your surface. Being too forceful with the paint scraper can damage the laminate underneath the adhesive.

Repeat this procedure a number of times if necessary. Remember that you the scraping part of the process should be a gentle one. If you find yourself needing to scrape hard, it’s time to reapply more solvent and wait. Once all the adhesive has been removed, wipe the area with a clean, dry cloth to remove the last of the solvent. Warning: All of these substances give off strong fumes and are flammable. Keep your room well-ventilated and avoid the presence of any open flames when using any of these to remove glue. 3. Iron and Cloth What makes the previous two methods so effective is that they both actually soften the glue and make it more manageable instead of simply trying to lift or eradicate it outright. Placing a damp cloth over the adhesive and applying a hot iron to the top of the cloth is another way to soften glue using steam. You will still need to physically wipe or scrape the area to remove it all, but the heat from the iron is a fast option that doesn’t involve harsh chemicals.

Warning: If you are concerned about your laminate flooring standing up to the heat of your iron, even with the damp cloth in between, do not try this method. The other options will work, they’ll just take a little longer. If the adhesive you’re attempting to clear is super glue specifically, the easiest way to remove it is using a single-sided razor blade. Slide the blade between the glue and the floor and gently remove as much of the glue as possible. Once the remaining amount has been reduced to a small residue, use nail polish remover as instructed to get everything off. Sometimes the reason that glue accidentally gets onto your surfaces is because it’s carpet glue that you’re intentionally using for your carpeted areas. Carpet glue is unique and older carpet adhesives can be particularly tricky to remove from laminate floors. The simplest solution is to put dry ice on the carpet glue. Put it on a metal tray on top of the glue and leave for a few minutes.