Dear Bob and Betsy,
My Kirby vacuum cleaner has a buffer attachment. Can I use it on my laminate floor to remove scuff marks?
-Don
Dear Don,
We’re really glad that you asked, because you should not use a buffer attachment on a laminate flooring ever. As much as you may hate scuff marks on your laminate flooring, buffing them off will only cause you more headache and frustration. But laminate flooring has a wear layer that can hold up to buffering, right? We have compiled more information for you to help to decide what’s best for you. Cheers! Bob & Betsy
What Happens When You Buffer A Floor
Put simply, buffering is a light form of sanding. Usually you use a special buffer cleaner on the floor and you buff the floor to achieve a nice even shine. What the buffer tool is actually doing is removing any slight imperfections, creating a smooth and polished surface. The buffer pad is made of an abrasive material that works to remove these imperfections. If you’ve read an of our other articles, abrasive surfaces and laminate flooring do not mix.
Laminate flooring is made of several layers: A) The Wear Layer B) The Decorative Layer C) The Stabilizing Layer D) The Backing Layer and an optional E) Underlayment Layer. Laminate flooring is not set up like solid hardwood, where it is all one, solid product. Buffering a laminate flooring could cause you to completely remove the wear layer, strip the decorative layer, and expose the stabilizing layer. Not a pretty picture. You would have to remove the damaged laminate flooring and replace the planks. Using a buffer attachment to remove something like scuff marks seems like a little too much power for such a small mar on your flooring now, right?
How To Remove Scuff Marks From Laminate Floor
Removing scuff marks from laminate flooring is actually extremely simple. All you need is acetone and a cloth. That’s it! Simply wet the cloth or paper towel with the acetone and lightly scrub the surface. Repeat until the scuff mark comes up! It’s really that simple! Yeah, it requires you to get on your hands and knees and do a little scrubbing, but it’s better than having to replace laminate flooring after a buffing accident!
Do you have any questions on what tools are ok and not ok to use on your laminate flooring? Write them in the comments below! We will be happy to help you!
10 comments
I used Bona and Zep floor laminate restorer on my floors. However, my cats claws have scratched the coating and I am not sure what to do now. I saw that you said not to use a buffer. Could a buffer be used to remove the coating? I can’t use a liquid stripper because the product has to sit on the laminate in order to remove the coating. HELP
Hi there, Jackie! We would recommend purchasing a laminate repair kit to touch up any noticeable spots from your cats. The kits are pretty affordable and you will find all sorts of instructions and tutorials on how to use them online. We would strongly suggest to not use a buffer on your flooring, this will lead to a huge project with unpredictable results.
I used swifter wet jet on my core tech vining plank flooring. Accidentally used the rougher pad that was in the kit. Did not realize there was a difference. Couple questions
1: did I damage the top of my floor 🙁 ?
2:is there anything I can do to remedy it?
Thank you
Dawn
Dawn – are you able to tell if there is any peeling or if it is discolored in that spot. It should be fine unless you used something like steel wool. There is going to be nothing other than replacing if it is ruined.
My husband had to use walker temporarily and it has left rubbery looking white marks on my laminate floors. Any solutions?
Hi Deborah, thanks for reaching out. Most scuff marks can be removed with a cloth and some acetone. Simply wet the cloth or paper towel with the acetone and lightly scrub the surface until the scuff mark is gone. Hope this helps!
We had pergo installed last week. This week the painters came to refinish our kitchen. They used oil based enamel. Well overspray occurred and there is a layer on top of our new laminate!!! Help!!!
Hi Monicque, thanks for your question. A rule of thumb is to always install flooring last. Painting or doing anything wet can cause humidity in the air, and not to mention damage the look of the floors with spills. There is a few options you can try to remove it. Mix a solution of 1 parts vinegar, 1 parts dish soap and 2 parts water. Another option is Acetone. The third is Windex. You can test these in small areas and see which one seems to work best!
Laminate floor in kitchen is slightly damaged from water. Can’t afford to replace it right now. Can I use polyurethane coating to protect it from further damage? Eventually, I’d like to replace it with tile.
Why do people put laminate flooring in an area prone to moisture anyhow????
Thanks
Karen
Hi Karen, thanks for the question! We’re sorry to hear about your water damage. This is one thing we do warn customers about when putting laminate in the kitchen. Usually we recommend getting an extra box of flooring for instances like this, and sealing the joints with a wood glue. It is not recommended to use a polyurethane on top of the laminate. The laminate’s top coating will not allow the urethane to adhere properly. Do you have any extra planks? You may be able to replace the damaged ones by clicking them out, and re-installing new ones. You can check out this article that talks about repairing your floors: https://www.bestlaminate.com/help/repairing-laminate-floors-buckling-scratching-and-replacing/. Hope this helps!