Laminate Care & Maintenance Guide

Low-Maintenance Doesn't Mean Zero-Maintenance

Laminate is one of the easiest surfaces to live with — it doesn't need sealing, oiling or special polish the way natural stone or wood veneer does. But "easy to clean" and "impossible to damage" aren't the same thing, and most laminate wear people blame on the material is actually down to the wrong cleaning method or a habit (cutting directly on the surface, setting hot pans down) that would damage almost any finish over time.

This applies across brands — Greenlam, Merino, Propperly or any other laminate we stock. The decorative sheet itself is built the same way regardless of manufacturer; what changes the care routine is the finish, not the brand.

Daily Cleaning

• Damp cloth or sponge is genuinely all you need for everyday dust and light grime.
• For actual dirt, a mild soap or household detergent on the damp cloth handles it — no need for anything specialised.

Stubborn Stains

• Coffee, tea and similar stains usually lift with a mild household cleaner or detergent — give it a minute to work before wiping.
• If a stain won't budge, make a paste of baking soda and water and work it in with a soft-bristled brush. Don't scrub hard or apply heavy pressure — on a gloss or high-gloss finish especially, aggressive scrubbing can dull the shine permanently rather than lift the stain.

What Actually Damages a Laminate Surface

• Harsh or corrosive chemicals — oven and drain cleaners are the two most common culprits. They're alkaline/acidic enough to etch and discolor the decorative layer. If anything like this spills, wipe it up immediately, rinse, and dry the surface.
• Direct heat — hot pans, kettles or heat-generating appliances set directly on laminate risk breaking down the bond between the laminate and the substrate underneath over repeated exposure. A trivet or insulated pad is the cheap fix.
• Cutting directly on the surface — knives and other sharp objects will score a laminate top the same way they would any finished surface. Always use a cutting board.
• Dropped or heavy objects — high-pressure decorative laminates handle impact well for a surface material, but they aren't unbreakable. A dropped hammer or heavy object can still chip or crack the sheet.

One Note on Finish

Gloss and high-gloss finishes show scratches, water spots and cleaning marks more readily than matte or textured finishes — that's a property of the finish reflecting light, not a sign the surface is lower quality. If you're specifying a high-touch surface (a kitchen counter, a frequently-used tabletop), a matte or textured finish will simply show less day-to-day wear between cleans. See our guide to Merino's finish range for how finish choice affects this in practice.

Questions about a specific shade's care, or whether a stain has damaged the surface beyond a home fix? Get in touch and we'll help you figure out next steps.