Can You Vacuum Laminate Floors (And How To)

When looking for a durable, versatile, and affordable flooring option, laminate flooring always comes to mind. It can mimic materials such as hardwood, stone, and tile, and it offers a clean and modern appearance. For families and pet parents, laminate floors are a popular choice due to their scratch-resistant wear layer.

However, while laminate holds up well to everyday use, the surface can still dull or scuff if debris is left to accumulate and gets dragged across it. Moreover, fine particles tend to hide in floor seams. To prolong its lifespan, discover whether you can vacuum laminate floors and the right way to do so without causing damage.

Can You Vacuum Laminate Floors?

Yes, you can vacuum laminate floors. Vacuuming is one of the most effective ways to remove pet dander, dust, and allergens that can accumulate on the surface, as long as the correct vacuum settings are applied. Regular vacuuming also helps prevent dirt from scratching the surface, and a robot vacuum and mop is a great choice for automatically doing so.

Read more: Can you vacuum hardwood floors?

Here are common challenges when vacuuming laminate floors:

• Surface scratching from hard debris: Small particles like dust, sand, or pet litter may not seem harmful, but when dragged during vacuuming, they can create micro-scratches on the wear layer. Over time, these scratches make the floor look dull.
• Debris trapped in floor seams: Laminate planks have seams where crumbs and fine dirt can settle. Sweeping may push debris deeper into these seams, while vacuuming is more effective at lifting trapped particles.
• Scattering lightweight dust: Between sweeping and vacuuming laminate floors, sweeping can spread dust around; in comparison, a robot vacuum captures dust directly.
• Heavy vacuums causing wear: Comparing traditional and robot vacuums, heavy upright models can place more pressure on laminate floors, potentially causing minor dents or leaving track marks. In contrast, robot vacuums are slimmer and generally more lightweight.
• Spills and stains: Spills such as juice or pet accidents can seep into the seams of laminate planks and cause swelling or discolouration. However, attempting to vacuum water can damage the vacuum and push moisture deeper into the flooring.

How to Vacuum Laminate Floors?

To vacuum laminate floors safely, select the right attachments, such as a soft-bristle brush roller, and adjust the suction settings. Prepare the floor by clearing large debris, then vacuum in sections along the direction of the planks. Stick to a regular cleaning schedule, maintain your vacuum, and consider a robot vacuum and mop for laminate floors to make upkeep easier.


 

Change to the Right Attachments

Laminate floors have a protective wear layer that can dull if scrubbed by stiff or rotating bristles, such as a beater bar. Hence, always use brushes with soft-bristle designs to capture dust on laminate floors.

DEEBOT robot vacuums use soft brushes suitable for delicate surfaces, minimising the chance of micro-scratches. Advanced models like DEEBOT X11 OmniCyclone are also equipped with ZeroTangle 3.0 design, featuring a Triple-V structure and spiral-comb integration on the main brush, along with a golden spiral side brush design to help reduce removing hair wrapping on roller brushes.

Read more: Can you vacuum jute rugs?

Prepare the Floor

Before vacuuming, pick up large debris such as leaves, gravel, cereal pieces, or pet toys that could be dragged during cleaning. Dragging sharp or hard objects may scratch the laminate coating.

To reduce accidental scuffs while maximising coverage, DEEBOT X11 OmniCyclone features AIVI 3D 3.0 obstacle avoidance, which accurately detects and navigates around items on the floor.

Vacuum in Sections

Those who prefer to vacuum by themselves can divide the space into sections to allow full coverage and vacuum along the plank direction rather than in circular motions, which may push dirt into seams.

With precise mapping and edge-cleaning technology like TruEdge 3.0, DEEBOT robot vacuums clean efficiently along corners, walls, and under furniture, ensuring dust isn’t left behind.

Read more: Can you vacuum wool rugs?

Adjust Suction Across Surfaces

Laminate floors generally need moderate suction: too high and grit may scatter, too low and dust remains. If your robot vacuum supports suction control, lower it for laminate.

For example, DEEBOT X11 OmniCyclone allows you to adjust suction up to 19,500Pa¹ via the ECOVACS HOME App.

Maintain Your Vacuum

When the dustbin is full or the filter is clogged, the machine cannot effectively lift fine dust and grit. To clean the robot vacuum, empty the dustbin regularly and keep filters clean. Wipe sensors, brushes, and the body with a soft cloth.

To reduce maintenance, choose a self-cleaning robot vacuum like DEEBOT with an OMNI station that auto-empties after each session. The ECOVACS HOME app also sends filter replacement alerts.

Regular Cleaning Schedule

Typically, a family can vacuum laminate floors every 2 to 4 days, or more frequently if you have pets or during pollen season. Define high-traffic areas such as living rooms, hallways, kitchens, and playrooms and clean them more often.

Through the ECOVACS HOME App, you can schedule cleaning sessions that fit your routine, even when you’re not home.

Read more: Can you vacuum tile?

Use a Robot Vacuum for Laminate Floors

If you’re not sure how to clean laminate floors, a robot vacuum can simplify daily maintenance by handling crumbs, fine dust, and debris automatically.

To help you vacuum properly, DEEBOT robot vacuums provide adjustable suction, smart navigation, and remote control via the ECOVACS HOME App. Models with mopping functions, such as OZMO ROLLER 2.0 in DEEBOT X11 OmniCyclone, scrub and rinse at 200 rotations per minute, helping address spills and marks while vacuuming laminate planks.

FAQ

Disclaimer(s):

1. 19,500Pa: This data comes from ECOVACS laboratory. The suction power of DEEBOT X11 OmniCyclone can reach 19,500Pa.