Will Acetone Damage Laminate Floor? (Explained)

Acetone is a powerful tough stain remover, including paint, nail polish, oil films, dyes, flooring adhesives, etc. You can use it to work on any stain and all types of floors. It does not have the same strong odor as paint thinner or other chemicals used for the same purpose.

Since it works effectively on any stain and floors, will acetone damage laminate floors?

Yes, acetone is a highly corrosive solvent, making it dangerous to clean laminate flooring. Due to its corrosive chemicals, laminate sealants (plastic coatings that protect laminate flooring components) are damaged. Aside from being highly toxic and extremely flammable, it has a wide range of major and minor health effects.

It is, therefore, advisable to take some precautionary measures and use it sparingly as possible. But only when necessary after running out of options or if another solution fails to work.

Continue reading this article to find out more about the effects of using acetone on laminate flooring. In addition, we have listed the most effective and safest cleaning alternatives you can opt for instead of using acetone.

What is Acetone?

Acetone is a colorless and transparent liquid organic solvent that is highly flammable and can easily evaporate into the air. It is also known by other names, including propanone, 2-propanone, Beta-Ketoprofen, and Dimethyl ketone.

Acetone is naturally found in the human body, trees, plants, car exhaust, dumps, and smoke. It is mostly used to dissolve oil, paint, markers, nail polish, and adhesives. Hence, it is considered among the most effective cleaning products for removing tough stains on any floor.

Acetone – Uses and Applications 

You can use acetone to clean paint, oil, ink, and permanent marker marks on laminate floors. If necessary, you can rub the area with a moist cloth after sponging the area with acetone.

• Nail Polish: Use acetone and a clean paper towel to remove nail polish spills as soon as possible. Scrape the polish off with a shovel until there are no visible traces of nail polish left.
• Glue: To remove glue residue from your floor, immediately wipe it off with acetone. Then put vinegar and water in a bucket and scrub the floor with a shovel until all the glue is removed.
• Marks Left by Scuffs: Acetone is also useful in removing rubber marks left behind. Apply some acetone to a clean towel and rub the marks until they disappear.

Is Acetone Safe For Laminate Floors?

Acetone is not safe for laminate floors despite its guaranteed effectiveness in conquering any stain on laminate flooring. Acetone contains strong and harsh chemical ingredients that can break down/dissolve the laminate sealants.

As a result, it exposes the laminate flooring components to further damage which is also irreparable. This sealant protects against water, temperature, humidity, dirt, and debris.

Moreover, it shortens its lifespan, loses its shine and glossiness, and voids the product’s warranty.

Precautions to Take While Using Acetone

Aside from causing damage to laminate flooring, it is also toxic and can cause harmful health effects to humans. Therefore, if it is necessary to use it, make sure you do the following;

• To avoid throat irritation, wear a mask when inhaling its vapor.
• Put on goggles to protect your eyes, as they can cause eye irritation.
• Please don’t apply it near an open flame because it is a highly flammable solvent product.
• Wear gloves to prevent skin damage because it is corrosive.
• Make sure it is well-ventilated when using it. For that reason, open the doors and crack the windows before using them.

Due to these reasons, you should avoid acetone to conquer tough stains on laminate flooring. It will help you enhance its durability, validate the product’s warranty, and maintain its shiny look.

However, this is only possible if you take preventive cleaning measures and use friendly cleaning products.

What Cleaners Are Safe For Laminate Floors?

Look no further for the most effective and safest cleaning alternatives for your laminate flooring because we have prepared the list for you instead of wandering around.

In this list, we have also provided you with some homemade cleaning solutions you can use if you run out of budget. Besides, this homemade solution is the most suitable alternative that can help you immediately address/treat accidental spills when commercial cleaning products are not within reach.

Homemade Cleaning Solutions

White Vinegar, Rubbing Alcohol, Essential Oil, and Water

Mix a 1:1:1 (equal proportion) of white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and filtered water in a spray bottle, and then add 5 drops of any essential oil available.

Mix the ingredients thoroughly by shaking them. Once you are done, spray the mixture on the stain. Let it sit for some moment to weaken the stain, and then gently work on the stain with a soft toothbrush bristle until the stain disappears.

Use a damp lint-free cloth to rinse the spot, and immediately dry it with a dry cloth without lint.

However, if the stain is not that tough, you can apply white vinegar and water and make sure you mix them in equal proportions. Do not use white vinegar directly.

See Also: Is vinegar and water a good laminate floor cleaner?

Rubbing Alcohol 

Rubbing alcohol is also the strongest solvent that is both friendly and effective at cleaning tough stains on laminate flooring. It can work on laminate flooring without damaging its protective coating and losing its glossy look.

That’s because rubbing alcohol is neither acidic nor alkaline in pH, making it an ideal ingredient in your homemade cleaning solution. Please do not use paint thinner or nail polish remover because they contain harsh chemicals that can damage the laminate sealant.

If you want to work on laminate flooring with rubbing alcohol, follow the steps below:   

• Moisten a lint-free cloth with rubbing alcohol solvent. 
• Place the cloth on the stained surface and let it sit for about 5 minutes.  
• Wipe until the stain or discoloration disappears.

Ice

Ice is also effective when dealing with chewing gum and wax stains that have hardened the laminate flooring, including carpets. It is because it hardens and reduces both wax and chewing gum stickiness. Do not apply the ice cubes directly to the stain.

Please place them in the bags and then apply them on top of the stain until it stiffens the stains. Then, gently scrape the spot, careful not to scratch the floor.

Goo Gone

If you want to deal with adhesive or gooey stains on the floor, Goo Gone would be your best and safest alternative without damaging the floor and its finish. Furthermore, it comes with a safe surface cleaning procedure to facilitate seamless stain removal.

Must See: Can You Use Goo Gone on Laminate Flooring? (Explained)

Bona Tile And Laminate Floor Cleaner

Bona is purposely designed to clean both laminate and tile flooring. It doesn’t contain harmful chemicals, making it friendly for laminate floors. However, do not use Bona Wood Floor Cleaner because it is not meant for laminate floors.

Others

You can also use the following commercial cleaning products on laminate flooring for specific reasons. They include:

• ZEP 1 Gallon Hardwood And Laminate Floor Cleaner: Softening dirt and sticky residues.
• Rejuvenate All Floor Cleaners: For maintaining the shine and glossiness of your laminate floor.
• Better Life Naturally Dirt-Destroying Floor Cleaner: For all cleaning purposes. This product does not contain any VOCs, petroleum elements, or toxic surfactants.

FAQs: Will Acetone Damage Laminate floor?

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