If you’ve had the unfortunate task of removing glue or gum from a laminate floor, you’ll know just how difficult it is without the help of specialised cleaners.
When it comes to removing adhesives in particular, many people go straight to Goo Gone. But can you use Goo Gone on laminate floors without damaging them?
The short answer is yes, as long as you follow the bottle’s instructions and complete a patch test beforehand. Goo Gone is a great cleaner for most hard surfaces, including laminate flooring!
Keep reading to find out more about how Goo Gone works and how to use it on laminate flooring.
What is Goo Gone?
To understand whether Goo Gone is safe to use on your laminate floors, let’s take a look at what it actually is.
Goo Gone refers to a wide range of products from the company of the same name, all designed to help clean tricky substances from various surfaces. If you’re reading this article, you’re most likely wondering about the original Goo Gone which claims to be a goo and adhesive remover.
But what’s actually in Goo Gone? Whilst there is no clear ingredients list on the bottle, the clue is in their ‘Citrus Power’ icon. That’s right, Goo Gone have harnessed the power of simple oranges and lemons and boosted their natural cleaning properties to remove various adhesives.
Citrus concentrates naturally contain enzymes that can attack sticky substances and break down grease. As an added bonus, they leave behind a pleasant citrusy aroma as opposed to the chemical smell you’ll be familiar with if you’ve tried other adhesive removers.
Can you use Goo Gone on laminate floors?
So, now we know what Goo Gone is, is it safe to use on laminate floors?
To put it simply – yes! Goo Gone is a surface-safe formula that does not damage laminate flooring as long as it is used correctly. Whilst the Goo Gone website does not specifically list laminated flooring as a safe surface to use the product on, it does list the materials that are commonly used to create laminate flooring.
It should also be pointed out that Goo Gone does not list laminate flooring on their surfaces to avoid, adding further confirmation that it is safe to use.
There are a few reasons why Goo Gone is a preferred adhesive remover amongst many people with laminate flooring:
- It is cheap and readily available: Goo Gone has the advantage of being a cost-effective cleaner that can be found in both DIY shops, large retailers (Walmart), and online (Amazon). Only a small amount is needed so your purchase is bound to last a long time!
- It is easy to use: Goo Gone is one of the easier to use cleaning products on the market. Keep reading for our handy guide on how to use it on laminate flooring.
- It works on several adhesives: Goo Gone is not a one-trick pony! When used correctly, it can quickly remove a range of substances from adhesives and glue to stickers, crayons, and gum. Whether you’re a DIY fanatic or a family with children that like to make a mess, Goo Gone will help you keep your floors clean.
- It smells great: Those of you who have used rubbing alcohol to remove adhesives in the past will know how much an impact smell has on your motivation to clean. Luckily, Goo Gone leaves behind a fresh citrus aroma that will leave you wanting to clean your entire house.
Also read: How to make laminate floors less slippery.
How to use Goo Gone on laminate floors
So, how do you use Goo Gone on laminate floors? Are the steps any different to those shown on the bottle?
Thankfully, Goo Gone is incredibly easy to use. Before you get started, we always recommend that you test Goo Gone on an inconspicuous area to be 100% certain that your laminate floors won’t be damaged. To do this, follow the same instruction below on a small area of your flooring that can’t easily be seen. This could be in the corner of a room, behind a cabinet, or under a rug that’s unlikely to move.
Once you’ve completed your pre-test, follow the instructions below to remove even the toughest of adhesives in no time:
- Carefully apply Goo Gone to the adhesive, making sure to entirely coat it but not overly saturate it or the surrounding area. You can either pour Goo Gone directly onto the adhesive, or pour it onto a rag and dab the adhesive liberally.
- Leave the Goo Gone to sit for a few minutes. The tougher the adhesive, the longer it will need to work. Do not let it sit for longer than 10 minutes.
- Use a cloth soaked in hot soapy water to wipe away the adhesive and the remaining Goo Gone. Make sure that the Goo Gone is completely removed from the surface.
- Remove excess water from the area with a dry cloth or towel.
If you have sensitive skin, make sure to wear gloves to prevent irritation. Always keep Goo Gone out of reach of children and pets – leave the cleaning to the adults!
Alternatives to using Goo Gone on laminate floors
Whilst Goo Gone is usually a great cleaner for removing adhesives from laminate flooring, sometimes the initial test patch has poor results.
In very rare cases, Goo Gone may negatively affect laminate flooring by taking the shine off. This is usually because of the materials the laminate flooring has been made with and the way it has been treated. This is why it is so important to do a test patch before you use it on an obvious area!
If this happens to you, you will be left looking for an alternative adhesive cleaner. Look no further though, ‘Scraperfect’ is an ideal alternative.
Scraperfect is a gentler adhesive remover that is equally loved amongst laminate floor owners. Whilst it doesn’t quite pack the punch of Goo Gone, it still proves to be very useful.
What makes Scraperfect particularly appealing is that it is non-toxic, non-hazardous, biodegradable and better for the planet. Not only that, but it comes in a handy spray bottle making it easy to apply to the affected area.
If Goo Gone is not suitable for your particular laminate flooring, then Scraperfect’s ‘Best Cleaner Ever’ is a great alternative.
Final Thoughts
So, Goo Gone is suitable to use on laminate flooring, just be sure to follow the instructions on the bottle and complete a pre-test beforehand.