Laminate floors are relatively easy to care for and hard to damage, but they do need proper maintenance to keep their beauty and reliability as long as possible. Here's how to maintain your laminate floor properly.

1. Always read the warranty and care instructions for your flooring. Keep and follow the instructions and refer to them when needed.

2. Ask your flooring professional about post-installation care. Depending on the flooring brand, you may not be able to mop a newly installed floor for a fixed period of hours, or he or she may have other tips relative to your particular climate.

3. Sweep, then damp-mop laminate floors. Don't mop an unswept floor as sharp debris such as sand may eventually cause light scratches. Don't wet-mop a laminate floor because water could puddle behind baseboards and seep under your floor and damage it or the sub-floor. Using a vacuum cleaner instead of sweeping is OK if it has a soft bristle attachment. Do not use a beater bar vacuum on laminate flooring.

4. Do not apply wax or acrylic floor finishes or other products that produce build-up.

5. Put protective easy-glide buttons on the feet of furniture.

6. Place doormats or non-slip throw rugs at doorways that lead directly outdoors or to the garage. These help trap grit that could gradually cause light scratching on a laminate floor finish.

7. Use a dolly when moving a heavy appliance or large piece of furniture across a laminate floor. Sand and grit caught under an appliance or furniture foot that you're sliding across the floor could cause damage. Be sure the dolly has clean wheels before using.

8. Use the stain-removal products recommended by the flooring manufacturer. Mineral spirits for tar and grease and acetone for fingernail polish and cigarette burns are typical suggestions in product literature, but always consult the manufacturers recommendations.

9. Use common-sense to protect the floor when working with sharp or heavy objects. For example, put down a carpet scrap or layers of thick corrogated cardboard to protect the floor when installing a new lighting fixture. Dropping a drill or claw hammer could cause damage.

10. Inspect your dishwasher and refrigerator periodically for water leaks. A constant water leak will eventually damage your laminate or sub-floor.