Vinyl is one of the most affordable and durable flooring options available now, so it’s no surprise that many households use them for their flooring.
However, while it’s true that vinyl floors can last for a very long time, that doesn’t mean they aren’t prone to grime and stains. Just like any other floors out there, they’re prone to dust, debris, spilled drinks, and more.
In this guide, we’ll help you learn how to clean your vinyl floor without damaging it. We’ll even provide some care tips to make sure your beloved floor will last longer.
How often should you clean vinyl floors?
You should be sweeping or vacuuming your vinyl floor every day and mopping it at least every week.
However, this may be insufficient, depending on the amount of traffic the floor experiences, how often it is used, how it is used, the weather, and some other factors that may affect it.
What materials will you need?
Cleaning vinyl floors is not that complicated. You will also not need a lot of materials and tools to get your floor shining again.
Here are the materials you’ll need to clean vinyl floors:
- Warm water
- Vacuum or broom
- Microfiber cloth and a soft-bristle brush
- Mop and bucket
- Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
- Liquid dishwashing soap
- Baking soda
- Rubbing alcohol
- Baby oil
How to Clean Vinyl Floors
If you want to keep your vinyl floors in pristine condition, you will have to regularly sweep dust off of them, remove stains, and mop them.
Here’s how you can clean vinyl floors without ruining them:
1. Vacuum
Floors get dust and dirt easily, so make it a habit to vacuum your floor at least once a day. If you don’t have a vacuum, you can use a soft broom to sweep away dust and debris.
If you’ll be using a vacuum, make sure that you’re not using the beater bar setting, as this can cause scratches on your floor.
Doing this every day will help remove dirt before they completely settle in. It also prevents bacteria and germs from growing on your floor.
Go under every piece of furniture and every corner to thoroughly clean your vinyl planks.
2. Remove scuffs and stains
Sweeping and vacuuming the floor can only do so much. There are stains from spills that we can’t remove just by simply sweeping the floor with a broom.
Thankfully, there are a lot of ways you can remove these stains without damaging your beautiful vinyl floor.
It’s ideal to clean up a spill right away. Letting it stay on the floor longer will only make it harder for you to remove it, especially coffee and soft drinks.
To clean them, all you need is a microfiber cloth and some warm water. This should be enough to lift up any newly spilled stains.
However, if you were unable to clean it as soon as it was spilled, there are a bunch of ways you can do to remove it.
How to Remove Acidic Spills on Vinyl Floors
For acidic substances like soft drinks, fruit juice, wine, and ketchup, make a paste with baking soda and apply it on the spot. Use a soft towel to rub over the stain until everything is gone.
How to Remove Grease and Oil Stains on Vinyl Floors
For stains made of grease and oil-based products, mix apple cider vinegar with water and spray it on the floor. The acidic nature of apple cider can help break off the grease and dirt left on the floor.
If you don’t have apple cider, you can also mix white vinegar with baking soda and apply it to the stained part. After that, use a soft-bristled brush to remove the stains.
If both the apple cider and the white vinegar don’t remove the stain, add a few drops of dishwashing soap and that should do the work.
How to Remove Pain, Ink, and Crayons on Vinyl Floors
For stains made of paint, ink, and crayons, rubbing alcohol and a soft-bristle brush are all you need. Just spray alcohol on the stained part and gently scrub off the stain with your brush.
Don’t use steel wool, no matter how stubborn the stains are. This will only give your floors scratches.
3. Mop the floor
After scrubbing off all the stains and grime, mop the whole floor to deep clean it.
Mix a non-abrasive floor cleaner with warm water in a bucket. If you don’t have a commercial cleaner, you can make your own by mixing vinegar, water, and a few drops of dishwashing soap.
Dip your mop or microfiber cloth on the bucket to get started. Make sure to squeeze out as much water as possible from the mop before using it on the floor.
Vinyl floors are waterproof but soaking the floor can cause some water to go under the cracks and ruin the floor.
4. Dry
After mopping, make sure to dry the entire floor with a cloth. Not drying it after mopping may leave some streaks and watermarks, making the place look dirtier.
However, if wiping the entire floor with a cloth is too bothersome for you, you may leave it to air-dry. Just make sure to not walk over it until it’s completely dry.
How to Maintain Vinyl Floors
Vinyl floors are known to be very durable, lasting up to 25 years if taken care of properly. However, there are some things you have to remember if you want your floor to last that long.
We’ve listed some tips to help you maintain vinyl floors and keep them shining for a long time.
1. Regular Cleaning
Grimes, stains, and abrasions can wear down your vinyl floors as time goes by, so it’s important that you keep your floor clean.
Vacuuming and sweeping your floor every day can help remove most surface-level dirt and debris that can cause scratches on your floor.
In addition to this, avoid spilling food, drinks, and ink on the floor as constant scrubbing, even if you use soft-bristled brushes, can wear down your vinyl floor.
When you spill anything on the floor, clean it as soon as possible. Don’t wait for it to dry up as this can push you to use a brush.
2. Use felt pads for your furniture
Some furniture can be too heavy and may cause dents on the vinyl floor if left in the same place for a long time. Hence, we recommend attaching felt pads on chairs, tables, cabinets, and other heavy furniture.
Felt pads help prevent dents, even if you don’t move the furniture for a long time. They also help prevent scratches whenever the furniture is moved or dragged.
3. Avoid dragging furniture
To keep your floor in the best condition, do not drag heavy furniture around the house. This can cause scratches and dents on your floor.
If you really need to move a certain piece of furniture, it’s better to lift it up.
If it’s too heavy to lift, place a sheet of plywood on the path it’s supposed to take and push the furniture along the path.
4. Don’t use liquid wax on no-wax vinyl
Some vinyl floors are coated with a clear polyurethane that prevents wax from sticking properly. As such, if you use wax on these no-wax vinyl, you’ll just leave a huge mess instead of having a shiny floor.
If you really want to polish your vinyl floor and keep it shining, there are a lot of sealants available in the market.
You may also mix baby oil with the vinegar and water solution that you’ll use when you mop the floor.
5. Avoid too much moisture exposure
Exposing vinyl floors to too much moisture can cause warping. When the floor is soaked in water, it may seep through the floor and some parts may expand faster than others, causing the floor to warp or bend.
In addition to this, too much water may damage the glue sticking the vinyl panels or sheets to the floor.
There’s no fix for a warped vinyl floor other than replacing it, so avoid it by keeping your floor dry at all times.
6. Place mats on entrances
Placing mats on entrances allows you to minimize dirt and debris on your vinyl floors.
This tip is best applied in high-traffic areas like the living room, as more dirt can accumulate there. The mats will help remove debris that you got from outdoors, preventing them from touching your vinyl floor.
Just make sure that you’ll be using soft carpets or rugs. Avoid rubber mats, as they can cause discoloration.
7. Reduce sun exposure
Too much sun exposure can cause the colors of your vinyl floor to fade, effectively ruining its beauty.
We advise shutting the blinds and curtains when possible to reduce the direct sunlight hitting your beautiful floors.
In addition to discoloration, some of your vinyl planks may crack because of too much sun exposure and heat.
