Learn what the best way to clean and deodorize vinyl flooring is. Find out How to Make Vinyl Floors Shine again quickly. Over the years, vinyl flooring has become one of the most popular choices for many homeowners.
This type of flooring is considered extremely durable and versatile, which makes it so well-liked. It can be used in any room of your home, including kitchens, bathrooms, basements, or garages. It can also be applied to offices or warehouses too.
Vinyl floors are easy to clean; thus, making them perfect for any busy household. The following are some simple steps that you should follow when cleaning your vinyl floors:
Note: We have organized a list of Best Mops for vinyl floors. Make sure to visit this page.
- Sweep at least once a day with a broom to remove dirt and debris from your floors; avoid using abrasive products as they will scratch the surface easily; if you use an upright vacuum, make sure it has a gentle setting and never use power scrub brushes on your floors.
- Every week, apply a coat of vinyl floor conditioner with a microfiber mop or sponge mop. We recommend our product Vinyl Floor Magic for this step as it will provide extra protection to the floor from dirt accumulation and leaves behind a fresh scent.
- Sweep again thoroughly after 3 hours to remove any excess conditioner from the flooring surface; avoid using a vacuum as the fine particles may cause scratches on your floors, so always choose a broom instead.
If you see your tiles are becoming dull, try using a dry cloth to buff them out for instant shine restoration.
As simple as these steps may seem, many people still ask themselves, What Is the Best Way to Clean and Deodorize Vinyl Flooring, and Why do Your Vinyl Floors Become Dull?
Along with the different methods of cleaning vinyl floors, several solutions can be used in combination to get rid of stubborn stains and restore their original color.
If you are determined to clean your flooring on your own – take note: all kinds of cleaners should never be used on laminate or solid vinyl floor covering (no matter what the manufacturer says).
These products use fillers like calcium carbonate, which can ruin the look and feel of these types of flooring. This is why we recommend using only cleaners intended for vinyl floors; they do not contain abrasives or harsh chemicals that can damage them.
The most popular ones on the market include Bona, 3M, and Krud Kutter.
Remember always to read the instructions on the label of your selected product, as you may need more than one application or special treatment for stains. You might also consider using some vinegar to help clean tougher spots on your flooring.
Simply mix it with some warm water (1/4 cup of each) and use a mop to apply this solution over the stain on your vinyl flooring. Also, don’t forget to mop these areas on both sides – top first, then bottom – as dirt tends to accumulate at floor level.
Moisturizing the area is also important to maintain that glossy look that makes vinyl floors desirable in kitchens and bathrooms across America. After all, this helps keep the flooring intact and looking good for a longer period.
By using these tips, you will be able to maintain your vinyl flooring in tip-top shape while keeping it residue-free and, more importantly – clean. Now that you know How To Clean Vinyl Floors, bookmark this page on your internet browser – you’ll definitely want to refer back to it next time around!
Tips for Keeping Vinyl Floors Shine
Your kitchen and bathroom vinyl floors may not look as good as they did when first installed. They can lose their shine and become dull and dirty looking even after you’ve tried to clean them.
It’s easy to restore the shiny finish and keep it that way with a little pre-planning and effort on your part. Here are some tips for keeping your vinyl floors looking like new: Keep the Floors Clean – Dirt, grit, dust, spills, stains; all those things can dull the appearance of your flooring over time.
Because vinyl is porous, dirt will easily adhere to its surface if it isn’t cleaned regularly using a quality vacuum cleaner or sweeper meant specifically hard surface floors.
- Use Mats:
Mats at doorways will help catch dirt and grit before it gets on the floor. Please make sure they are large enough that you can sweep or vacuum up under them frequently.
Try to avoid having any rug, carpet, or mats in high traffic areas because these items will trap moisture over time which may cause your vinyl floors to buckle.
- Removing Spills:
Allowing spills to sit on the floor for an extended period can damage your flooring, so clean up spills immediately using a mild soap solution applied with a mop or sponge.
Alternatively, you can use a commercial spot remover to clean up the spill. Do not use wax, polish, or furniture cleaners because they will leave a film on your floor that will look dull and unattractive.
- Avoid Using Furniture Polish
Excessive amounts of furniture polish on vinyl floors can lead to surface damage, so avoid polishing unless absolutely necessary. In most cases, if you’re trying to get rid of scuff marks or other small stains, a non-oily liquid dishwashing detergent applied with a soft cloth will remove it without leaving any residue behind.
- Keep Areas Dry
Because vinyl is porous, it should be kept as dry as possible to help prevent moisture from being absorbed into the flooring over time. Be sure to dry up spills immediately and never use a wet mop or rag on your floor.
If parts of your floor are regularly wet, it may be time to re-caulk those areas during your next maintenance visit with a Professional.
- Replacing Light Bulbs
Be sure to replace light bulbs in fixtures over the vinyl flooring with low heat bulbs. High heat bulbs will cause the vinyl floors underneath them to warp or buckle because of trapped moisture or excessive heat buildup.
- Use Neutral Cleaners Only
Do not use furniture polish, waxes, soap scum removers, spot removers, citrus cleaners, ammonia-based cleaners, abrasive scouring powders or cleaners, or highly alkaline cleaners on your vinyl floors. These may damage the flooring over time. Do not wax your vinyl floor because it will attract dirt and dust to its surface, dulling it in the process.
- Professional Cleaning Will Keep Floors Looking their Best
Once a year, you should have a professional cleaning done by a company specializing in hard surface floor care. A service like this can do a thorough job of removing dirt and grit while protecting the finish on your floors with a sealant that repels future dirt and moisture buildup.
You should use one of these services before having any work done on your kitchen or bathroom, such as installing new countertops, sinks, tubs, etc. Doing so will help
- Picking up Pets hair:
If you have pets, be sure to frequently pick up pet hair using your vacuum cleaner or sweeper designed for hard surface floors.
- Cleaning method:
When possible, use quick cleaning methods like damp mopping with hot water.
FAQs About Making Vinyl Flooring Shine
Q: What is the best way to make my vinyl tiles look new again?
A: There are several steps mentioned above you can take when applying a protective coating to sealed vinyl floors to reduce the appearance of scratches and flooring damage.
Q: Can I use wax on vinyl floors?
A: Typically, experts advise against waxing vinyl flooring. This is because vinyl flooring doesn’t require wax to make it shine, and the wax may actually lessen the floors’ ability to protect against scratches or damage in comparison to applying another protective coating.
Q: Are stains more difficult to remove from vinyl than other kinds of flooring?
A: Vinyl tiles often don’t absorb stains as carpet does, and they can be cleaned with a mild cleaner. For example, hot water mixed with vinegar can effectively remove some kinds of stains from your vinyl tile flooring.
You should still try testing this on an inconspicuous area before making large swaths of your floor wet. As with any kind of cleaning method, you will want to test out how well this works for your own floors.
Conclusion
In this article, you have been introduced to some of the most common issues with vinyl flooring. In particular, we discussed some of the steps you can take as a homeowner to make sure your vinyl flooring is always in great shape and extends its lifespan for as long as possible.
We also provided a list of questions on how best to clean vinyl tiles and where different methods should be applied.
You now know how to keep up with proper maintenance and prevent any problems from arising on your own at home.
Now all you have to do is follow these simple guidelines so that your floors stay looking new for years!
If you have any other type of floor Than you might be interested in Best spray mops too.
For more information about maintaining clean vinyl floors check out our video How