Originally posted on https://aafloors.ca/vinyl-flooring-maintainance-9-clever-hacks-to-know/
If you are looking for durable but affordable flooring, vinyl is a popular choice to consider. The resilient material is easy to maintain and these days, it is available in many varieties and textures. Luxury vinyl planks have a superior quality and can last for years if it is maintained well. While occasional sweeping and mopping with cleaners designed for vinyl can maintain its lustre, deep cleaning from time to time is also necessary.
We have shared some maintenance tips and ways to prevent any lasting damage to your vinyl flooring so that you get the maximum utility out of it.
Tips To Keep Vinyl Flooring Clean
- Using doormats and rugs
The areas around the doorway tend to get the dirtiest. Using a doormat and area rugs around the house ensure minimum foot marks and less dirt accumulation. The tracked-in dirt and grit may be invisible, but over the time can corrode the top layer of the flooring. Also, you will need to sweep the floor more frequently and longer. Moreover, the grit from outdoors can chemically react with the flooring and lead to yellowing.
- Don’t skip routine cleaning
Irrespective of the flooring type, a cleaning routine must be maintained. For vinyl, regular vacuuming and sweeping are essential. Choose a high-quality vacuum and sweeper that is designed for daily use on vinyl. If you have pets in the house and stray pet hairs is an issue, consider choosing a vacuum that is designed for dealing with it. Avoid skipping the routine cleaning to prevent dust accumulation as it is damaging to the floors over time.
- Avoid drenching vinyl
While vinyl is significantly resistant to water and moisture, it can still get damaged from underneath when water seeps in through the seams and fissures. Drenching the flooring while mopping is the primary reason behind water damage and should be avoided. Use a damp mop instead and a vinyl cleaner. Drenched vinyl flooring will eventually curl at the corners as the glue underneath gets loose.
If you use soap water for cleaning the floor at times, it should be done using moderately and one must ensure the soap is absolutely washed away so that soap scum does not leave behind an unsightly and sticky film on the floor.
- Use the right mop
Choosing the ideal mop is important to avoid damaging the vinyl floor while cleaning it. A microfibre mop is the best choice to minimize scratching while cleaning the floor. Do not use a mop that has a built-in scrub brush as its abrasion is not good for vinyl flooring. For stubborn stains, opt for soft nylon bristle brushes which can remove almost any marks without scrubbing off the floor surface and diminishing its shine.
- Avoid harsh cleaning techniques
Even if there are stubborn dust build-up, choose the mildest cleaning methods to preserve the longevity of your flooring. Wipe up spills and pet litter immediately so that they do not soak in. Maintain your regular cleaning routine for similar reasons so that there is no build-up that requires persistent scrubbing.
Cleaning Hacks With Ready-At-Home Ingredients:
There are numerous cleaning materials available that are designed for vinyl, but you also have various home ingredients which are effective enough. Some of them are:
- Vinegar
This is one of the most effective choices for thoroughly cleaning your vinyl floors. For the weekly mopping, mix one cup of apple cider vinegar, and a bucket of hot water. Use a damp mop dipped in this solution for cleaning. The primary advantage is that you can avoid soap scum buildup using this option.
White vinegar is a good choice when the aim is to disinfect your flooring in addition to cleaning the grime and dirt. Use it in the same manner as apple cider vinegar. For extra shine on your floor, you can also add several drops of baby oil to the solution made for cleaning.
- Jojoba oil
Over time, vinyl flooring will develop minor scratches and scuffs which can be very unsightly and cleaning the floor will not eradicate them. However, rubbing the area with a liberal amount of jojoba oil on a towel can make the scuffs lighten significantly. Thoroughly clean the floor with vinegar and water solution to remove the oiliness of the floor after this treatment.
- Baking soda
To prevent stains from grape juice, sauces, mustard, and other similar items, make a paste of baking soda and water and rub the area gently till the stains are removed. However, make sure no residue of the paste is left.
- Rubbing alcohol and spirits
Stains of lipstick, crayons, ink, hair dye are stubborn and require solvents to dilute to be removed. Rubbing alcohol, mineral spirits, and nail polish removers can be used for removing stains made by such items by spraying them liberally on the stained area and then rubbing it gently with a nylon bristle brush.
Things To Avoid:
Certain products must be avoided while cleaning vinyl flooring to ensure it does not lose its lustre and gets damaged.
- Do not use “beater brush” attachment with your vacuum cleaner on the vinyl floor.
- Steel wool and highly abrasive brushes should never be used to avoid scratching the floor.
- Harsh detergents can leave a film on the floor that eventually diminishes the shine and must be avoided.
- Solvent-based polishes and waxes must not be used on polyurethane coated planks.
- Ammonia-based cleaners react with vinyl and lead to breakdown and cracking of the planks, and hence, must be avoided.
Maintaining vinyl floor is easy if you are diligent with your regular cleaning routine. The maintenance tips shared in the post are easy to maintain and the household items serve perfectly when you need a quick cleaning solution. Keeping these in mind will help you to ensure your vinyl flooring is as good as new for a long time. Knowing all about vinyl will help you to choose the best option easily for your home.