Guides and Tips

How to Take Care of Vinyl Plank Flooring

July 13, 2022
How to Take Care of Vinyl Plank Flooring

Vinyl flooring is a modern type of flooring that mimics wood and stone appearances. Its main advantages are resilience, thermal resistance, and ease of maintenance.

Now, in this guide, we’ll walk you through the whole process of taking care of your vinyl plank floors. This will keep them great-looking throughout your house time and time again.

Without any further ado, let’s begin!

1) Vacuum and sweep regularly

Rule number 1 is to vacuum your vinyl floor regularly to suck up the dust, dirt, and debris. They can make your flooring look dirty and also affect your indoor air environment over time.

Don’t worry, as you don’t have to do this every day. Once a week should be enough as vinyl flooring doesn’t easily get dirty, but you might need to clean more frequently if you have pets or kids around.

2) Scrape off shoes dirt or debris under the doormat

Scrape off shoes dirt or debris under the doormat

As much as possible, your shoes have to be clean before you step on the neat vinyl plank flooring. Before you enter, you should scrape off the dirt and debris under your shoes against the doormat.

But, if you don’t have a doormat, you can just remove your shoes and clean their soles in the laundry sink with a wet brush. Small rock or mud particles may have sharp edges that can leave a noticeable mark on your vinyl.

3) Scrub the vinyl flooring to remove stains

If you see a light stain on your vinyl floor, gently scrub it out using a soft nylon brush lightly soaked with a baking soda mixture.

For getting rid of more stubborn stains, put some hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol on a wet brush, which should do the trick. Wipe it down with a clean rag afterward to dry the surface.

4) Mop the floor to remove grime

Mop the floor to remove grime

Most of the time, mopping the floor with ordinary water can fail to take out the grimy or dirty marks on a surface.

So you may want to use a special DIY cleaner made from a cup of white vinegar or apple cider and a gallon of warm water. This is nontoxic and effective in cutting through hard deposits and grime.

For fluidity and thoroughness, aim to mop the floor in the direction of each plank. Use long strokes for each one to tackle as much dirt as possible.

Also, the floors may become sticky in kitchens due to the combination of dust, heat, smoke, and/or spills. To maintain them, take extra care when preparing and cooking food, and mop the floors after working in the kitchen.

Extra Tips: Do’s and Don’t of Vinyl Floor Cleaning

Extra Tips Do’s and Don’t of Vinyl Floor Cleaning

In addition to our tips above, take note of the do’s and don’t of cleaning your vinyl plank floors below:

Vinyl Floor Cleaning Do’s

  • Mops with microfiber cloths are very reliable in cleaning vinyl flooring. Not only don’t they scratch the floor, but they also absorb water well.
  • If you plan to clean the vinyl with a Swiffer mop, which has an adhesive alcohol pad, do so infrequently. The alcohol in it can damage the vinyl floor if used often.
  • Heavy and sharp-edged furniture can damage the flooring. If you have them or before you bring them to the area, put felt pads underneath their legs.
  • When you use dish detergent to clean the floor, make sure to wash it afterward to remove the soap residues. They have the potential to attract more dirt and bacteria.
  • Remove soap scums on the floor using the paste made by mixing equal parts of baking soda and vinegar.

Vinyl Floor Cleaning Dont’s

  • Don’t use abrasive scrubbing pads on your mop as this will scratch the floor.
  • Don’t use cleaning products that have a high pH level as they can make your floors look dull.
  • Avoid using a mixture of baby oil and water to clean your floor as this can make it slippery—it’s dangerous for everyone, especially for kids and seniors.
  • Refrain from using a beater bar vacuum attachment when cleaning floors since it can damage the floor surface.
  • Never polish your vinyl floors.

Other Related Articles

You Might Also Like