Vinyl floors have evolved over the years and today, the Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring is much better than the shiny and plastic-like sheet we used to have in the past. The features include waterproof synthetic material, durability, and indeed – luxury.
This article explains the best ways to clean your luxury vinyl flooring, the types of cleaning agents to use, and other best practices to comply with.
What is Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
Also called Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP); it is a type of flooring made of waterproof synthetic material and is known for easy care and low maintenance. With two major options to choose from, you now have a lot of versatility to incorporate into your home’s interior.
Taking Care of the Luxury Vinyl Flooring
In this section, we introduce you to some of the methods for cleaning luxury vinyl flooring. Starting from the simpler processes and progressing to the tougher processes is the way to go about it.
1. Start by Getting Rid of Surface Dirt
The chances are that dirt and debris particles are on the flooring’s surface. Leaving them there while cleaning might result in scratches.
In terms of removing the grit or surface dirt, here are a couple of options worth exploring:
- Sweep the floor with either a sweeper or a broom, before removing the particles with a dry mop.
- You can also use a vacuum cleaner. Use the one with a hard floor brush to ensure a deepened cleaning. You also want to choose a vacuum cleaner without a beater bar, as that reduces the risks of damaging the floor.
2. Be Strategic with the Cleaning Products to Use on LVP
Not all cleaning products are ideal for the floor. For context, commercial floor cleaners are ideal, but you must follow the directions of use before wiping the floor with any of them.
The following are some of the commercial floor cleaners to use:
- Apple Cider Vinegar: The acidity helps to quicken the removal of grime buildup and debris removal. You must dilute it to reduce the toxicity of the acidity.
- White Vinegar: This is a popular floor cleaner for luxury vinyl floorings. Always dilute before use.
- Dishwashing Soap: Liquid dishwashing soap helps to remove both grime and dirt from the luxury vinyl flooring. It must be used along with the cleaning solution made of white vinegar for the best results.
3. Mix the Cleaning Solution for Luxury Vinyl Flooring
The aforementioned cleaning products will feature in the effective cleaning of your luxury vinyl floor. Here is the direction for mixing them:
a. How to Mix the Apple Cider Vinegar Solution
This type of vinegar not only removes the stains but also leaves a refreshing scent behind. The mixture includes:
- Pouring a small amount of apple cider vinegar into a bucket.
- Pour an equal amount of water into the bucket.
- Stir to mix.
b. How to Prepare the Liquid Dish Soap Solution
This type of cleaning solution is recommended if you are tackling stains in the kitchen areas. The rule of thumb is to go for the dish soap that has a degreaser, which helps to cut through the stains.
To mix, do these:
- Fill a bucket with warm water.
- Add a few drops of the liquid dishwashing soap.
- Stir to mix thoroughly.
- You will need to use a microfiber mop when cleaning the floor with this solution.
How to Mix the White Vinegar Solution
The mixture of white vinegar readily comes in handy for the potent cleaning and disinfection of luxury vinyl flooring, especially, if it is installed in the living room or bedroom areas.
Here’s how to prepare the white vinegar solution:
- Pour a gallon of warm water into a bucket.
- Add a cup of distilled white vinegar.
- Stir to mix.
Note: Distilled white vinegar is recommended, because the full-strength white vinegar only ends up degrading the floor.
4. Mop Away the Stains
Irrespective of the type of cleaning solution used, the goal is to get rid of stains on the floor. The following are some of the options:
- Dip a microfiber mop into the solution and clean the floor. This is recommended if you are using liquid dishwashing soap.
- For the apple cider vinegar mixture, use a microfiber mop to clean the floor and clean at intervals with hot water.
5. Wipe the Floor Thoroughly
There are different perspectives as to whether the luxury vinyl flooring should be rinsed or not. However, rinsing becomes important if you have used too much liquid dish soap or used the other cleaners in excess. Rinsing the floor, in these cases, helps to get rid of the many suds on the surface.
This is how to rinse the luxury vinyl flooring:
- Prepare a solution made up of a gallon of warm water with a cup of apple cider vinegar diluted into it. You can also use distilled white vinegar and warm water.
- Dip a microfiber mop into the bucket, wring out excess water, and wipe in the direction of the planks.
- Dry the floor by allowing natural air to hit the area or wiping off moisture and excess water with a microfiber cloth.
6. Treat the Stubborn Stains
There’s no doubt that despite the cleaning steps discussed above, the floor might still have some stick-in dirt. If left, these stains will become permanent and change the appearance of your cherished luxury vinyl flooring.
This is how to treat the stubborn stains:
- Prepare a mixture of 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of water. This is very helpful in tackling stains caused by red wine and spilled tomato sauce.
- Mix the two thoroughly until a paste is formed.
- Apply the paste to the stains by spreading evenly.
- Allow to sit on the stains for a few minutes before wiping them off with a microfiber cloth.
- Rinse the area with water.
- Dry the area with a microfiber towel.
a. How to Tackle Scuffs
Besides the stains caused by red wine and tomato sauce; the luxury vinyl flooring could also be stained by scuff marks left behind by either piece of furniture or shoes. If this is the case, here is how to remove it:
- Spray a tiny amount of the WD-40 on the stained area.
- After a few minutes, buff the area with a dry, microfiber cloth.
- Finalize the process by using a mixture of white vinegar and warm water to wipe off the lubrication from the floor.
b. How to Remove Ink Stains from Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Lipstick/lip gloss, ink stains, and grease can also constitute stubborn stains on luxury vinyl flooring. Follow these steps to tackle the stains:
- Apply a little rubbing alcohol to a microfiber cloth.
- Make sure the cloth is dampened before using it to rub the floor.
- Start from the outer part of the floor where the stains are and work your way into the center of the stains.
- Continue until all of the stains are lifted from the area and smeared on the cloth.
Other cleaning products to use for tackling other types of stubborn stains are:
- Nail polish remover that contains acetone. It helps to tackle the stains caused by nail polish spills.
- Combine some common household solvents and use a soft, nylon-bristle brush to scrub off the stick-in stains.
- You can use mineral spirits to remove the stains caused by markers, crayons, and paints.
Types of Cleaning Products to Use on Luxury Vinyl Flooring
You are better off using the products in your kitchen cabinet than buying some from the hardware store, only for those to aggravate the damage to the floor.
The best cleaning products to use are:
- Commercial cleaning solutions that are specially designed for luxury vinyl flooring.
- Common household cleaners, such as white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, and liquid dishwashing soap.
- You can also use WD-40, mineral spirits, nail polish remover, and common household solvents to tackle stubborn stains on the luxury vinyl flooring.
Note: isopropyl alcohol and baking soda paste are particularly helpful in getting rid of stubborn stains.
How Often Should You Clean Luxury Vinyl Flooring
The number of times to clean the floor is determined by different factors, such as the location and the usage. If the flooring is installed in high-traffic areas (where they are used steadily); then, regular cleaning is required. You can increase the frequency as per the usage.
These tips should guide you:
- Clean and mop the luxury vinyl flooring at least once a week and up to 3 times a month.
- Sweep the floor when you are not deep-cleaning.
- Concentrate your efforts on sweeping away the dirt particles from the kitchen, dining area, and entryway to the house.
How not to Clean Your Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Certain actions are frowned upon when it comes to cleaning the luxury vinyl flooring. Here are some of the things worth avoiding:
a. Avoid Certain Floor Cleaners
The rule of thumb is to stick to the floor cleaners the luxury vinyl flooring manufacturer recommended. If you don’t wish to use those, then prepare a DIY solution using the common household solvents.
The following are some of the floor cleaners worth avoiding:
- Ammonia-based Cleaners: These must be avoided, because of the ability to break down the floor and cause it to crack. Ammonia cleaning solutions also damage the flooring’s inner layers, as well as degrade the protective layer.
- Bleach: You don’t want to use this because of the damaging capabilities of the flooring’s finish and the corrosion tendencies.
- Abrasive Cleaners and Detergents: These products tend to leave a dull film on the floor after cleaning, thus, causing you to go over it again.
- You shouldn’t use solvent-based polishes, steel wool, paste wax, and liquid wax to clean the floor.
b. Don’t Use Abrasive Tools
Cleaning tools like abrasive scrubbers tend to scratch the floor the more. Hence, avoid using the likes of steel wool and other rough tools to get rid of stubborn stains, such as grease.
c. Don’t Use Steam Cleaners
Steam-cleaning luxury vinyl flooring is not recommended, as the floor might not resist the functions of a steam mop. Besides leaving water on the area, using a steam mop also opens up the floor to wear and tear caused by:
- Damages to the protective top layer.
- Exposure to higher temperatures often translates to the flooring losing its original shape.
d. Choose a Vacuum Cleaner without a Beater Bar
Choose a vacuum cleaner model without a beater bar because the bar could damage the flooring. If you must choose the one with the bar, then, endeavor to remove the beater bar before vacuuming the area.
FAQs
1. Should I Use Wax on Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
Avoid using liquid and paste wax on luxury vinyl flooring, because they leave a dull finish on the area.
2. How Easy is it to Clean a Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
You can clean the dirt particles by sweeping or vacuuming; and get rid of grime and stick-in stains, by making a cleaning solution from apple cider vinegar, distilled white vinegar, and liquid dishwashing soap.
3. How Often Should I Clean My Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
At least, once a week works. If the floor is in a high-traffic area, you can increase the frequency to twice or thrice a week and up to 5 times a month.
4. Can I Use Baking Soda on Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
A mixture of two tablespoons of baking soda and a tablespoon of water helps to tackle tomato sauce and red wine stains. You can also use baking soda to tackle other stubborn stains.
5. Why is Ammonia Bad for Luxury Vinyl Floors?
Ammonia and ammonia-based floor cleaners are not recommended for use with luxury vinyl floorings, because they cause cracks and break down the materials.
Conclusion
The steps detailed in this article will help you take care of your luxury vinyl flooring. Other maintenance tips include using a sheet of paneling or plywood to move furniture across the floor, shading the floor from direct sunlight to prevent fading, and installing foot/entrance mats to prevent dirt particles and water from entering the home – and eventually, the floor.
