How to clean vinyl floors correctly

How to clean vinyl floors with your own hands in a correct and proper way using simple materials.

Vinyl floors are perfect to be used in the bathroom and in the kitchen, as they are waterproof and very easy to clean. Vinyl flooring is an inexpensive one, it looks attractive and it has a soft core which makes it softer and warmer while walking on it, unlike parquet. With proper care and cleaning, your vinyl floor will serve you for decades and decades. This article will give you some smart information on how to clean vinyl floors (cleaning vinyl plank floors or vinyl tile ones, as well) with your own hands with the help of the simplest materials that surround us every day (without using steam cleaners).

Home remedies for cleaning vinyl flooring

1. Put the carpet or protective mats onto the areas where people walk most.
2. Sweep the flooring every day – daily cleaning the dirt and dust is very important, otherwise, they will quickly destroy the top layer of vinyl.
3. You can use a broom, a mop with soft bristles or a vacuum cleaner.
4. Dirt is not only necessary to be swept from the floor, but also from the furniture, plinths and other interior elements.
5. If you spill something – whether it’s orange juice or just a glass of water – immediately wipe it away. Do not leave water to dry by itself. It is especially difficult to deal with dried stains on sugary drinks. Even spilled water can damage the coating. Blow any spillage immediately, and then your floor will look like new for a long time.

How to clean vinyl floors with vinegar

Use a vinegar solution for daily floor cleaning – this is the best way to clean vinyl flooring. Vinegar is a completely harmless substance that is suitable for daily wet cleaning of the vinyl flooring. Vinegar itself is very soft and not aggressive means, in contrast to other detergents. It gives the floor a glossy shade and shine. To prepare a solution for cleaning, you need to mix a glass of apple cider vinegar with 4 liters of water. Acetic acid will gently cleanse the floor, leaving no trace, giving vinyl the excellent shine. After the floor dries, the smell of vinegar disappears. If you want your floor to look as good as new, add to the solution a few drops of jojoba oil.

If the process with vinegar does not suit you, then instead you can purchase a specialized cleaner for vinyl floors. Just make sure you choose the right tool for your specific floor.

IMPORTANT! Never use wax.

Deep cleaning of the vinyl flooring

If a solution of vinegar does not give proper result, there are some other methods. Try this “recipe” – add to vinegar solution a couple of tablespoons of soap. Soap will help you to easily remove adhering dirt. Use a brush with nylon bristles for a more thorough cleaning. Remove scuff is possible using WD-40. Apply the product onto a soft cloth and rub the surface. Unfortunately, this method is suitable for removing light scuffs and scratches. To remove deep scratches it is easier to replace the tile of the plank. To remove stains made by food, wine or juice, mix some baking soda with water to have a thick paste. Take a cloth, moisten it in soda and rub until the stain disappears.

With the help of alcohol, you can remove ink stains and spots of the cosmetics. Dampen a piece of cloth in alcohol and rub the stain. Alcohol is easy to remove this type of stains from vinyl without damaging it. To remove paint, try to use a nail polish remover. Acetone is better not to be uses – it can damage the vinyl structure. If you can not scrub the stain with a cloth with baking soda, then take a nylon brush with a soft bristle brush and scrub the stain. Never use too stiff bristles – it will lead to the damage of the vinyl.

Never-to-do list

• Don’t perform much rubbing! Begin to remove the stain using the softest instruments, choose tools for non-union rigidity.
• Do not use abrasive cleaners and tools. It is important to choose the right type of cleaning agent that is suitable specifically for your particular vinyl flooring – talk to the sellers.
• Do not wet the floor too much. If vinyl is strongly wetted, moisture can damage the adhesive that glues vinyl coating to the subfloor. Water will seep into the cracks between the tiles and planks and ultimately damage the adhesive bond. Use only as much water as is required for cleaning. After the cleaning process, wipe the floor with a dry cloth.