How To Keep Footprints Off Vinyl Plank Flooring

Vinyl is a great textile to use for flooring. Despite its reputation as a cheaper alternative to hardwood floors, vinyl flooring has many qualities that brand it stand out. For starters, it's durable, easy to maintain, and beautiful to look at.

But fifty-fifty if vinyl plank floor requires low maintenance, improper cleaning can get in appear erstwhile and make information technology lose its adjourn entreatment

Which begs the question: How do yous clean vinyl plank floor the best way possible? To help yous out, nosotros prepared an infographic that volition serve equally a definitive guide on the field of study. Ringlet through the infographic (or print it out) and so that yous tin can start cleaning your vinyl plank flooring the right way.

This infographic can be used free of charge as long as you lot include a working link back to this folio.

Click the infographic to see it in a higher resolution.

infographic explaining the different steps of cleaning vinyl plank floors

In our wish to provide y'all with the most actionable tips on the subject, we decided to go more in-depth past expanding on each of the tips mentioned in the infographic.

And so, permit's get right to information technology! Below is a more than in-depth guide on how to make clean your vinyl plank flooring in the best way possible!

Continue abrasive materials out
Sweep or vacuum the flooring regularly
Clean up spills
Using a mild cleanser
Selection the right commercial cleanser
How to movement heavy furniture
Apply felt tips
Vacuuming
Deep cleaning
Using jojoba oil or WD-40
Using baking soda
Dealing with ink stains
Rinsing with water
Don't scrub too hard
Don't use a knife
Avoid abrasive cleaners
Avert excess wet
Don't use furniture with rollers
Never use ammonia or bleach
Avoid vacuums with a beater bar

Tip 1: Continue abrasive materials such every bit dirt and small-scale stones out of the house by using doormats.

Doormats are i of those home fixtures that are largely ignored but are actually necessary to a home. They are essential because they prevent clay and h2o from getting into your interior flooring every time someone– y'all or a visitor — steps inside your domicile. By keeping dirt away, not but practice they brand sure that your floor stays make clean, but they too prevent it from getting scratch marks. Shoes often arrive contact with harmful chemicals also, then you're doing your flooring a big favor by using a doormat that can take some of the abuse. This, of course, tin can go a long way into extending the lifespan of your vinyl flooring, or any type of flooring for that matter.

But what types of doormats should yous use to continue dirt out of your house? To arrive at the correct respond, ask the following questions beginning:

How big should the doormat be? Plainly, your chump should take the correct size for it to do its task. Make it as well small-scale and a company might miss stepping on information technology and —you know the residuum. The bespeak is unproblematic: Make your doormat broad and noticeable enough. If you don't, your guests are likely to miss stepping on it, which won't bode well for your floor.

Will the chump keep the dirt out? Some doormats really make the problem worse by accumulating clay over time and and so using every company every bit a means to send all that dirt into the abode. So make sure that you purchase a chump that's absorbent and easy to clean. Doormats made of conditions-resistant materials such as teak or woven seagrass are platonic.

Add an indoor chump for good mensurate. What better way to keep dirt out than by having 1 doormat but outside the door archway and some other 1 placed neatly just inside the door? With ii doormats, you can prevent clay or grit from entering the house twice every bit finer.

Tip #two: Sweep or vacuum the floor regularly or whenever you notice clay and grit to avoid it scratching the floor.

If yous're going to vacuum your floor, you might likewise practise it the right way. And then, hither'due south a trick: make sure that yous dust the room outset. This style you can "catch" the remaining dirt from the air with your cleaner equally you go along with the vacuum work. Also, make sure that you move furniture out of the way earlier starting.

You should as well sweep or vacuum the flooring on a regular basis, preferably daily. Otherwise, you run the risk of dirt and dust collecting on the floor and condign a problem subsequently. And don't forget to sweep the undersides of your chairs and furniture. In such cases, an extension squeegee, preferably one with a bendable, detachable head fabricated of electrostatically charged fibers, should help y'all make clean those hard-to-achieve places without breaking a sweat.

Get-go or cease each twenty-four hour period with a skillful sweeping and your vinyl floor will look spanking brand new for a very long time.

Tip three: Any you spill, clean information technology upward right away.

Spills happen. You can even say that they are a fact of life. But if y'all're not cleaning them up right away, then you lot're not doing your vinyl plank floors any favors.

Remember, vinyl is vulnerable to water impairment (simply like hardwoodwood tin can get water damage too). If there'south i thing you don't want to happen to your vinyl plank floor, it's water damage. Water impairment is one of the mutual causes of structural impairment to flooring. Sure, vinyl is made to last long even when exposed to h2o, but expose information technology too long and you lot're going to have a problem sooner or afterward, and ane of the most mutual causes of water impairment is roof leaks that sometimes go undetected for a long time.

Tip 4: Employ a mild cleanser similar a uncomplicated vinegar solution for everyday washing as this won't damage your floor.

A unproblematic vinegar solution has always been the go-to-solution for cleaning vinyl floors. While safe, a vinegar solution has plenty acidity to loosen up dirt or stains. To bring home the signal, a 2010 study about proves that malt vinegar with 10% acerbity is only as constructive as most specialized cleaning products in eliminating inactivate influenza viruses. Vinegar is also biodegradable and non-toxic, making it an eco-friendly option for your domicile.

To create a simple vinegar solution, simply mix water and vinegar (preferably apple cider vinegar) in equal measures and put the resultant solution in a spray bottle. Subsequently shaking the bottle for a second or two, spray away! You tin can spray the vinegar solution along the vinyl flooring and then wipe it up using a sponge or a towel.

You're likewise free to use white vinegar if you desire to disinfect the floor while cleaning it. If the floor is dirtier than usual, add together a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap into the solution earlier mopping the floor. Mixing a few drops of baby oil with apple cider vinegar works likewise.

Tip five: As vinyl floors are very sensitive, be sure to pick out the right commercial cleanser. Be sure to bank check whether your vinyl floor is waxed or not.

While a simple vinegar solution is great for vinyl floors, using a commercial cleanser volition prolong its shelf-life and give it a nice shine. That said, using the wrong cleanser might damage your vinyl flooring. Remember, vinyl is a sensitive fabric. If your cleaning solution is in full-bodied form, you'd do well to mix it with water earlier spraying or mopping it across the floor.

If you're going to use a commercial cleanser, check the characterization if information technology's made specifically for cleaning vinyl flooring. It can get more specific than that. For example, a non-wax cleanser is specifically manufactured to make clean floors that don't have a waxed surface.

Tip 6: When moving heavy furniture, lay a sheet of plywood on your flooring and "walk" the item across it to foreclose scuffs.

Moving big appliances or furniture inside your home may produce scuffs, dents, or marks on your floor if you're not careful. To foreclose flooring damages while moving piece of furniture effectually, use plywood and carpeting squares (plywood and rug remnants pieced together). With the appliance settled on top of these squares, y'all elevate the apparatus or article of furniture by pulling on them.

Another pick is to adhere vinyl coasters to the article of furniture's underside so that you can move the furniture with little effort and without causing any damage.

Tip 7: Employ felt tips underneath furniture to avoid scratches and scuffs

Some chairs accept a tendency to slide when yous sit on them. This is even more the instance when you have kids jumping onto your chairs all the time. Your vinyl floor tin only take so much abuse. Before you know it, you have scratches, scuffs, and scrapes on your flooring. It's non a good expect.

Thankfully, placing felt tips or felt pads under each leg of your chair easily solves this problem. These items come up with adhesives that easily stick to the underside of your chairs. They act similar protective feet. One time they're fitted, y'all don't have to worry about the furniture causing dents or scratch marks on the vinyl floor. And yes, the kids can go back to playing now.

Tip 8: Always vacuum or dry mop the floor to remove clay earlier moving on to wet cleaning.

Now we're onto the smashing debate: to moisture mop or to dry mop? Well, here'south an answer: How about doing both? And improve nonetheless, how about doing both in the proper order?

This is not a chicken or egg thing. The dominion has ever been to dry mop first, and so wet mop after. There's a science to it.

So, why does dry mopping need to come first? That's because dry out mops are great at picking upwards dry out dirt or debris such as grit, pilus, crumbs, etc. Wet mops? Not so much. Do wet mopping first and you'll terminate up pushing the debris around.

Then, what you exercise is use a dry mop (preferably 1 with static) to remove clay, dust, and other debris. Once they're removed, pick upwardly your wet mop and wipe up your floor using a figure-viii pattern.

And recall, apply just non-abrasive mops. Mops with steel wool, afterward all, can exit scratch or scuff marks on your vinyl flooring. When ownership a mop, check start if it'due south recommended for vinyl cleaning.

Tip 9: When doing a deep cleaning, add a tablespoon of dish soap to your vinegar solution every bit this will help lift dirt embedded in the floor.

When it comes to deep cleaning, you can always trust dish soap to practice the work. Vinyl might exist more sensitive than almost floor materials, but dish soap has been proven to be a gentle solution while maintaining its effectiveness as a deep cleaning solution. No surprise in that location. Subsequently all, dish lather is a pH-neutral cleaner, making it ane of the safest soaps around. A tablespoon of dish lather to your solution is all you need to remove tough clay or stains from the floor.

Tip 10: Use a soft cloth or a soft, nylon-bristle castor to avert scuffing your flooring.

Sometimes, in our efforts to make our floors await clean and pristine, we're tempted to apply hard brushes to become rid of tough dirt or chemicals. Bad idea. For one thing, putting likewise much pressure level on vinyl floors ever leads to scuff marks. And then use a soft cloth or a soft castor instead. Your floor will thank you for information technology.

Tip 11: Rub the scuffs with jojoba oil or WD-xl on a soft cloth to remove them. If this does not piece of work, you may need to supervene upon the individual tile.

Scuff marks can be quite stubborn. If the usual vinegar solution isn't doing the job, use a WD-twoscore lubricant or jojoba oil instead. Utilize it on a towel and rub the scuffed area gently until the scuffs disappear. Once the scuff marks are gone, rinse abroad remnants of oil or lubricant with the usual vinegar solution.

Another way to use WD-forty is through a spray tin. Just spray the scuff marks with the solution and go out it for a few minutes before rubbing it out with a rag.

Tip 12: Use a blistering soda paste on nutrient stains that won't otherwise go away. Baking soda is slightly annoying and must exist removed afterward the cleaning is washed.

Ah, the always-reliable baking soda solution. When it comes to removing food stains, baking soda paste has many things going for it. Merely employ the baking soda paste on a soft towel and rub it on the floor until the stain is removed. If the stain requires more scrubbing, but rinse the towel and re-utilize blistering soda as necessary. Once you're washed, use a vinegar solution to rinse the residue away.

Tip 13: Rub alcohol to remove makeup or ink stains. To remove fingernail shine, use acetone-costless fingernail polish remover.

When your vinyl flooring comes in contact with tough stains like makeup or ink, you need a tougher cleaning solution than your regular vinegar and water mix. Baking soda might not do the task, either. For these jobs, an alcohol-based cleaning solution is more fitting. If your vinyl floor comes in contact with nail shine, you can remove the stains past using an acetone-costless fingernail polish. Sure, acetone-based removers are more than constructive on account of their strength as a solvent, but they are likely to impairment your vinyl floor.

Tip xiv: Rinse with clean h2o to remove residue that could damage the floor over time if not removed.

Rinse your vinyl floor with clean water on a regular basis and y'all'll extend its lifetime past a considerable amount. The balance, subsequently all, can crusade your floor to fissure and splinter. Also, dirt tin easily cling to lather scum, which could cause y'all issues downward the line. Meliorate notwithstanding, use ii mops — ane for cleaning, and another for rinsing.

Tip 15: Avoid scrubbing likewise difficult every bit this volition take the shine off of your vinyl flooring.

As is often mentioned in this guide, vinyl flooring isn't made for difficult scrubbing. Scrubbing too hard non only exit scuff marks on the vinyl floor, but information technology likewise takes the shine off of it. Over again, merely use soft materials when removing dirt and stains. There are many low-affect cleaning techniques yous can adopt instead. For example, if there's dirt that your mop or vacuum can't remove, you can employ warm (non hot) water on the mop. Using mild soap tin also aid loosen tough clay or stains.

Tip 16: Never use a knife to pry dried substances off the flooring as it will leave a permanent scratch.

Go along those knives or any like tool away from your vinyl floor. Even if you're careful, using them on your vinyl flooring is probable to leave a permanent mark. Just apply a simple vinegar solution on a slice of soft cloth and scrub away at the clay gently until the stale substances are gone. If that doesn't work, employ a dish soap instead.

Tip 17: Exercise not utilise abrasive cleaners.

Never, never employ abrasive cleaners on your vinyl floors. Sure, information technology might get rid of dirt or stains more effectively than the regular vinegar solution, merely information technology'southward going to damage your floor in the long run, non to mention remove some of its smoothen.

In light of this, brand sure that yous check the composition of every commercial cleaner y'all catch from the section shop. Most detergents are actually annoying, and may fifty-fifty leave your flooring looking dirtier because of the chemicals that are in them.

Tip xviii: Keep the floor from getting also wet as this will impairment the glue underneath the vinyl, and be sure to remove excess water. Make sure the flooring is dry later you finish cleaning information technology.

As much as possible, limit the amount of water that you're using to make clean your vinyl flooring equally information technology might damage the glue that keeps your vinyl planks attached to the subfloor, causing the planks to come up loose. Drenching the vinyl floor will crusade water to seep between the planks, eventually getting trapped under them. Non expert. Remember that part about vinyl floors being vulnerable to h2o damage? Exactly.

Information technology is for this very reason why I'd non recommend using steam mops on vinyl flooring. Afterward all, the dripping h2o event tends to soak the floor. Moreover, the heat coming from steam mops can cause your vinyl floor to warp or bend, not to mention accept away the polish from the finish.

Information technology bears emphasis: utilise but equally much water that is needed.

Tip 19: Avoid furniture with rollers as rollers will leave scratches on the flooring.

Rollers make it easier to move furniture around the room, sure, but the wrong kind can yet go out scuff marks on the vinyl floor. But for my money, I'd however rely on felt tips or felt pads every bit they make information technology a cinch to push your article of furniture around in the room without damaging your floor.

Tip 20: Never use ammonia or bleach to clean your vinyl floor.

Both ammonia and bleach are annoying because they have a stronger base of operations compared to well-nigh cleaning solutions. Don't use either on your vinyl flooring every bit it can damage the peak layer and make information technology prone to cracks. This may sound like a broken tape already only it deserves repeating: Use a elementary vinegar solution instead! Vinegar should have enough acrid in it to assistance loosen the dirt on the floor without causing any impairment.

Tip 21: Don't use a vacuum with a beater bar or brush equally this will scratch your floor.

Using a vacuum with a beater bar on vinyl flooring is a bad thought. Beater confined help remove or loosen the dirt through a vibrating activeness. This, of course, can eventually harm your vinyl floor. Vacuums with a beater bar are more recommended for cleaning fluffy carpeting instead. You should avoid using a vacuum with a brush on your vinyl floor for the verbal aforementioned reason.

Concluding Word

So at that place y'all have it — 21 tips on how to clean your vinyl plank floor the all-time possible mode. Follow them to the letter and rest assured that your vinyl floors will expect exquisite and appealing for many years to come.

Source: https://contractorquotes.us/how-to-clean-vinyl-plank-flooring/