How do you clean vinyl flooring?

Vinyl flooring can stand up to a lot of abuse, even in high-traffic areas of a house, but it still needs care and cleaning to keep it looking its best. Here’s how to clean vinyl floors.

How to Keep Vinyl Floors Clean

When it comes to cleaning vinyl flooring, you can’t go wrong with plain water and a sponge mop! Always wipe up spills as soon as possible, and mop frequently with plain water. For more intensive cleaning, here are a few tips and techniques:

Always vacuum or dry mop the floor to remove surface dirt, dust, and hair before moving on to wet cleaning; make sure you get under furniture, in corners, and along baseboards.

One of the best cleansers for vinyl flooring is apple cider vinegar. The acidity in the vinegar helps remove dirt and grime without leaving a buildup of soap or wax. Simply mix one cup of cider vinegar with a gallon of hot water and use a damp mop to clean, rinsing the mop frequently with hot water. Substitute white vinegar for cider vinegar if you want to disinfect as you clean. If your floor is especially dirty, try adding a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap to the mixture before mopping once with the soap mixture, a second time with vinegar and water. To add shine to your vinyl floor, add a few drops of baby oil to the vinegar and water solution.

For stubborn scuffs, try putting some WD-40 lubricant or jojoba oil on a towel and rub the area until the scuffs disappear. Clean thoroughly with the vinegar and water solution to remove any traces of lubrication.

For food stains from grape juice, mustard, ketchup, tomato sauce and the like, make a paste of baking soda and water and gently rub the stain until it disappears. Clean thoroughly to remove any traces of baking soda.

A soft, nylon-bristle brush can help remove many types of stains, especially when used with common household solvents. Rubbing alcohol can be used to remove lipstick, hair dye, and ink stains. Use mineral spirits to remove crayon, paint, and marker stains. Use a nail polish remover that contains acetone to remove nail polish stains.

How to Prevent Damage to Vinyl Flooring

The first step is to keeping a vinyl floor clean is to try minimizing dirt, stains, and abrasions before they occur. Over time, dirt and dust can wear down and degrade the finish on any type of flooring, including vinyl tile or laminate; therefore it is always a good idea to situate a good-quality doormat or area rug in front of doorways so that grit and grime don’t migrate into the house.

Another helpful hint is to use a sheet of plywood or paneling any time you need to move furniture across the floor; this will help prevent scuff marks or tears in the vinyl. You also may want to use vinyl coasters under the feet and legs of your furniture to safeguard against permanent indentations.

Tips to Keep Vinyl Floors Looking Their Best

Do not apply paste or liquid wax to no-wax vinyl flooring. It will build-up and ruin the finish. If a no-wax floor loses its shine, use a commercial sealant made for no-wax flooring to restore the shine. 

Never use steel wool or a stiff-bristled brush to scrub vinyl flooring.

Place a doormat or throw rug at every entrance to catch grit and dirt that can damage floors.

Prevent dents from heavy furniture by outfitting tables and chair legs with felt-backed floor protectors.

Remove rolling casters from furniture or use a protective mat to prevent scratching.

Never drag heavy furniture or appliances across a vinyl floor. Use a sheet of plywood when moving items to prevent scuffs and tears.