Vinyl flooring is water resistant making it a great choice for bathrooms, kitchens and basements. Vinyl is made of 100 percent polymer material so it won’t warp when exposed to excessive moisture like hardwood floors.
How often do you clean vinyl floors?
Vinyl floors in busy areas of the home should be swept or vacuumed daily to remove grit that can cause scratches.
If there is a spill it must be cleaned up immediately to prevent stains that are difficult to remove. In addition, floors should be mopped weekly. To clean vinyl floors, here’s how.
Clean first
Sand and dirt can scratch the vinyl surface and make it look dull and permanently damaged. Use a vacuum cleaner, dust mop or broom to remove grit every day.
Use cleanser
Fill a bucket with warm water and add a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent. For the kitchen, choose a detergent that contains a degreaser to remove stains after cooking.
Don’t overdo it as too much foam just makes more work for you. Do not use harsh cleaners as they can damage the floor.
If you choose a commercial floor cleaner, always read the product label to make sure it’s safe for vinyl and whether it needs to be rinsed.
Mop
Dip the mop in the cleaning solution and wring it out. New vinyl flooring may be more water resistant, but older vinyl flooring has a fabric finish that shouldn’t get too wet.
Start mopping from one corner of the room. Then rinse and wring out your mop as often as you can because the dirt will move from the floor to the mop.
Overcome blemishes
To remove stains from dry food or ketchup, mix baking soda and water (two tablespoons baking soda and one teaspoon water).
Apply the soda paste to the stain, then use a microfiber cloth to gently scrub the floor. The mild abrasive of baking soda will clean easily.
If you get lipstick, grease, or ink stains, you can do this by wetting a microfiber cloth with alcohol to remove the stain.
Start at the outer edge and work your way towards the center of the stain to prevent the stain from getting bigger. Keep moving to a clean part of the cloth to prevent it from spreading.
Rinsing
If you don’t use too much soap and the floor isn’t too dirty, you don’t need to rinse the floor after mopping. However, if the floor feels sticky, rinse quickly with plain water mixed with one cup of distilled white vinegar.
Let the floor dry
It’s best not to step on the floor until it’s completely dry. If you are in a hurry, use a fan to speed up the drying process.