How to clean vinyl plank flooring? (Complete Guide)

Vinyl flooring is durable enough to withstand heavy foot traffic, but it still needs regular maintenance to look its best. How to clean vinyl flooring is shown below.

How to clean vinyl plank flooring? To avoid permanent stains, immediately wipe up any spills with simple water. Around once a week, you’ll want to give your floor a more thorough cleaning. First, sweep or use a vacuum cleaner to collect any loose debris or dust. After that, you may use a damp mop and some cleaning solution.

To clean vinyl plank flooring, you can use a soft broom, microfiber mop, or vacuum cleaner to remove dust. For regular cleaning, you can mix vinegar and hot water and use a damp mop to apply it to the floor. You can also add a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap to the mixture for extra cleaning power.

Video: How To Clean Vinyl Plank Floors

Related Articles What is Vinyl Flooring

Steps for Cleaning Vinyl Floors

Vinyl flooring still requires maintenance and cleaning to keep it looking its best, even in high-traffic areas of a home. Find out how to clean vinyl floors here.

To help avoid stains, immediately wipe away spills with plain water. Once a week, you should give your floor a deeper cleaning. To start, vacuum or dry mop the floor to eliminate the filth, dust, and hair.

How to clean vinyl plank flooring

Next, you can use a damp mop and a cleaning agent. Although commercial vinyl floor cleaners are available, mixing apple cider vinegar and water will yield a quick and efficient vinyl floor cleaning. With no soapy residue left behind, the acidity of the vinegar dissolves filth. 

What should combine one cup of cider vinegar and 1 gallon of boiling water?? 

Apply a damp mop to the floor, giving it regular washing in clean, hot water from another bucket or sink. Who can add a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap to the water and vinegar solution to increase cleaning power? Clean the floor with the soapy combination first and then with the vinegar and water mixture a second time.

Cleaning Scuffs and Stains

Here are some pointers for thoroughly cleaning a vinyl floor. You may eliminate stains left behind by acidic substances like fruit juice, ketchup, tomato sauce, or wine with a paste of baking soda and water. Till the stain lifts, gently rub the paste onto the floor using a soft towel. Using vinegar and water solution, remove the baking soda from the floor.

Apply to rub alcohol to the stain and scrub it with a soft-bristled brush to remove stubborn stains caused by lipstick, crayons, paint, or ink. Using steel wool or other abrasive materials might cause the floor to scratch. Use nail polish remover for stains caused by nail polish.

To remove scratches, spray WD-40 on a cloth and wipe the scratched area with the towel until the scratches are gone. Use a vinegar and water cleaning solution to remove the WD-40 from the floor.

Cleaning Advice for Vinyl Floors

On your vinyl floor, avoid using paste wax polishes. The film they leave behind on the floor will accumulate over time. Instead, there is a quick, low-cost solution to make your floor shine: Add a few drops of baby oil to the vinegar and water cleaning mixture we previously mentioned.

When deciding how to clean vinyl flooring, keep preventative maintenance in mind. Keep doormats in front of exterior doors to prevent dirt from entering the house because dust and dirt can damage the finish of any floor.

How to Care for Vinyl Floor Without Damage

As long as you know the items to avoid using, maintaining vinyl flooring so that it remains attractive for a long time is simple. Here’s how to keep your vinyl flooring in excellent condition.

Although vinyl tile and laminate flooring are beautiful, strong, and long-lasting, even in homes with heavy use, the product is by no means unbreakable.

Fortunately, maintaining the attractive appearance of vinyl flooring is simple and inexpensive, and it’s possible with proper maintenance.

How to Maintain Vinyl Flooring

You can’t go wrong with simple water and a sponge mop to clean vinyl flooring! Always clean up spills quickly, and regular plain water mops. Here are a few pointers and methods for more thorough cleaning:

Before beginning a wet cleaning, always vacuum or dry mop the floor to remove any visible filth, dust, or hair. Pay special attention to the baseboards, corners, and under any furniture.

Vinegar made from apple cider is one of the most excellent cleaners for vinyl flooring. The vinegar’s acidity aids in cleaning off dirt and grime without leaving a residue of soap or wax. Use a damp mop to clean with one cup of cider vinegar to one gallon of hot water, periodically rinsing the mop in hot water. 

If you want to disinfect while cleaning, swap out the cider vinegar for white vinegar. If your floor is very grimy, you might want to add a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent to the mixture and mop your floor twice—once with the soap mixture and once with vinegar and water. Finally, pour a few drops of baby oil into the vinegar and water mixture to add shine to your vinyl floor.

If you have a scuff that won’t go away, apply WD-40 lubricant or jojoba oil to a towel and rub the affected area. To remove any lingering lubricant, thoroughly wash with vinegar and water.

Make a paste with baking soda and water, then gently wipe the stain until it vanishes to remove food stains caused by things like tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard, and grape juice. To get rid of any baking soda residue, thoroughly clean the area.

Numerous stains can be eliminated with a soft nylon-bristle brush, particularly when combined with regular household cleaners.

Lipstick, hair dye, and pen stains can all be eliminated with rubbing alcohol. Use mineral spirits to remove paint, marker, and crayon stains. If you have nail polish stains, use an acetone-containing nail polish remover to clean them up.

Which bathroom flooring is the easiest to maintain?

The most accessible bathroom floors to maintain are ceramic tile and vinyl. Waterproof, stain-resistant, and long-lasting tile flooring. This means you won’t need to be concerned about dents or scratches.

Spills are simple to clean up on vinyl flooring. Regular sweeping and mopping are all that are necessary for ongoing maintenance.

Vinyl flooring is a phrase used to describe a durable flooring material comprised of manufactured substances like fiberglass, PVC vinyl, and other chemical plasticizers.

Since it was first created to replace the first resilient flooring material, linoleum, vinyl flooring has been around for over a century. However, vinyl flooring emerged in the 1940s as an option for rooms that needed to be resilient, long-lasting, and water-resistant.

Vinyl flooring products have traditionally been utilized chiefly in bathrooms and kitchens. Vinyl flooring is a low-cost, low-hassle option because it is highly water resistant and easy to clean and maintain, even though it is not impervious to the demands of these spaces. However, with their enhanced design and production processes, modern vinyl flooring materials are now a practical option even for rooms where ceramic, porcelain or hardwood flooring once predominated.

Continue reading to discover more about the three varieties of vinyl flooring: luxury vinyl flooring, sheet vinyl, and vinyl composite tile (VCT) (LVF).

The Ingredients in Vinyl Flooring

PVC (polyvinyl chloride), an artificial plastic made of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine, made vinyl flooring suitable. The flooring material in conventional sheet vinyl or vinyl tiles is a composite product made of a PVC layer bonded to a fiber core, which is then coated with a printed pattern layer and a durable, transparent wear layer. As a result, vinyl flooring can be classified as high-quality or low-quality based on the product’s thickness, wear layer toughness, and backing.

Today’s vinyl flooring is available in various shapes, including luxury vinyl tiles or planks, vinyl composite tiles (VCT), and sheet flooring (known as either LVT or LVP). Whatever style of vinyl flooring you select, there are several clear benefits to consider:

Durability. Despite feeling a little soft underfoot, vinyl flooring is surprisingly durable. Water-resistant. The main benefit of vinyl flooring in bathrooms and kitchens is that it is water, steam, and humidity-resistant. However, it can be slightly fragile at the seams, and water is typically challenging to permeate the surface of this material to harm the subfloor—simple maintenance. Cleaning vinyl flooring is a breeze. It can be penetrated if heavy furniture legs are not fitted with protection pads, but it is resistant to dirt, stains, scratches, and punctures. However, be cautious that rubber-backed rugs may trigger a chemical reaction that might damage vinyl. And if vinyl flooring is exposed to continuous, direct sunshine, it may be slightly yellow (although high-quality products have UV protection).

Which Should You Choose Between Luxury Vinyl Tile and Ceramic Tile for Bathrooms?

Did you know that minor cosmetic improvements to your bathroom can boost the value of your house by $1.71 for every $1 invested in them? Consider how much more your house would sell for after a more extensive renovation, like new flooring! Installing new floors can improve your bathroom and your home’s appearance, whether you plan to sell soon or just buy it.

But which type of flooring should you choose? Ceramic and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) are the most popular options today. So which which one prevails in the argument between luxury vinyl flooring and tile? Let’s quickly review what LVT and ceramic tiles are before finding out.

What are ceramic tile and LVT?

Fiberglass and PVC, two types of reinforced plastic, are used to create vinyl, a synthetic substance. Standard vinyl tiles are installed using mastic, scratch, stain, and water-resistant sealer. How about luxury vinyl tiles, though? What sets them apart? They are more robust and thicker. Additionally, many now have click-lock edges for more straightforward, quicker installation rather than requiring glue.

ADVICE FROM HOME FLOORING PROS

Because vinyl flooring is inexpensive, easy to install, and waterproof, home flooring experts are pleased to recommend it for bathrooms.

You may emulate the most popular design ideas with today’s luxury vinyl flooring without dealing with potential drawbacks. For example, in areas like bathrooms where genuine wood is impractical due to dampness, you can achieve the appearance of genuine, characterful hardwood. In addition, vinyl tiles may give your home a trendy and modern stone impression without costing as much as natural marble or slate.

Vinyl flooring is the great leveler when it comes to attaining the desired look for a price you can afford.

Waterproof vs. Water resistance

Before we continue, a quick aside: You’ll notice flooring goods marketed as waterproof or water-resistant.

Understanding the difference is crucial, especially if you’re remodeling a bathroom where you’ll see a lot of water!

Water-resistant flooring, in general, has a robust topcoat layer that can withstand splashes from a particularly boisterous bath time (parents of toddlers will understand what I mean), so long as you quickly mop them up before they have a chance to seep under or down the side of the top waterproof layer.

However, water-resistant flooring cannot handle being entirely submerged in water. For instance, standard laminate flooring has a non-waterproof core that can buckle and warp in humid or damp conditions.

In contrast, waterproof flooring (such as solid core vinyl, ceramic tile, and stone) is by nature entirely waterproof and incapable of absorbing any water. As a result, it won’t change in size or shape even after being submerged in water for hours!

If you enjoy filling the bathroom with a lot of steam during lengthy bathing sessions, this style of flooring is perfect for you. More porous flooring materials may become saturated by the continual humidity, which eventually causes warping. Additionally, waterproof flooring can withstand everyday spills and splashes.

What should use the most excellent waterproof flooring material in your bathroom? As we’ll see, rigid-core vinyl is a healthy option.

Vinyl Floor Maintenance Tips

Vinyl floors are not suitable for paste wax polishes. They will leave behind a coating on the floor that will gradually accumulate. You can make your floor sparkle without breaking the bank by using this simple method: To make the cleaning solution we recommended previously (vinegar and water), add a few drops of baby oil.

While thinking about how to clean vinyl floors, preventative maintenance should not be overlooked. Keep doormats at each entry to your home to prevent dirt and dust from scratching the finish on your floors.

Flood Proof is NOT Waterproof

Please be aware, though, that even waterproof vinyl flooring won’t be able to handle a full-blown flood. In a flood, water will seep beneath your vinyl sheet or planks, damaging the adhesive, the underlayment, and the subfloor. Additionally, trapped water under planks that haven’t thoroughly dried out after a flood is ideal for mold and mildew growth.

How to maintain the beautiful appearance of your vinyl plank flooring for years.

Describe vinyl plank.

Vinyl plank flooring, also known as luxury vinyl tile or luxury vinyl plank, is the most recent and widely used type of vinyl. It comes in huge tiles or planks and has improved density, stiffness, longevity, and even more realistic design mimicry than linoleum and other vinyl flooring varieties. In addition, each piece of vinyl plank flooring clicks and locks together like LEGOs, making installation incredibly simple.

How to Care for LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank) Flooring

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring offers the simple maintenance and cleaning of sheet vinyl in a more robust and cozy underfoot configuration. PVC is used to make both varieties of flooring (polyvinyl chloride).

A transparent protective coating covers the pattern layer on sheet vinyl, created as a thin, flexible roll or tile. The transparent topcoat layer, design layer with the printed image, foam cushion layer, fiberglass backing layer, and rigid PVC backing layer are some of the additional and thicker layers in luxury vinyl that offer strength and stiffness. Like laminate flooring, the luxury vinyl uses a click-and-lock mechanism for the planks (LVP) and tiles (LVT).

Vinyl Flooring Types

Many homeowners like vinyl plank flooring because it is dependable and straightforward. Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and engineered vinyl plank are the two varieties of vinyl flooring (EVP). LVP has a more muscular wear layer and is constructed entirely of virgin vinyl, making it more resistant to dents, scratches, and stains. EVP is constructed with a core of wood composite and a thin top layer of natural stone or wood. Both kinds of vinyl plank flooring are simple to clean, but depending on your flooring, you should employ a few slightly different cleaning techniques.

Here are some cleaning guidelines for both varieties of vinyl plank flooring:

Use a damp mop or cloth to clean up spills as soon as they occur on Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP).

• Regularly sweep or vacuum to get rid of dirt and trash.

• Regularly use a mild washing or cleaning agent, especially vinyl plank. Avoid damaging the flooring by using harsh chemicals or scrubbing too vigorously.

• For Engineered Vinyl Plank (EVP): -Daily filth and debris removal with a dry mop, brush, or vacuum.

• Immediately wipe up spills with a moist cloth if they occur.

• Clean floors at least once weekly with a gentle soap or cleaning agent, especially for vinyl plank.

FAQS

What distinguishes water-resistant flooring from waterproof flooring?

For a short while, water-resistant flooring can withstand dampness or water. However, if exposed to dampness for an extended period, it may eventually suffer harm. On the other hand, waterproof flooring is made to entirely prevent water from harming your floors.

It’s crucial to consider the subfloor layer while looking for new flooring and waterproof solutions. For example, if new flooring is not correctly sealed, moisture might still affect it.

What type of bathroom flooring is the simplest to install by yourself?

Vinyl flooring installation is typically relatively simple for individuals who want to do it themselves.