You can use almost any floor cleaner on your LVT floor, except for a steam mop. The steam that comes out of a steam mop can be detrimental to your luxury vinyl floor. The heat, steam and moisture can penetrate into the LVT flooring tiles and cause damage.
Steam cleaning can be an effective cleaning method for many flooring types but luxury vinyl plank, or LVP, is not one. While you can choose a product that is 100% impervious to water, the product cannot stand up to both water and the intense heat that steam cleaning produces.
Don't use any steam or intense heat, as it'll warp and bubble the vinyl. Don't use wax to polish floors – that's a lot of sticky residue, causing your floors to be a magnet for dirt. No hard scrubbing since it can leave scuff marks, take the shine away, and even void your flooring warranty (if you have one).
Any mop with a microfiber cloth or built-in sprayer can be used on vinyl flooring, including LVT and LVP vinyl. However, steam cleaners should not be used on vinyl. The heat and moisture can penetrate the inner layers and damage surfaces.
If you have a stain on your luxury vinyl floor, try water and baking soda paste or use 3-percent hydrogen peroxide with a soft-bristle nylon brush.
Vinyl is extremely resistant to both heat and water, so for the best results, it's probably a good idea to select the most intense cleaning setting if your Shark steam mop offers a choice. If you're using the Shark Lift-Away Professional Steam Pocket Mop, this setting is 'scrub'.
Steam mops are great for sealed hard floors like tile, stone, marble and hardwood, but heat and steam can penetrate some types of flooring and cause damage. Don't use a steam mop on unsealed wood, unglazed ceramic tile or vinyl plank flooring. If you're not sure, check with your flooring manufacturer.
Swiffers are safe on luxury vinyl planks, yes. This includes the Swiffer wetjet, which is perfect for removing stains and grease from luxury vinyl plank flooring. If you need to test out any Swiffer product, it has to be on vinyl plank floors.
Pine-Sol Multi-Surface Cleaner – Yes, Pine Sol on vinyl floors is a fine option; however, use sparingly with water. Do not oversaturate your vinyl floors with too much water, use just enough to disinfect the floors.
Avoid Hardwood and Laminate Floors
It's common for steam-mop manufacturers to warn against using steam mops on "unsealed" floors, a vague direction.
What can't I steam clean? Steam can warp unsealed floors, melt plastic, and cause laminate floors to swell. Don't steam clean these surfaces. Other surfaces on the do-not-clean list: cold windows, unglazed tile, those covered in water-based paint, and delicate surfaces.
Avoid Using Too Much Soap
Soap only lifts dirt and oil into water, making them suspend in water. Therefore, the more soap you use, the more your mop gets saturated with dirt. So, if you do not remove all the soapy water from the floor, the dirt remains, forming streaks on the floor.
The main difference between laminate and vinyl flooring is the materials they're made of. Vinyl is 100% synthetic, while laminate uses a fiberboard core constructed of wood byproducts. Thus, laminate flooring is not waterproof, while vinyl flooring is 100% waterproof.
Never use steel wool or abrasive scrubbers to clean your vinyl floor. Avoid using detergents, soaps, abrasive cleaners or products intended to add shine to your floors. These can cause product buildup that may leave a film on your floors and will generally dull their shine over time.
Unfortunately, no. Laminate flooring is sensitive to heat and moisture, so the humidity from your steam mop can cause harm. It won't cause as much damage as a wet mop, but could eventually cause your floor to warp, loosen or peel.
Avoid using ammonia-based cleaning solutions. Don't use bleach as an overall vinyl floor cleaner. Keep away from highly abrasive scrubbers or detergents on vinyl. They can damage the floor, causing cracks or scratches.
Do: Polish Your Vinyl Flooring Regularly. Over time, your vinyl floor can start to look drab or dull. Add a bit of baking soda to your regular floor cleaner to help keep the vinyl fresh, smooth, and shiny.
Dip a microfiber mop into your cleaning solution and wring it out until it's barely damp. Using a dripping mop can allow water to work its way into seams, cracks, and edges in your flooring and cause damage. Keep your mop as clean as possible with frequent rinsing and remember to wring it out thoroughly each time.
Steam cleaning is not always a perfect solution to your cleaning needs. Here are some things you need to remember when steam cleaning: Steam cleaned surfaces will still need to be wiped with a cloth – the steam loosens the dirt, but doesn't remove it. Wear protective clothing and goggles when using a steam cleaner.
Short answer: Yes, if it's sealed and you're using dry steam vapor. Whenever you use a new cleaning method, no matter what your floor type, you should check with your manufacturer's warranty and then do a spot check in an inconspicuous area to make sure your cleaning tools don't cause any damage or discoloration.
Sealed hardwood floors can withstand the moisture and heat from a steam mop, and they clean really nicely with a streak-free finish. However, avoid using a steam mop on unsealed hardwoods, as they're more vulnerable and easily damaged by excessive moisture.