To keep LVP or LVT floors in high-traffic areas of a home looking their best, they should be dry mopped or vacuumed daily to remove grit that can cause scratches. Spills should be wiped up immediately to prevent stains that may be more difficult to remove later. The floors should be thoroughly cleaned at least weekly.
One essential tip for maintaining your luxury vinyl floor is not to mop too often. Once a week or twice a month is plenty.
Dish soap cleaner: Use a few drops of liquid dish soap in a bucket of warm water. This mixture is great for vinyl floors in a kitchen, which can accumulate crud quickly each day. Vinegar cleaner: For anywhere in the house, use diluted vinegar to clean vinyl plank floors.
Swiffer wet cloths are designed to be used on most floor surfaces, such as: vinyl.
Mopping. While vinyl plank flooring is water-resistant, too much water can soak in and cause bubbling, warping or discoloration. If the mop is dripping wet, it'll be too much moisture for the planks. Lightly mist the mop with a spray bottle filled with water, and reapply as needed.
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.
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.
Note: Disinfecting wipes that contain bleach are acceptable on vinyl.
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.
Keeping Your Vinyl Plank Flooring Clean is Easy
For instance, a daily task is to sweep up debris. A weekly task is to use a damp mop and get rid of some of the built-up dirt and grime. And always take care of stains when they happen so they do not actually become a permanent stain.
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.
Using the Wrong Mop
One of the most frequent reasons that floors appear streaky is the use of an inappropriate mop. String mops and "spaghetti" mops can hold an excessive amount of water and solution, leaving too much water on the floor, resulting in streaks.
There are a few reasons why it happens: Using Too Much Soap: When it comes to cleaning, using more soap does not mean getting the floor extra clean or cleaning it faster. Using more soap leads to a residue build-up that can actually attract more dirt to the floors instead of getting rid of it.
Luxury vinyl planks (or tiles) are, in themselves, completely water-proof and cannot be damaged by exposure to moisture.
Some commercial cleaners are specially designed for vinyl floors. These include Pine-Sol Multi-Surface Cleaner, Pledge Multisurface Floor Cleaner, and Armstrong's Once 'n Done No-Rinse Floor Cleaner.
Add a bit of baking soda to your regular floor cleaner to help keep the vinyl fresh, smooth, and shiny. Applying a small amount of WD-40 lubricant is a safe way to remove any scratches or scuffs without damaging the vinyl. You can also use a bit of jojoba oil to gently polish vinyl floors.
Mr. Clean Multipurpose Cleaner cuts grease and removes grime. Use this antibacterial cleaner to clean dirt on linoleum as well as bathtubs, floors, tile, and toilets. It is safe for use on glass, laminate, plastic, rubber, tile, and vinyl surfaces.
No, you should not steam mop your LVT floor.
Instead, learn how to clean vinyl floors using the mildest possible method. Sweep or vacuum it every evening, and wipe up spills right away. To clean dirt that the broom or vacuum can't get, use a mop dampened with warm—not hot—water. If all else fails, use soap, but make sure the soap is designed for your flooring.
Why you need a rug pad for a vinyl floor. Place a rug on any hard surface and it will slip and bunch up. Vinyl flooring is no exception. If you don't put a non-slip rug pad under a rug that sits on vinyl flooring, you'll end up having to straighten it out just about every time you walk past it.
Overall, microfiber mops have more pros than Swiffer mops. Microfiber mops can be used as a two-in-one to both sweep and mop at the same time. However, a Swiffer mop can typically only clean after the sweeping has already been done.
Firstly, it can be difficult to install and may require professional help. Secondly, vinyl plank flooring is not as durable as other types of flooring such as hardwood or tile. It is also prone to scratching and denting from heavy furniture or objects being dragged across the surface.