Luckily, rugs are completely fine to place on vinyl plank floors – and a great way to add a pop of color and pattern to a space. Just make sure to avoid rugs with a rubber backing, as this could damage your floor.
While vinyl usually durable and low maintenance, it can be damaged by certain materials found in many rug pads. Rubber, both the natural and synthetic, is not safe to use with vinyl floors because it reacts with the chemicals found in vinyl and causes staining.
To protect your vinyl flooring from possible rug damage, opt for rugs that have breathable, non-staining backs. Avoid using rubber or latex-backed rugs, as they can lead to permanent discoloration.
While many homeowners would think this isn't necessary, rug pads actually provide several benefits for those with luxury vinyl planks in their homes. Rug pads will help to keep your new floors from getting scratched up as well as provide extra cushion for those walking across the luxury vinyl planks in their homes.
You can look at rugs with natural backings, such as cotton, jute, and woven backings. As is the case for all vinyl floors, in some cases, plasticizers in rubber and latex can react with our planks in ways that discolor the flooring.
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.
Felt Pads. Felt pads are a popular choice for protecting LVP floors and are well-suited for use on chairs, tables, sofas, and other furniture. Felt furniture pads come in a range of sizes and thicknesses, allowing you to customize your protection based on your furniture size and weight.
Neither natural or synthetic rubber or latex-backed rugs should be used on any type of vinyl flooring. They can react with the top layers of the vinyl floor and cause discoloration or staining, potentially resulting in permanent damage to the floor.
All building materials, vinyl flooring included, expand and contract as temperatures change. To allow for that movement without causing the planks to buckle as they expand or slip apart as they shrink, installers are supposed to leave an expansion gap around the perimeter of the room.
Rubber-backed or latex-backed mats should not be used directly on a luxury vinyl floor unless they are marked “colorfast” by the mat manufacturer. Many of these products contain chemicals in the non-slip backing which can permanently stain the floor.
These floors can resist scratches, scuffs, stains, and even a certain amount of gouging in their durability. However, extreme heat can damage the luxury vinyl plank. Some of the culprits through which heat damage can occur include hot pans, curling irons, dropped cigarettes, and more.
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.
Never use an abrasive scrubbing tool on your floor. This can cause scratches and harm your flooring. Never use a beater bar when vacuuming. This can cause damage to the floor surface.
Note: Disinfecting wipes that contain bleach are acceptable on vinyl. 7.5 to 9 is the recommended pH for bleach.
If you're looking to make your own floor cleaner for your vinyl plank floors, lots of folks swear by adding a cup of apple cider vinegar to a gallon of warm water. You can mop with it directly, or place it in a spray bottle for spot cleaning as you need it.
Bona's hard surface floor cleaner is the best floor cleaner for laminate, vinyl, tile, stone and other hard surface floors.
1. Use a Felt Rug Pad. One of the best ways to keep a rug in place, keep corners from curling, and make it more comfortable to walk on is by placing a rug pad underneath it. Felt rug pads come in various sizes, thickness options, and materials to accommodate different types of rugs and flooring.
What types of rugs are safe to use? I was looking into a pet friendly washable rug with rubber mat backing. But want to make sure whatever I choose doesn't ruin the new floors. Rugs or mats containing rubber, latex, or silicone should not be placed directly on the vinyl flooring.
Our latex-free, rubber-free thermoplastic resin backing is safe for luxury vinyl plank floors. However, we always recommend double-checking with the flooring manufacturer to be sure.
CAN YOU WET MOP LVP FLOORING? You can wet mop LVP flooring with warm water, avoid over soaking the floor. If you want to use a wet mop, a microfiber flip mop or spin mop are your safest options. Make sure to use a fresh cleaning pad, not the same one you used for dusting!
Wet-clean the floor using a damp mop and a vinyl-safe floor cleaner once you've eliminated any dry dirt and debris. If needed, rinse after mopping, being careful not to over-wet the floor. Let it air-dry.
With vinyl plank and vinyl tile, pick your favorite floor cleaner (or good ol' soap and warm water) and mop the floors. It may help to go over your flooring several times to ensure you get up all the excess dirt and grime. Lukewarm water is often best.