All homeowners or renters know that cleaning up a mess or spill on hard surface flooring, like vinyl, is far easier than cleaning up accidents on carpet. While most know this to be true, remember that vinyl flooring can still encounter stubborn stains that need to be addressed.
Luxury vinyl tile and plank is naturally resistant to most common stains.
While LVP is extremely durable, it isn't totally indestructible. Luxury vinyl flooring can dent and even scratch or scuff, especially from heavy appliances, furniture, or other weighty objects. Just because it's resistant to something doesn't mean it's impervious to it.
Not Impervious to Damage
Luxury vinyl flooring is much more durable than natural hardwood. Yet, while luxury vinyl is resistant against stains and scratches, it isn't immune to damage. Luxury vinyl plank flooring is not repairable and will need to be replaced to remove scratches, scuffs, dents, and dings.
Vinyl flooring clearly is a better choice in high-moisture environments than laminate flooring, making it an excellent choice in bathrooms. But for whole-house installations, laminate flooring often makes sense because it offers a wide range of choices.
Swiffer wet cloths are designed to be used on most floor surfaces, such as: vinyl.
Note: Disinfecting wipes that contain bleach are acceptable on vinyl.
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! Don't use a sponge mop with an abrasive scratch pad.
Generally speaking, vinyl sheet flooring will last anywhere from 10 to 20 years, while vinyl plank and tile flooring will last 15 to 20 years. The thickness of its wear layer vastly impacts vinyl flooring's lifespan, so pay attention to this detail when purchasing your flooring.
“Tile is the highest-rated flooring among the categories we test,” says Ciufo. “It doesn't wear out, scratch, or stain. Its color doesn't fade, it's waterproof, and it is surprisingly slip-resistant, even when wet.
Luxury vinyl has seams between tiles or planks and so it is possible for water (though exceeding rare when installed by a professional) to seep through, giving standard sheet vinyl a very narrow edge over luxury vinyl for total water resistance. Both tolerate normal heat, such as direct exposure to sunlight.
Vinyl flooring can be sensitive to certain chemical changes, particularly when it comes in contact with rubber materials. This can lead to discolouration in the form of yellow spots when a rubber-backed floor rug, furniture, or kitchen island wheels have been left undisturbed in the same spot for too long.
As we covered in “Three Reasons to Buy Luxury Vinyl,” thanks to its added thickness, vinyl flooring is so strong that it can stand up to even the heaviest-traffic areas of your home. Plus, given that it's waterproof, it's almost completely immune to stains!
Stains on a vinyl floor are hardly ever permanent. They occur only when a strong chemical substance has been left on a floor for too long. This is definitely something you should try to avoid. Always mop up any spilled liquids and dirt as soon as possible.
One essential tip for maintaining your luxury vinyl floor is not to mop too often. Once a week or twice a month is plenty.
I've found the best way to clean textured vinyl floors, as well as the other styles, by using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser® Squeeze Mop. This tool is also best at cleaning vinyl floors with grooves.
Vacuum or dry-mop the floor to remove surface dirt
The fastest way to damage vinyl plank flooring is through daily negligence. That's why we recommend vacuuming or dry mopping your flooring every day or two.
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.
Squeaky Cleaner, COREtec Clean Spray, and Bona Pro are great for the kitchen, bathroom, hallway, and any other room in your home. They're ideal for vinyl floors and work on a variety of hard surfaces.
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.