How do you clean badly stained vinyl flooring?

Author: Lori Jenkins MD  |  Last update: Sunday, November 30, 2025

Add baking soda and water into a bowl to make a paste. Apply the paste directly to the stain and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Scrub the stain gently with a soft cloth or sponge. Rinse the area thoroughly with water and use a dry cloth to dry the floor.

How do you remove tough stains from vinyl flooring?

Mix one part bleach with two parts water. Wearing rubber gloves, gently dip a rag into the mixture. Wring out the rag so it's wet but not dripping. Let the rag sit on the stain for as long as it takes to remove it.

How to fix discolored vinyl floor?

To clean discolored vinyl flooring, start by sweeping and mopping to remove surface dirt. Mix a solution of warm water and mild dish soap or white vinegar. Gently scrub the affected area with a soft-bristled brush, focusing on stains.

How do you get brown stains out of vinyl flooring?

Often, the stain may be too deep to be removed naturally- in this situation baking soda can be a helpful home remedy. Sprinkle baking soda on the stained area and leave it for 10 minutes. Use a damp and soft cloth to mop the area. Repeat the process until the stain is removed.

What is the best cleaner for stained vinyl?

If stain appears to be just on surface and not absorbed into vinyl, a mild abrasive like Soft Scrub or #0000 superfine steel wool may be used. All-purpose cleaners are often effective for removing surface soil and bleach for mold and mildew. WD-40 or other solvent can be used to remove tar and oil-based stains.

Cleaning Stains From Linoleum/Vinyl Flooring

What not to clean vinyl floors with?

Vinyl Flooring “Don'ts”
  • 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. ...
  • Don't use wax or solvent-based polishes.
  • Don't use ammonia or ammonia-based cleaning solutions.

What causes brown stains on vinyl flooring?

Vinyl flooring can stain due to spills, moisture, chemical reactions, dye-based products, or mould and mildew. Prompt cleaning and proper care can prevent most stains.

Will vinegar ruin vinyl flooring?

Apple cider or even white vinegar are great natural cleaners for vinyl flooring. To create your cleaning solution, mix one cup of vinegar with a gallon of very warm water. Use this for mopping in place of a commercial cleaning solution. To clean up stains, consider creating a baking soda paste.

How do you clean a really dirty vinyl floor?

How to Clean an Extremely Dirty Vinyl Floor?
  1. Tougher scuffs: Apply a WD-40 cleaner on a towel and rub the surface until the marks are out of sight. ...
  2. Food and drink: Use baking soda to eliminate food and drink stains.
  3. Pen and marker: Rub a little rubbing alcohol on a cloth and rinse well with water to clean marker stains.

How do I restore a discolored vinyl?

Steps
  1. Soak the item in hot, soapy water. With some vinyl, you can simply soak it in a mixture of hot tap water and a dash of dish soap. ...
  2. Try a cleaner specifically made for the type of vinyl you're cleaning. ...
  3. Rub the cleaner in with a soft cloth. ...
  4. Remove the cleaner.

How do you bring vinyl flooring back to life?

The first ingredient to use to revive your vinyl flooring is baking soda. The next time you get ready to mop (using an appropriate mop head for vinyl floors) add a few tablespoons of baking soda to your usual cleaning solution, shake until it's dissolved, and then mop as usual.

How to get vinyl floors white again?

Vinegar and Water Solution
  1. Mix equal parts vinegar and water.
  2. Mop the floor with the solution, focusing on the yellow areas.
  3. Rinse with clean water and dry to prevent any sticky residue.

Does dog urine ruin vinyl flooring?

Vinyl flooring can be resistant to stains and spills, including pet urine, but it is not completely pee-proof. If pet urine is left on vinyl flooring for an extended period, it can potentially stain or discolor the flooring.

Is Dawn dish soap safe for vinyl floors?

Generally speaking, most luxury vinyl planks can be cleaned using soap and water and don't require a special LVP cleaner. A dishwashing soap like Dawn is the best way to clean vinyl plank flooring because it will cut grime and grease without stripping your floors or damaging the wear layer.

Will vinegar mess up vinyl?

Like with hardwood floors, vinegar's acidity will take away the shine and sheen of a no-wax floor, such as vinyl and linoleum. Using vinegar won't give you the light sudsy action that you need to get no-wax flooring clean.

How do you remove ingrained vinyl flooring from dirt?

Baking Soda and White Vinegar

Combine it with a bit of vinegar for tiles and watch the dirt lift as if by magic. White vinegar, diluted with water, is a lifesaver for many floor types (tiles, laminate, vinyl).

How do you remove deep stains from vinyl flooring?

Vinyl Floor Stain Removal
  1. Bleach - Bleach does the job for liquid stains such as fruit juice, tomato juice, and wine. ...
  2. Oxalic Acid - Use oxalic acid, which may also be branded as "wood bleach," for troublesome rust stains. ...
  3. Isopropyl Alcohol - It's a safe option for eliminating the shoe scuff lines from vinyl tile.

How do professionals clean vinyl?

Easily the best way to deep clean a vinyl record is to use a special record cleaner. These vacuum-powered devices are made especially for cleaning vinyl old and new. They work by sucking up the dirt and dust that have settled in the grooves while maintaining a low pressure to protect your prized hits.

Why is my vinyl floor still dirty after cleaning?

One of the most common issues with LVP floors is residue left by improper cleaning products. Soap-based and oil-based cleaners, while often effective on other surfaces, can leave a sticky film on LVP flooring. This residue dulls the finish and attracts more dirt, making the floor look dirty.

How to deep clean a vinyl floor?

One of the most effective and sustainable ways to clean vinyl floors is with white vinegar. Mix a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar. Apply it using a mop, ensuring it does not oversaturate the floor.

Does baking soda ruin vinyl flooring?

The natural cleaning power and mild abrasiveness of baking soda will remove most stains without damaging your floor. Pour a little baking soda directly on the stained area and add enough water to create a cleaning paste.

Can I use pine-sol on vinyl floors?

Pine-Sol is also safe for luxury vinyl wood plank flooring and vinyl tile flooring, so long as used with a dry mop and you do not saturate the floors.

How do you remove brown stains from vinyl?

Vinyl Stain Removal Tips
  1. Mix baking soda with a small amount of water to create a paste.
  2. Apply the paste to the stained area and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes.
  3. Gently scrub the area with a soft-bristled brush or sponge.
  4. Rinse the area thoroughly with clean water and dry it with a clean cloth.

How do you clean Discoloured vinyl flooring?

Method: Mix lemon juice with baking soda to create a paste. Apply the paste to the yellowed areas and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Gently scrub with a soft cloth or sponge, then rinse with clean water and dry.

How do you restore stained vinyl?

The solution used by most professionals for tough spots on vinyl is a 50/50 solution of Boat Clean Plus and Boat Scrub. Try rubbing a small spot with this solution on a cloth or a small scrub brush. If this lightens the stain, try exposing the stained section to the sun, as much as possible for several weeks.

Previous article
Do painters fix walls before painting?
Next article
Can you clean vinyl floors with vinegar?