Distilled white vinegar is a natural degreaser, disinfectant, and cleaner that is safe to use on all kinds of surfaces, including vinyl floors. The acidic compounds in white vinegar break down buildup and remove dirt without harming your floor's finish.
Like with hardwood floors, vinegar's acidity will take away the shine and sheen of a no-wax floor, such as vinyl and linoleum.
Commercial vinyl floor cleaners are available, but you can make a simple, effective cleaner for vinyl floors by mixing apple cider vinegar with water. The vinegar's acidity removes dirt without leaving a soapy film. Mix one cup of cider vinegar with a gallon of hot water.
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. You can order a single 32 oz. bottle or gallon of concentrate.
Clean off general surface dirt with vinegar. White vinegar or apple cider vinegar (without the mother) cuts through grime. It's an excellent option to spiff up your vinyl floor without chemicals. Vinegar is also great for removing any floor stickiness.
When cleaning your vinyl, only use water, a soft sponge, and a light non-detergent soap. Harsh chemicals and abrasive clothes can damage the fabric's surface and lead to quality degradation. Once you are done cleaning, wipe the fabric surface clean, and dry it with a soft cloth.
Combine 50/50 white vinegar and distilled, deionized water OR 1 teaspoon dish soap with 1 liter warm distilled, deionized water in a plastic spray bottle and shake to combine. Spray the solution on your record and let it sit for 5 minutes.
Dawn is great at cutting through grease in dirty pans, but it also does the same thing on vinyl floors.
Some other things to avoid are commercial cleaning products (i.e. Windex, Comet, Borax, etc.)
Of course, you can wash your records like you would your dishes. Simply put a few drops of dish soap into a tub of water. Avoid using tap water if you are creating your own solution. This will help to keep minerals that could damage the vinyl away from the records that you are cleaning.
One of the best vinyl plank flooring cleaners is a cup of apple cider or white vinegar in a gallon of hot water. Dampen your mop, and mop your vinyl plank flooring in the direction of the planks. The vinegar will tackle dirt, grime, and stains without leaving behind streaks or a sudsy mess.
Vinyl Records can start to warp at around 60°C (140°F) so make sure never to leave them in a car if transporting on a hot day… or take them down to the beach… On the other hand, don't keep them too cold, they can become brittle and shatter much easier.
Some cleaners can chemically react with the vinyl composition, so it's important to use gentle cleaners with inorganic solvents and water-soluble surfactants. For example, water, hydrogen peroxide, and anything containing alkyl sulfates is gentle enough to use on your vinyl siding.
Clean thoroughly with the vinegar and water solution to remove any traces of lubrication. For food stains from grape juice, mustard, ketchup, tomato sauce and the like, make a paste of baking soda and water and gently rub the stain until it disappears. Clean thoroughly to remove any traces of baking soda.
Choose the Right Cleaner
In fact, according to Bob Vila: One of the best cleansers for vinyl flooring is apple cider vinegar. The acidity in the vinegar helps remove dirt and grime without leaving a buildup of soap or wax.
TLDR: choose a safe vinyl cleaning solution; remove dust and static; inspect your vinyl; clean it with your chosen vinyl cleaning solution; dry it; put it away again. 'Dry cleaning' with an anti-static brush - but without use of any solution - is a good minimum standard to keep your records in decent shape.
You should avoid cleaning vinyl records with alcohol. Although it's an effective cleaning agent, the alcohol will destroy the protective coating of the vinyl over time. Isopropyl alcohol, however, is a popular ingredient in many DIY record-cleaning fluids.
A: A recent 85-page paper titled “Precision Aqueous Cleaning of Vinyl Records” has been posted/published. The paper prominently uses Liquinox® Critical Cleaning Liquid Detergent as a cleaning recommendation. This lines up completely with its recommended use as a highly effective, mild, neutral detergent.
“Vinegar is a good cleaner because it's acidic, but when you add dishwashing liquid/dish soap to it (which is a base or neutral) - you neutralise the vinegar. You take away the very thing that makes it work well. “The dishwashing liquid works that well on its own. Adding the vinegar is a pointless step.”