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.
Dawn is great at cutting through grease in dirty pans, but it also does the same thing on vinyl floors.
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. Simply mix one cup of cider vinegar with a gallon of hot water and use a damp mop to clean, rinsing the mop frequently with hot water.
Some other things to avoid are commercial cleaning products (i.e. Windex, Comet, Borax, etc.)
You should avoid using isopropyl alcohol or cleaning solutions that have isopropyl alcohol in them to clean your records. Isopropyl alcohol will clean your records fine, but with time it damages the protective coating on the 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.
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.
Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, will not harm most surfaces, including acrylic, sealed fiberglass, sealed granite, finished hardwood and vinyl. Not recommended for use on unpainted wood. Not recommended for use on unfinished, unsealed, unpainted, waxed, oiled or worn flooring.
To clean your vinyl floors, you can use a gallon of water mixed with 1 cup of apple cider vinegar. This is a very effective solution for removing all sorts of stains from vinyl floors. You'll also need to pour a second bucket of hot clean water mixed with nothing.
“My preference for vinyl floors is equal parts water, white vinegar, and rubbing alcohol—add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to give it a little scent,” Rapinchuk explains.
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.
Playing dirty or dusty records can also prematurely wear down or even damage your grooves. If you don't have an anti-static record brush, you can use a clean microfiber cloth instead. Avoid using anything dirty, abrasive, or prone to shedding such as paper towels, dish rags, or clothing.
There are certain things that you should most definitely avoid when cleaning vinyl. The most contentious of the lot and one that will have a few readers and some hi-fi journalists up in arms is pure, isopropyl alcohol (as opposed to the remnants of your last vodka and tonic). This stuff can be disastrous for vinyl.
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.
3) DIY with Vinegar
If you're like a lot of homeowners, you might be wondering, Does vinegar damage vinyl? Though the acidic substance can wear down porous surfaces like granite and hardwood, we're happy to tell you it's actually really great for cleaning LVT.
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.
Swiffer wet cloths are designed to be used on most floor surfaces, such as: vinyl.
Vinyl Flooring “Don'ts”
Don't use wax or solvent-based polishes. Don't use ammonia or ammonia-based cleaning solutions. Ammonia can break down the vinyl and cause it to crack.
You don't need to dilute Lysol's multipurpose cleaner because you can use it at full strength on vinyl floors. Once you apply solution to the entire floor, allow it to sit for about five minutes to fully disinfect the floor. Frequently rinse and wring out the mop when it gets dirty.
If your floor is especially dirty, try adding a few drops of liquid dish washing soap to the mixture before mopping once with the soap mixture, a second time with vinegar and water. To add shine to your vinyl floor, add a few drops of baby oil to the vinegar and water solution.
For removing scuff marks from ceramic/vinyl floors, the best tool is the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Extra Durable. It has 50 percent more power than the Magic Eraser Original, so it's stronger and lasts longer. All you have to do to get started is add water!
The Bona Hard-Surface Floor Cleaner Family
Our hard surface floor cleaners are formulated for linoleum, stone, terrazzo, vinyl, sealed porous marble, laminate, LVT, and no-wax sealed tile (includes ceramic, Mexican Saltillo and quarry).