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.
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.
Professionals clean vinyl floors using specially formulated cleaning solutions and hot water extraction. The combination of these methods delivers powerful vinyl floor cleaning action that leaves your vinyl look brand new.
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.
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.
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.
Swiffer wet cloths are designed to be used on most floor surfaces, such as: vinyl.
While vinegar is a common ingredient in many homemade floor cleaners, it shouldn't be used on certain household surfaces because it can cause damage. Fortunately, luxury vinyl flooring isn't one of those surfaces. In fact, apple cider vinegar makes an excellent vinyl floor cleaner.
Find and use the correct soap for your vinyl floor – a no-wax vinyl floor for example means you can't use wax, so make sure there isn't any in your floor cleaner. Always use a cleaner made for use on your vinyl floor.
Bona's hard surface floor cleaner is the best floor cleaner for laminate, vinyl, tile, stone and other hard surface floors.
DO NOT use All-Purpose or Multi-Purpose cleaners, detergents, abrasive cleaners or “mop and shine” type products (such as Bleach, Pine-Sol, Clorox Soft Scrub, Fabuloso, Rejuvenate, Mop & Glo, Mr. Clean, Murphy's Oil Soap and similar, unapproved cleaners), as they will dull the finish and sheen of the flooring material.
Regular mopping with a mild detergent mixed with warm water is recommended instead of harsh chemicals which could damage the finish over time. Taking the time to properly maintain your vinyl plank floors can help them look great for years.
Overall, microfiber mops have more pros than Swiffer mops. Microfiber mops can be used as a two-in-one to both sweep and mop at the same time. However, a Swiffer mop can typically only clean after the sweeping has already been done.
To that end, rather than using a cleaning product, take a bucket of warm water and mix it with a few drops of dish soap. This simple cleaning solution will be strong enough to effectively clean your floors, with the added bonus of not requiring you to buy an extra cleaning product each month to complete the chore.
An important cleaning tip for cleaning vinyl plank floors? Whatever you do, do not use steam mops. Steam cleaning is tempting because of its reputation for sanitizing. But the hot steam can penetrate the layers of your vinyl and cause them to bend and warp as well as loosen the glue that holds them together.
One essential tip for maintaining your luxury vinyl floor is not to mop too often. Once a week or twice a month is plenty.
Con: LVP May Dent
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. However, do know that LVP resists scratches better than real hardwood.
Luxury vinyl planks (or tiles) are, in themselves, completely water-proof and cannot be damaged by exposure to moisture. For that reason they are an excellent choice for laundry rooms, bathrooms, kitchens and other areas where moisture is around.
Polish your floors with an pH neutral vinyl cleaner and mop going in the direction of the grain. Alternatively, use diluted vinegar or rubbing alcohol to make your floors shine. Wipe your floor with a damp cloth or mop after using cleaner to remove residue.