When it comes to different flooring types, there are so many options on the market today. It even becomes a bit difficult to follow. But it is also a good thing. The plethora of choices we have ensure that everyone can find the perfect flooring for their home. Depending on your needs, wants and your budget, you can make the interior beautiful for years to come. Of course, every floor demands different maintenance, so before you decide on a type, make sure you do your research to make an informed decision. This is why we are talking about how to clean vinyl plank floor in this article.
Vinyl plank floors are popular for their low cost and low maintenance. But they are still durable and you can find them in many different designs. They are usually found in bedrooms, living rooms and occasionally bathrooms and kitchens. This means they are very versatile and you do not have to worry about water getting on to them and destroying them. The important thing is that you take proper care of your vinyl plank flooring and it will last for a long time
Daily Cleaning Vinyl Plank Floor
As with anything, daily maintenance is the best way to keep your flooring fresh and clean all the time. Of course, we know that no one has time to thoroughly clean every day, so here are some ways to keep the dirt away from your vinyl.
Let us talk vacuums first. A cordless stick vacuum can be a great tool to have for everyday pickups. It is lightweight and since there is no cord, there is no hassle. As a matter of fact, any cordless vacuum is useful when you want something that will not take a lot of time to take out and get up and running. Why are we mentioning vacuums? Every type of flooring requires you to pick up dirt before you go on with mopping and cleaning solutions. You do not want to drag all the food crumbs and hair around the floor while you are mopping.
Speaking of daily cleaning, a robot vacuum may be your next best friend. You can program it and it does all the work for you. So basically, you can get back home and your vinyl floors will be there, nice and clean. You can then get down to some more serious cleaning. This little robot actually makes daily cleaning possible.
Vacuuming is great, but mopping regularly is also important. For daily mopping, it is enough to go over the floors with warm water. But now we will talk about deep cleaning.
Deep Cleaning Vinyl Plank Floor
When deep cleaning, mopping is a must. You, of course, need to vacuum before, and you can use an upright vacuum for that if you do not own other types of vacuums. It is very important that the vacuum you use does not have any scrubbing actions since that will damage the vinyl over time.
After that, it is time for moping. You can use a mixture of warm water and dish soap when your floors are mostly clean. For a bit more cleaning power, mix water and two spoons of white vinegar, with a bit of dish soap, and clean away. Alternatively, you can look at whether the floor manufacturer recommends any specific cleaners for your particular floors. This should yield the best results.
After you are done with going over the floors with a solution, you need to go back over it with clean water. Never drench your vinyl with water, it is typically not good for any type of flooring. It also will not give you better results, so there is no point in doing it. Use a moderate amount of water for optimal results.
Speaking of mopping, we need to tackle an important question here and it is the type of mop you use. When you have vinyl floors, you need to avoid any scrub brushes. That holds for mops as well. Ideally, you will get a microfiber mop which will do the job but keep your floors looking new as well.
Cleaners for Vinyl Plank Floors
We already mentioned the mixtures you can use to clean your flooring, but let us go into a bit more detail. It is important to use cleaners specifically for no-wax floors. That is if you do not have flooring which requires waxing. Your vinyl is already coated with clear polyurethane, so if you use wax or waxing products on it, you will just make a mess. If you want the vinyl to keep shining, you can use polish for no-wax floors.
Typically, older vinyl will be waxed, so you should be careful with that. When you clean, do not be too harsh. No excess rubbing and scraping will save the coat of wax on the floors. Finally, always rinse the cleaner you use. Do not be lazy to do that since it will have an effect on how clean your floors are and their life span.
Protecting Your Vinyl Floor from Damage
We know this is not directly related to cleaning, but it is still maintained. You can clean the vinyl every day, but in vain if you do not know how to protect it. So here are some tips.
Have a doormat in front of your house and remind everyone to use it. This will keep small stones and abrasive dirt out of your home and away from floors. If you are going to move any heavy furniture, put it on plywood to prevent scuffs. You can also put felt tips underneath other furniture for the same purpose. Also, avoid getting furniture with rolling casters, since they will definitely scratch the floors.
If the scuffs happen, you can try rubbing some oil to remove them. If it does not work, it means the scuff is too deep and you may need to replace the whole floor piece.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, it is not so difficult to learn how to clean vinyl plank flooring. With a plain old canister vacuum, a microfiber mop and a bucket of water, you can easily keep your vinyl fresh, clean and shiny.