Vinyl flooring is one of the most accommodating and aesthetically pleasing floor coverings. If you’re wondering about its maintenance, how to clean it, and even how to make it shine, you’ve come to the right place!
Our vinyl flooring experts at Tapis André Viau give you the best advice on how to clean your floor like a pro.
How hard is it to maintain vinyl flooring?
There are a few rare disadvantages to vinyl flooring, but cleaning is clearly not one of them. Maintaining a vinyl floor is simple and can be done mostly with simple methods and economical products.
Before we get into the nitty gritty of vinyl floor cleaning, let’s talk about the importance of maintenance.
Preventive measures before cleaning
To effectively clean your floor, it’s best to start with the right steps. Regular prevention is the key!
- First of all, have an entrance rug for the house. Very useful especially in winter, you will make sure to get rid of the dirt lodged in your soles.
- In fact, always remove your shoes indoors and exchange them with slippers! Not only is it more comfortable, but you’ll be preserving whatever flooring you have – the same goes for wall-to-wall carpet care, for example.
- Place rugs in strategic areas of the house, such as the kitchen and bathroom, where you are more likely to soil the floor as you go about your business. There’s always a good reason to buy a rug, and we’re not going to tell you otherwise!
- When you drop something, like liquid in the kitchen, don’t wait until the last minute to wipe it up! Get the reflex to immediately grab a paper towel and pick up the stain. If you wait, you run the risk of the moisture setting in or the substance becoming sticky and more difficult to clean.
How to clean vinyl plank flooring
Vinyl flooring requires only inexpensive tools and products. You can always clean your floor with a special product sold in stores, whether it contains wax or not, but our tips focus on natural substances.
Let’s review the essentials: 1) dusting, 2) the product to use and 3) salvage materials.
1. The broom or vacuum cleaner
Before moving on to wet cleaning, it is important to get rid of excess dirt. Daily sweeping, or even vacuum cleaning, is important for this.
Why is this so important? It’s also about the long-term preservation of your vinyl floor. Indeed, it is enough that you have small pebbles on the floor for a blow of slipper to drag it along and scratch your floor!
2. Natural products
The use of natural products is preferable for the good maintenance of your floor. Here are some of them.
White or cider vinegar for gentle cleaning
Vinegar, despite its acidity, provides good cleaning when mixed with water. It is the most used solution, even in terms of cleaning other surfaces. You can pour a glass of vinegar in two liters of warm water. Spray this solution on the floor or dip your mop in it.
Baking soda
The abrasive aspect of baking soda is still very mild, which is why it is effective in removing tough stains without scratching the vinyl floor. You can put baking soda in a bowl and add a little water until you get a paste. Use it on the marks on your floor and enjoy the results!
Soapy water for deep cleaning
Persistent stains can also be removed with soap or dishwashing liquid. Just put a small amount in water, the equivalent of one tablespoon in 2 liters of water, and watch the magic happen.
Jojoba oil for scratches
If you want to get rid of small scratches, you can use jojoba oil on a microfiber cloth. Please note that we are not talking about real scratches where the oil will not be enough.
What not to do: We strongly advise against the use of chemical products. They contain abrasive substances that will dull and damage the quality of your vinyl floor over the long term. Natural products have never been so good when it comes to floor care!
3. Soft materials for finishing
Earlier, we told you that dirt such as small pebbles could damage your vinyl, especially by scratching it. In the same way, some brushes could also scratch the floor. That’s why it’s best to use microfiber cloths when you want to clean a stain, or use a soft bristle brush. Don’t press too hard.
After spraying your floor with a cleaning solution, you can then use a microfiber mop to recover the dirt.
How to make vinyl plank floors shine?
To shine a vinyl floor, it is not necessary to use wax. In fact, the latest models of vinyl flooring are not always compatible, and you risk leaving marks rather than making the floor shine.
You can put a little black soap in your cleaning solution and see if it works on a small area before doing the whole room!
Your vinyl flooring can be found at Tapis André Viau
If you now wish to change your vinyl flooring due to years of wear and tear, you should know that we have various models available. We are not only salesmen, but also vinyl flooring application experts in the Greater Montreal area.
Come see us in store if you need advice or if you wish to discover our vinyl plank flooring. We’ll be happy to tell you more and advise you on how to make your home look great!
