How to Clean Vinyl Plank Flooring

One of the many reasons why people choose vinyl plank flooring for their homes is because of the material’s durability.

Vinyl plank floors hold up well to heavy traffic and continue to look great over the years. They require attention in your regular cleaning chores, but you need to know how to clean them properly to avoid causing damage.

What Is Vinyl Plank Flooring?

Vinyl plank flooring is an alternative to hardwood floors. This is a synthetic material that is comparable to wood in appearance. However, it is generally a more affordable material. It also is less likely to be damaged by moisture, and it will continue to look great in your home over many years when it is properly cared for.

What’s the Difference Between Vinyl Plank Flooring & Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) Flooring?

Luxury vinyl plank, or LVP, flooring is an alternative to standard vinyl plank flooring. Luxury vinyl is also available in tiles and is referred to at LVT. The standard vinyl floor is comprised of a fiberglass or felt backing as well as a thin piece of vinyl that is imprinted with the wood design and texture.

LVP, on the other hand, adds a wear layer between the backing and the upper vinyl layer. The thickness of this wear layer varies, and makes the planks or tiles more rigid. Often several wear layers are added as well as a topcoat layer for extra shine. LVP also comes with a cushion layer, which is made out of foam.

Regardless of the type of vinyl plank flooring in your home, the care instructions are the same.

What Is the Best Way to Clean Vinyl Plank Flooring

Every day or two, remove the dust, pet hair and dirt by sweeping or vacuuming the floor. If you vacuum the floor, avoid using the beater as this can damage the vinyl.

On a weekly basis, mop the flooring. You can mop with plain water or with a homemade solution. Combine a cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to a gallon of water for a natural, safe cleaning solution.

If the floors are filthy, squirt a couple of drops of liquid dish soap into the solution as well. Your floors will get sticky if you add too much soap. If you choose to add dish soap to the solution, you should mop the floors a second time using only vinegar and water to clean away the soap.

From time to time, add a couple of drops of baby oil to the solution to brighten up dull flooring. As an alternative to these homemade solutions, you can buy a product at your local store.

Here are more tips on how you can easily clean and maintain your vinyl plank flooring like a pro:

More Vinyl Floor Maintenance Tips (Do’s & Dont’s)

Do’s:

• Do use a doormat to reduce the amount of dirt that enters your home.
• Do add rubber or felt pads to the bottom of your furniture to protect the vinyl plank flooring.
• Do put the furniture on a rug or sheet if you need to move it.

Don’t:

• Don’t steam clean vinyl plank flooring.
• Don’t clean the floor with ammonia or products that contain ammonia.
• Don’t use abrasive cleaning products, such as steel wool or scrubbers.

How to Remove Scuffs and Stains on Vinyl Plank Floors

Mopping the floors will remove most scuff marks from vinyl plank flooring. However, if you are faced with stubborn scuffs and stains that your mop can’t tackle, you can remove the blemishes with a hardware lubricant.

Apply a small amount of jojoba oil to a clean, soft towel. Rub the mark gently until it is removed. You can then use a mixture of water and distilled white vinegar to remove the oil from the floor.

FAQs

How Often to Clean Vinyl Plank Flooring

Spills should be cleaned up from your vinyl plank flooring as soon as possible. Items that can stain the floor, such as marker, lipstick, ink and others, should be removed promptly as well with safe methods. Depending on the type of stain, baking soda, rubbing alcohol, acetone nail polish remover or mineral spirits may be effective. Only scrub the stains with a soft brush.

Your vinyl plank flooring may require sweeping every day or two, depending on how many people and pets live in the home. Scuff removal and mopping the floor can be done every week.

Do You Need to Wax Your Vinyl?

Waxing your vinyl flooring is unnecessary, and it can actually damage the floors. If the flooring looks dull, combine a small amount of baby oil with a solution of white vinegar and water.

Mop the floor with this solution to disinfect the surface and create a lovely sheen. Any store-bought product, such as wax or polishes, should be avoided. These products create a film that builds up over time and dulls the flooring.

Can I Use Swiffer Wet on Vinyl Plank Flooring?

You can use a dry Swiffer mophead rather than a standard mophead. The Swiffer can be used with your homemade cleaning solution or with plain water. The Swiffer WetJet pads, however, should not be used.

Keeping up with your floors is only one of many important home cleaning chores that require your time and energy regularly. Rather than devote hours of time to regular cleaning chores each week, let the pros do the work for you. Schedule your first cleaning service with Cleanzen today.