Luxury Vinyl Care and Maintenance
Luxury vinyl flooring is a beautiful addition to any home. Durability and easy care are just two of the many attractive benefits of this flooring type.
A simple luxury vinyl care routine and maintenance is all you need to keep vinyl flooring looking like new for years to come.
One great advantage of vinyl flooring is that it’s highly durable, so you don’t need a complicated maintenance routine to keep your floors looking great. We have put together a list of simple luxury vinyl care steps that were gathered from all of our manufacturers.
Sweep or Dry Mop Daily
Luxury vinyl is highly durable, but dirt and debris can scratch the surface like any other hard flooring. Over time, scratches can leave your floor looking dull.
Dry mop or sweep daily to prevent scratches and keep your floor looking its best. Make it a part of your daily routine, or invest in a robotic vacuum that will do the work for you. Just make sure that you choose a model that is designed for vinyl flooring and doesn’t have a beater bar.
Taking a little time each day to mop or sweep will keep your floors looking like new and prevent dirt from scratching the surface.
Use a Microfiber Mop
Some types of mops and cleaning pads can be very abrasive. A Microfiber mop will attract any little bits of dust, pet hair, or dirt missed by dry mopping. We recommend getting one by Bona.
We recommend avoiding using a traditional mop and bucket of water because it only spreads water around the floor without actually cleaning. While luxury vinyl is water-proof, it is not recommended to soak your floors.
Another thing you want to avoid is using a steam mop. While convenient and easy to use, steam mops can damage and warp vinyl floors.
Using a damp microfiber mop with the appropriate cleaner will keep your floors looking their best without damaging them. A great alternative to a store purchased cleaner is lukewarm water with a bit of mild soap.
Clean Spills As Soon As They Happen
To keep any type of flooring looking like new, it’s important to clean up spills right away to prevent staining or other damage.
Never Drag Furniture
Moving heavy furniture can be a chore. It’s tempting just to slide or drag the furniture around the room, but doing so can damage your vinyl flooring. Furniture pads are relatively inexpensive and can save you a floor repair in the future.
To protect your floors, lift the furniture up off the floor and move it. Alternatively, you can purchase furniture sliders that are made for vinyl flooring. Sliders make it easier to move heavy pieces of furniture without damaging your floors.
Avoid Using Vacuum with a Beater Bar or Abrasive Cleaners
Dry mopping is the gentlest way to remove dirt and debris from your vinyl floors, but you may prefer to use a vacuum instead. Make sure that you’re not using a vacuum with a beater bar.
Beater bars can damage the floor and scratch the surface, leaving it looking dull.
Also, when mopping your floor, make sure that you’re not using abrasive cleaners or mop pads.
- Never use bleach or ammonia on vinyl floors
Use Floor Protectors on All Furniture
If you have heavy furniture or appliances that you don’t use often, make sure to use floor protectors to prevent damage.
Floor protectors should be:
- Flat
- Non-staining or marring
Use Mats at Entrances and Exits
Quality floor mats can help prevent some dirt and mud getting into the house.
Mats collect and trap dirt, oil, grit, sand and other abrasive materials that can damage your vinyl flooring.
Place mats at every entrance and exit in your home to ensure that your floors are thoroughly protected.
Remove Stains and Spots Carefully
Spills and stains happen. While it’s best to clean them immediately, sometimes accidents happen, and you don’t notice stains until they’ve set in.
Stains are commonly caused by: Mustard, Ketchup, Blood, Dyes, Foods, Juice, Grass, Pet accidents, Rust.
Removing stains and spots from vinyl needs to be done carefully. Always use a clean, light-colored cloth for spot removal and when using vinyl flooring products:
- Start by cleaning the area with an appropriate floor cleaner.
- Next, scrub the area with a non-abrasive white scrubbing pad.
- If removing spots from permanent marker, pen ink, hair dye or nail polish, treat the area with isopropyl alcohol.
- To remove rust, use cream of tartar.
- Finally, rinse with clean water, and buff dry with a clean cloth
