How to clean Karndean flooring

One of the many benefits of Karndean luxury vinyl flooring is that it’s so easy to keep clean. If you live in a busy household with lots of visitors, children, or pets, then durable, low maintenance flooring for communal spaces should be top of your flooring wish list. With a lifetime warranty, Karndean flooring will stand the test of time against everyday wear and tear, but a little cleaning and care is required now and then to keep it looking good for years to come.

As flooring experts, we’ll talk you through the best way to clean Karndean flooring and how to tackle those stubborn stains and marks. We’ll also answer the most frequently asked questions around cleaning Karndean flooring and share our favourite cleaning and flooring care tips.

In this guide:

• The best way to clean Karndean flooring
• Removing stains and marks from Karndean flooring
• Can you steam clean Karndean flooring?
• How to make Karndean flooring shine
• Tips for cleaning Karndean flooring

The best way to clean Karndean flooring

So, your Karndean flooring is in place and it looks fantastic – but how do you keep it that way? If you’re wondering how to clean Karndean flooring, there’s only a few simple steps you need to follow.

Daily cleaning

Karndean flooring is protected from spills and scuffs by a clever surface treatment called K-Guard+®, which makes it easy to clean. You can read about this and the many other features and benefits of this wonder floor in our Karndean flooring guide.

For everyday care of Karndean flooring, all that’s needed is a regular sweep with a soft broom to collect any dust and dirt that might scratch the floor. This is then followed by a daily or weekly mop with diluted Karndean Clean or a pH neutral cleaner that’s safe for vinyl flooring. Make sure your Karndean flooring is completely dry before walking on it.

Occasional refresh

To make your flooring look as good as new again, Karndean recommend treating your floor with extra TLC every six to twelve months. By using their special Floor Care Kit, your Karndean flooring will also benefit from renewed protection and added durability.

Remember to always wear protective gloves when using cleaning products and follow these cleaning steps:

1. In a mop bucket, add one part Karndean Remove to five parts clean water.
2. Using a household mop, spread the solution on the floor and leave it to work its magic for five minutes.

• Tapi Top Tip – Set a timer for five minutes to make sure the floor doesn’t dry.

3. Use the blue mop head applicator (attached to your household mop) and the wet coarse white Remove pad from the Karndean Floor Care Kit to scrub the floor.
4. Rinse the floor with a household mop and clean, warm water to remove the residue.
5. Make sure the floor is totally dry and you have completed step 3.
6. Attach a soft white Refresh pad to the blue mop head applicator, then apply a thin, even layer of undiluted Karndean Refresh all over the floor in a widthways direction.
7. Leave to dry for 30 minutes.
8. Repeat this process again, this time in a lengthways direction.
9. Rinse the pad with clean warm water.
10. Leave the floor to dry for at least 6 hours, or for best results, leave overnight.

Removing stains and marks from Karndean flooring

The best way to avoid stains and marks on your lovely Karndean flooring is to clean up spills immediately. We know sometimes that’s not possible, so the next best thing is to act quickly.

Stains

Use undiluted Karndean Clean or Remove on a cloth to spot clean stubborn stains. This should lift the stain without damaging your luxury vinyl flooring.

Scuff marks

Here’s a clever little hack: the black scuff marks caused by shoes or furniture on your luxury vinyl floor can often be buffed out with a tennis ball! Alternatively, dip a slightly damp cloth or non-abrasive scouring pad in a small amount of diluted Karndean Clean and apply the solution to the mark.

How to make Karndean flooring shine

The level of shine on a Karndean floor varies between collections. Some are quite matt and natural, while others have much more of a glossy finish. However, if you’re wondering how to make a Karndean floor shine because it has a dull or streaky appearance after cleaning, then try the following:

• Rinse the floor again to get rid of all traces of Karndean Remove – perhaps it wasn’t removed properly the first time
• Repeat the Karndean Remove and Refresh cleaning process but make sure the floor dries evenly – it sounds like irregular drying of the Refresh step (caused by underfloor heating, strong sunlight, or draughts) has led to a dull and streaky finish
• Make sure you’re using the Karndean Floor Care Kit which has been made especially for luxury vinyl floors

Tips for cleaning Karndean flooring

We have a few more Karndean flooring cleaning tips to keep your luxury vinyl flooring in the best condition over the course of its life:

• Use doormats at all external doors to pick up as much dirt and debris as possible. Make sure they are not rubber-backed to avoid discolouring the floor.
• Avoid using regular household cleaners and bleach-based detergents because they can make the floor slippery and cause discolouration.
• Use felt pads on chair and table legs and try not to drag furniture across your flooring to prevent scratches. We have plenty of advice around how to protect your floors when moving furniture in our care guide.
• Use castor cups on the feet of heavy pieces of furniture to prevent indentations.

If you’d like to learn more about Karndean luxury vinyl flooring and why it could be the best choice for your home, pop into one of our nationwide Tapi stores where our lovely floorologists are waiting to show you samples and help you choose your new flooring. Whether you're searching for Karndean kitchen flooring or flooring that will flow throughout your space, book a home visit and one of our experts will come to you! In the meantime, have a browse through our Ideas Hub library of flooring articles including how to lay Karndean flooring, how thick is Karndean flooring, and our Karndean flooring cost guide.