How to clean vinyl floors

Vinyl flooring, or sheet vinyl, is a water-resistant, flexible flooring that can come in a vast array of different designs and is perfect in pretty much every room! It’s also waterproof, making it a great addition to any bathroom or kitchen. However, like any flooring, it needs to be cared for and cleaned properly to ensure it keeps its amazing finish for as long as possible. So, with that in mind, we spoke to our flooring experts (aka floorologists) to find out the best way to clean vinyl floors.

Caring for vinyl flooring

One of our mottos at Tapi is that prevention is often better than cure, and when it comes to vinyl flooring maintenance, that rule definitely applies! Here are some ways in which you can prevent dirt, stains, and marks from ruining your vinyl flooring before you have to take drastic action:

Your furniture can potentially cause dents or scrapes where it comes into contact with your floor. Grab yourself some floor protectors for legs or wheels and minimise the chance of this happening.
Make sure not to drag furniture or heavy items across your floor, as this could cause long-term damage.
Doormats are a great way to make sure you don’t bring grime and dirt into your house and over your flooring – keeping them at external doorways helps keep the dirt at bay.
Avoid wearing outdoor shoes on vinyl flooring where possible, especially high heels or metal-trimmed soles. Vinyl flooring is very hard-wearing, but the constant use of hard shoes will inevitably leave marks.
Using a microfibre brush daily to remove dust and debris will reduce the possibility of damage occurring.
Cleaning up spills and stains as soon as possible will help to keep your vinyl flooring looking good as new for longer. We go into further detail about how to clean vinyl floors below.
And finally, if you have furry family members, it can also help your vinyl flooring if you keep their nails trimmed.

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How to clean vinyl flooring

For the best results, deep cleaning vinyl floors is beneficial from time to time. Here are a few of our Tapi tips on how to clean vinyl floors effectively:

Make sure that when you clean, you use a damp mop or cloth.
It’s important to remember not to use steam cleaners or overly wet mops.
Use a damp cloth or mop to blot accidents as they happen. But if that’s not possible, just take a cloth (wrung-out to almost dry) and move it across the stain lengthways in a zig-zag motion, without applying pressure. Then use a clean cloth to absorb any moisture that’s left.
It’s worth knowing that abrasive cleaners can damage your floor, so we always recommend you test your cleaner before you apply it to your gorgeous Tapi floor.

Tapi Top Tip – Save a small piece of leftover vinyl when your floor is installed to test new cleaning products on first!

Best vinyl flooring cleaner

Wondering about the best way to clean vinyl floors? When it comes to vinyl floor cleaner, we recommend using good old fashioned soapy water. Just mix a tiny amount of washing up liquid into a bucket of warm water. Follow up with a rinse using just plain water to remove any soap residue.

Choosing the right cleaning solution is critical. Harsh chemicals and even natural acidic cleaners, like white vinegar, can dull the finish of your vinyl flooring over time due to their acidity. Try to stick to mild, non-abrasive solutions to preserve your floor’s sheen.

How to clean vinyl flooring FAQs

Got a burning question about vinyl flooring? We’ve answered it below.

FAQs

What is a wear layer?

How can I care for my new vinyl flooring?

More FAQs

How to clean vinyl floor that has nail polish and felt tip pen marks

We’ve all been there. First, use a clean cloth and spot cleaner. Try to keep the cleaner just on the stain itself. Then wipe with a damp cloth to remove any residue.

How to clean vinyl floor when there’s a drink spill

Act as fast as you can on these, or they may stain. Wipe them away, straight away, with an absorbent cloth. If the stain has dried already, don’t worry, just dampen the cloth slightly first.

How to clean vinyl floor after fat and oil spills

Fatty or oily spits and spills are common, especially in the kitchen. And keeping the little ones happy with a bar of chocolate seemed like such a good idea at the time until half of it ended up on your floor. But it’s OK. Just use a floor spot cleaner and you’ll be right as rain in no time.

Can you steam clean vinyl flooring?

You shouldn’t steam vinyl flooring, because although hardwearing vinyl is water resistant, the heat that comes from standard steam mops is too intense for the materials that make up vinyl flooring. It could potentially cause the tiles to warp and melt the glue with which the flooring is attached – you’ll find out more about this in our ‘What is vinyl?’ flooring guide. We advise using a damp (not sopping wet) mop or cloth with warm soapy water when cleaning vinyl floors.

If you've taken our advice, you should feel prepared with the best way to clean vinyl floors. If you need any further assistance or want to chat with one of our team, you can get in touch via phone or email. While you’re here, why not take a look at our gorgeous collection of luxury vinyl tiles, or have a read of our vinyl vs carpet and laminate vs vinyl guides, if you're struggling to decide which flooring is right for you.

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