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How to clean vinyl floors – 11 tips for proper cleaning

Vinyl is one of the best options for the floor because it is a resistant and economical material. With these 11 tips you will learn how to clean vinyl floors to keep them in optimal conditions and avoid damages such as dents,scratches,among others.

1- Have a mat in the entrance

To keep a vinyl floor in good condition,the first thing to do is to keep it from getting dirty. Having a carpet in the entrance of your home will help you with the two main problems that can affect your vinyl floor: dirt and chemicals. If a lot of dirt comes in from the street,your floor will get dirty quickly.

Besides,small things like sand that we may think are harmless can damage your vinyl floor because they can deteriorate the floor’s finish. Another point where you benefit from carpet is that chemicals that can stick to the soles of your shoes,such as those in asphalt,can cause the vinyl floor to yellow.

2- Sweeping every day

A vital factor in keeping your floor in top condition is daily sweeping,and this is important for everyone,including vinyl floors. Cleaning before dirt builds up will help the vinyl stay in good condition. One recommendation is that every night after dinner and washing the dishes you sweep the entire kitchen with a broom,and thus prevent the accumulation of dirt.

3- Use shampoo to remove hairspray stains

You may not know it,but shampoo is an excellent product for cleaning vinyl floors. If your vinyl floor has any hairspray stains,just use shampoo to remove them. The same way it works on hair,it will work on the floor. Pour some shampoo into a gallon of warm water,wipe with this mixture and finish by rinsing with a damp cloth.

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4- Avoid harsh cleaning products

Although many of these types of products are efficient at cleaning,they can cause damage to the vinyl floor. Therefore,it is always best to use simple methods to clean vinyl floors,such as daily sweeping and vacuuming,if something spills clean it at once.

For places where you can’t sweep up the dirt with a broom,you can use a damp cloth with warm water. In case you need something else,you can use soap,but one that is special for cleaning vinyl.

5- Use special vinyl floor cleaners

Keep in mind that vinyl flooring requires unique,no-wax care. Always use a special cleaner for this type of material,and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. However,if your vinyl floor is old and you feel it needs waxing,use warm water and detergent.

First,wet a sponge with this mixture,and then scrub the floor to remove the dirt. Be careful not to scrub the wax as it will need to be reapplied. It is recommended that you rinse it with cold water,even if the manufacturer’s label says it is not necessary,because otherwise residue may remain on the floor.

6- Do not wet your vinyl excessively

We should always keep in mind that water will not always be the best choice to clean any material,especially not the best cleaner for vinyl floors. If you clean your vinyl floor with a very wet cloth it will cause seams,cracks and edges. After that,the possibility of glue damage keeps the vinyl attached to the floor,which will cause the floor to peel off or the corners to be damaged,curling up.

7- Make sure to completely remove the soap from the floor

Soap is indeed a good vinyl floor cleaner,but you have to be very careful,as soap always leaves a trail of dirt. For this reason,you must make sure that if you use soap to clean your floor,you completely remove it when you clean,so the best option is to clean with a mop that is only moistened with water,so that you can remove any soap residue that may remain on the floor.

8- Always keep your floor shiny

If it happens that your floor loses its shine,you should restore it with a vinyl tile waterproof sealant or polish for unwaxed floors. First,you must clean your floor completely,once the floor is completely clean,apply one or even two thin coats.

This should preserve your floor’s shine for at least a year by simply wiping it down with a damp cloth every day. If your floor may have been in use for a long time,remember to only wax it when it loses all its shine,following the directions on the label of the container.

9- Protect your floor from your furniture

In our homes we have many heavy objects such as our fridge or a large piece of furniture. These objects,due to their enormous weight,are usually kept in the same place,which in time causes dents in the floor. The best way to avoid this damage to your floor is to put floor protectors on it,they are easy to acquire and to place.

10- Do not use roller wheels on your furniture

Do not use the roller wheels,we know that they make it more comfortable for us to move heavy furniture. This type of wheel usually damages the floor surface. Therefore,it is better to install chairs that have felt tips that will not cause any damage to your vinyl floor.

11- If you are moving or moving the heaviest appliances,place them all on a plywood path.

It is quite common that when we need to move heavy appliances in our homes (refrigerators,furniture,etc.) we push them all over the floor,this will completely scratch the vinyl floor. To avoid these scratches and keep our floor in perfect condition,we recommend placing a piece of plywood and then not pushing the appliances down the plywood path.

Thanks for your time reading this article. Visit the Author’s site here: CoverTec