Everyone loves having hardwood flooring in their homes, but vinyl floors offer their own set of benefits that make them a perfect complement to any space too.
Not only is this material pet-friendly, but it is also water-resistant, making them very simple to maintain. Water doesn't stain vinyl flooring, unlike laminate or hardwood floors. Therefore you won't have to hurry to dry them. Depending on the size of your space, cleaning vinyl floors should take no more than five minutes.
You can effectively clean your vinyl flooring in a number of methods, ranging from using commercial cleaners to making your own cleaning solutions. All you'll need for this chore is a bucket and a mop, as well as a few common products likely already available in your house.
In addition to the best mop for Vinyl plank floors , we will introduce some methods for cleaning common household messes. Once you've memorized them, cleaning your vinyl floor is just a breeze.
WD-40
Before you begin mopping, inspect your vinyl flooring for any persistent scuff marks that you must remove. If you're having trouble removing a stain or mark, your best bet is to use the WD-40 lubricant.
You can treat the scuff with WD-40 and use a soft cloth to rub it away. This product doesn't just displace water and prevents rust, but it also efficiently dissolves dirt and grime, making it a useful cleaning tool.
Think about using it to clean grout, remove stains from stainless steel, dull the sheen on hardwood floors, and remove scuff marks from your tile flooring, among other applications. You may use WD-40 not just to lubricate a rusty bike chain or repair a squeaky hinge but also to handle household cleaning chores.
Dish Soap
While off-the-shelf floor cleaners can be used to clean vinyl plank floors, it is also a good idea to double-check the labels to ensure that these cleaner products are vinyl-safe.
It is important to note that traditional "mop and shine" products on the market may create a dull layer on the floor, attracting additional dirt and dust. And this isn't the outcome we're aiming for.
To solve this problem, instead of using a cleaning solution, mix a few drops of liquid soap into warm water. This simple solution is powerful enough to clean your vinyl floors properly. A plus point is that you don't have to purchase an additional bottle of cleaning products once in a while to finish the task.
The only disadvantage of this procedure is that you must rinse your floor afterward. Otherwise, soap may build up on the surface.
Vinegar
If you don't want to waste time rinsing your flooring, skip the dish soap solution in favor of one made with apple cider vinegar and warm water. Just keep in mind that this is a gentler solution that may not be as successful in cleaning high-traffic areas like your kitchen.
Simply mix apple cider vinegar and warm water to make the solution. The acidity in vinegar from apples can dissolve the grime on vinyl floors in the same manner that soap would, albeit without a soapy film.
This means you won't have to go through the additional process of rinsing your flooring once you've washed it. If you want to disinfect your flooring in areas like the mudroom or bathroom, you may use white vinegar in place of apple cider vinegar.
Baking Soda
If you spilled red spaghetti sauce or red wine on the kitchen floor, you could tackle the stained area with baking soda.
If you weren't able to remove the spot quickly enough and let a dark stain form on the vinyl floor, a paste made of baking soda and water can help reduce the discoloration. Baking soda creates an abrasive solution paste, meaning it can help get rid of stains from your flooring without hurting the underlying vinyl.
If the stain does not disappear, repeat applying the paste until you see the discoloration start to fade. You may also use this paste to remove dirt buildup because the baking soda also helps dissolve it. Wash away the baking soda with a soft cloth when the stain has been removed.
Baby Oil
When your vinyl floor gets duller, give it a shine boost with baby oil. You just need some drops to do this, so don't go overboard with the quantity. We recommend a few drops in warm water. If you want to disinfect and polish the surface at the same time, add a cup of vinegar to the mix.
The dull shine on the vinyl is caused by buildup, which can be removed using white vinegar and its natural acidity. On the other hand, the vinyl will get an additional boost of shine from the baby oil, a natural polish, once you have fully stripped it off all the dirt.
Rubbing Alcohol
Permanent marker, ink, and grease are just a few of the stains that seem to be permanently etched into vinyl flooring. After using baking soda and WD-40 without success, you may need to resort to rubbing alcohol to remove the stain.
Because rubbing alcohol straight to stains might result in streaks, we suggested starting by using Windex on the worst stains first. The next step is to pour some rubbing alcohol into a microfiber cloth and then apply the cloth to the stain.
To keep the stain from spreading and making a greater mess, dab at it from the outside in. When the stain starts to move from the floor to the cloth, switch to clean sections to avoid re-staining the flooring.
Shampoo
It is a great idea to use shampoo on hairspray buildup. Just mix some of it with warm water and use a damp vinyl floor mop to wash the hairspray away.
Dawn Dish Soap
If a dish shop or a vinegar solution combo isn't cutting it when it comes to cleaning the vinyl flooring in your kitchen, consider adding Dawn dish soap to your cleaning solution.
Dawn is an excellent product for removing oil and grime from filthy cookware, but it also has the same effect on vinyl flooring. We suggest missing a few sprays of Dawn into a bucket of warm water to clean around the stove. This will get rid of those sticky, persistent spots and make cleaning much simpler.
Just be careful not to use too much water since this might damage your vinyl flooring. The goal here is to avoid soaking your vinyl floor. Excess moisture may infiltrate beneath the vinyl and cause warping and deterioration.
Laundry Soap
If you feel as if you can never completely clean your vinyl flooring, there is a TikTok trick with the best mop for vinyl floors that can leave them shining again: mixing warm water with liquid laundry detergent.
Try using a microfiber mop because this material sweeps up dirt from the floor and the laundry soap releases dirt from the mop even when it's dunked back into the dirty water. It's an excellent disinfectant, extremely concentrated, cheap, and smells fantastic.
Compared to commercial products, we love the efficacy of laundry soap and its higher concentration of cleaning chemicals.
According to The King Live, always prefer low-impact methods first. Don't blast a small spill away with a heavy-duty cleaner right away, which can be overkill.
Check out milder cleaning methods, such as regular sweeping and vacuuming. You should also wipe spills up immediately - you would be surprised by how much this simple step can solve. Only resort to the best mop for Vinyl plank floors when your floor still has some dirt that a vacuum can't remove.
Sweep and vacuum on a regular basis, ideally every day. It is the best way to keep your vinyl flooring in good shape all the time. Even when using mops for vinyl floors, try warm water first. Use other options when everything has failed.
No-wax vinyl flooring should not be waxed with any liquid or paste wax. It will create buildup and destroy the finish. To restore the shine of a no-wax floor, apply a commercial sealant designed for no-wax flooring.
Never scrub vinyl flooring with a stiff-bristled brush or steel wool unless you want to mark it with permanent scratches.
Doormats and rugs should be placed in front of each door to prevent damage from dirt and grit that people and pets bring to the house.
Protect your floors from damage caused by heavy furniture like chairs or tables by using felt-backed protectors. Also, take the wheels off your furniture to avoid scratching. Do not ever pull anything heavy over a vinyl floor. When moving appliances and furniture, use a piece of plywood to avoid tears and scruffs.
Conclusion
Already get the best mop for vinyl floors? Great. But that purchase isn't the whole picture. There are a whole host of other things you need to remember to take care of your flooring.
Using the right cleaner is the first step. Commercial products are widely available, and many of them work wonders. But in many situations, you don't need them. Just use some ingredients and items around your home, and you will be able to tackle a wide range of common messes.
That said, it is never a bad idea to pick up the right mop for your floor. It is useful for regular cleaning too. Check out recommendations at the “Best Mops for Vinyl Floors: Top Rated and Reviewed” guide.