Vinyl Flooring Cleaning Tips
Life is better when shared with our loved ones, but we know that it can also be very, very messy! Vinyl flooring can stand up to basically everything: pets scratches, spills, water, kids messes. But it still needs care and cleaning to keep it looking its best! Fortunately, cleaning vinyl flooring is extra easy and Green-Cleaning is a substantiable, straightforward and inexpensive process.
Below we teach how to proper Green-Clean Vinyl floors. Why Green-clean? Because is healthier for your family, better for the environment and is less expensive! We give some tips too on how not to clean vinyl floors, so you maintain the material’s beautiful appearance through the years.
HOW TO GREEN-CLEAN VINYL FLOORS
When it comes to cleaning vinyl flooring, you can’t go wrong with Green-Clean! Plain water, vinegar, and a sponge mop. Wipe up spills with plain water as soon as they happen to help prevent stains. You’ll need to clean your floor more thoroughly about once a week. For more intensive cleaning, here are a few tips and techniques:
• Always vacuum or dry mop the floor to remove dirt, dust, and hair before moving on to wet cleaning. Over time, dirt and dust can wear down and degrade the finish on any type of flooring, including vinyl tile or laminate; therefore it is always a good idea to situate a good-quality doormat or area rug in front of doorways so that grit and grime don’t migrate into the house.
• After vacuum, you’re ready to move on to a wet mop. Apple cider vinegar is great ally when it comes to the green-cleaning process. Green cleaning means using cleaning products and methods that are safer for human and environmental health! The acidity in the vinegar helps remove dirt and grime without leaving a buildup of soap or wax. Mix one cup of cider vinegar with a gallon of hot water and use a damp mop to clean, rinsing the mop frequently with hot water. Substitute white vinegar for cider vinegar if you want to disinfect as you clean. If your floor is especially dirty, add a few drops of liquid Dawn soap to the mixture before mopping once with the soap mixture, a second time with vinegar and water. To add shine to your vinyl floor, add a few drops of baby oil to the vinegar and water solution.
• For stubborn scuffs and scratches, try putting some jojoba oil on a towel and rub the area until the scuffs disappear. Clean thoroughly with the vinegar and water solution to remove any traces of lubrication.
• For food stains make a paste of baking soda and water and gently rub the stain until it disappears. Clean thoroughly to remove any traces of baking soda.
• A soft, nylon-bristle brush can help remove many types of stains, especially when used with common household solvents. Rubbing alcohol can be used to remove lipstick, hair dye, and ink stains. Use mineral spirits to remove crayon, paint, and marker stains. Use a nail polish remover that contains acetone to remove nail polish stains.
HOW NOT TO CLEAN VINYL FLOORING
There are a few areas of caution and products to avoid when it comes to cleaning vinyl flooring:
• When vacuuming vinyl, never use a “beater bar” attachment; this can damage the flooring surface.
• Never use highly abrasive scrubbers or steel wool.
• Do not use detergents, abrasive cleaners, or “mop and shine” products, because these can leave a dull film on the floor and this film can make pet scratches appear on top of this ‘film’.
• Do not use paste wax or solvent-based polishes.
• Do not use ammonia or ammonia-based cleaning solutions on vinyl flooring; these can break down the material and cause cracks in the flooring.
