Vinyl Floor Care

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Whenever your vinyl floor manufacturer provides specific information on your vinyl floor that contradicts the following, please follow your manufacturer's recommendations. For most vinyl floors, here's how to keep your floor looking its best.

First 48 Hours

Keep traffic to a minimum for the first 48 hours. If a bubble forms, don't panic. That is not uncommon. Place a book or other weight on the bubble to hold it down until the adhesive sets. If that does not fix the bubble; call us, and we will be happy to take care of it for you. When possible, it is best to keep furniture out of the room for at least 24 hours to help prevent permanent indentations.

Remove Dust and Dirt Regularly

Dirt is abrasive and will dull your floor quickly if it is allowed to abrade your floor. It is essential that you sweep or vacuum regularly to remove loose dust and dirt. Use a broom with soft bristles. Hard bristles can scratch your floor. Do not use a vacuum with a beater bar on your vinyl floor.

You should wash your floor with a non-abrasive cleaner. We suggest Shaw's R2X Hard Surface Cleaner.

How often?

In general, you should clean your vinyl floor weekly. However, high traffic areas will require more frequent cleaning. Clean trafficked areas twice weekly, and high traffic areas daily. Clean more frequently if you have pets.

Do:

  • Keep your floor free of dust and dirt.
  • Treat spills and stains immediately.
  • Lift furniture and appliances off the floor when moving them.
  • Use wide flat non-staining glides under heavy furniture and appliances. Replace narrow or dome shaped glides with wide flat glides. This will help protect your floor from dents and marks.
  • Keep your pet's nails trimmed to prevent them marking your floor.
  • Use entry mats to minimize the amount of dust and dirt being tracked into your home.
  • Hard plastic protective mats should be used under wheeled chairs such as office chairs.

Don't!

  • Don't use soap-based detergents. These are both extremely slippery when wet, and will leave a dull haze on your floor when it dries.
  • Don't use abrasive cleaners or cleaning products. These will dull your floor.
  • Don't use bleach on your floor.
  • Don't use ammonia.
  • Don't use a vacuum with a beater bar.
  • Don't drag furniture or appliances across your floor.
  • Don't use wax or solvent-based polishes on your vinyl floor.

Clean Spills and Stains Immediately

When a spill occurs, spot clean your floor. The quicker you attend to a stain, the better your chances are of removing it. Vinyl floors are not stain-proof.

Spot Cleaning Step 1

If the spill contains some solid materials, carefully scrape and lift the solid materials off the floor. You can use a dull knife, spatula, or even a stiff manila card for this.

Spot Cleaning Step 2

For the remaining liquid stain, blot with plain white paper towels or clean rags. Do not use paper towels that are dyed with patterns. We don't want to add another stain.

Spot Cleaning Step 3

If you still have a stain, then use a cleaner that is safe for your vinyl floor. Shaw's R2X Hard Surface Cleaner would be a good choice for most stains. Apply directly to the stained area, and scrub with a soft cloth. When scrubbing, scrub from the outside of the stain towards the middle so you do not spread the stain.

Some stains require a little extra help. The following should be done after completing the three steps outlined above, and only if you still have a stain.

Adhesives, Grease, and Tar: Rub lightly with a small amount of mineral spirits or isopropyl alcohol.

Chewing Gum and Wax: Freeze with an ice cube and then rap lightly with a blunt tool. It will usually release from the floor.

Paints, Stains, and Varnishes: Rub lightly with a small amount of mineral spirits and a soft cloth.

Rubber Heel Marks: Rub with your fingertip. A little friction will usually remove rubber.

Rust: Rub with lemon juice or cream of tarter solution.

Other Difficult Stains: In these cases, start by rubbing with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol and a soft cloth. If this is not effective, then try a small amount of mineral spirits and a soft cloth. Some stains may not be removable (hair dye or shoe polish, for example).