Wondering how to clean vinyl floors quickly and effectively? We’ve got you covered with simple DIY ways.
The vinyl floors are popular because of their durability. In the United States, a significant number of users prefer vinyl floors for covering their subfloor surfaces.
The main reason for choosing a vinyl floor is primarily due to its sturdy materials. Those materials ensure a rugged and robust cover for your subfloor through the years.
Before moving further to the step-by-step process on how to clean vinyl floors, let’s have a basic overview of Vinyl Floors first.
What’s Vinyl Flooring? A Brief View Of Vinyl Floors
Vinyl floors are one of the most reliable flooring types made of Polyvinyl Chloride compounds. The primary purpose of using these compounds in the vinyl floor is to ensure multiple designs and colors.
There are plenty of ways to install vinyl floors on your existing subfloor. Using strong adhesive is one of those. This type of flooring is a perfect replacement for rubber floors, as they are pretty resistant to alkaline-based moisture and air.
That’s another reason for preferring vinyl flooring over other popular flooring options. According to a recent survey, in the US, a significant percentage of flooring renovation service seekers opt for the vinyl flooring option.
While researching the reason behind the growing popularity of vinyl flooring, this has been found that maximum people prefer vinyl flooring over other flooring options due to certain advantages.
Keep Reading: Process On Installing Vinyl Flooring On Stairs
Steps On How To Clean Vinyl Floors
After acquiring all the supplies and tools needed for cleaning the vinyl floor, which has been shared above, you should start cleaning your vinyl floor.
While cleaning your vinyl floor, the following DIY vinyl floor cleaning strategies might be helpful. The step-by-step guide for cleaning vinyl floors has been shared below in detail.
Step 1: Get Rid Of The Dust And Dirt
It’s essential to remove dust and dirt while cleaning your floor. Sometimes, it is pretty common to overlook the dirt and dust accumulated on your floor.
If you are looking ahead to cleaning the dust and dirt up to 100%, you should consider it as a challenge rather. While cleaning, pay additional attention to cleaning the corners of the spaces below the furniture of your house.
If needed, inspect the area of the baseboard. It is also suggested to do the cleaning work during day time. It will help you to identify the dirt gathered on your floor.
Step 2: Choosing The Right Cleaning Tool For Making The Vinyl Floor Dust-Free
It’s very important to choose the right vinyl floor cleaning equipment for yourself. If you are cleaning a vinyl floor, it’s essential for you to find a suitable cleaner.
You can consult the internet to do some initial research work on which vinyl floor cleaning tool is ideal for you. This will eventually enable you to prefer the right vinyl floor cleaning equipment.
Later, you can use the same tool for cleaning the vinyl floor. A solution like apple cider vinegar is an excellent option to maintain the cleanliness of your vinyl floors.
They are easy to use and are a quick DIY cleaning option for the shining beauty of your vinyl floors. You can also apply it by mixing apple cider vinegar solution with dish soap.
Keep Reading: Extensive Guide To Use Vinyl Flooring Outdoors
Step 3: Take A Mop For Cleaning The Floor
If you have decided to select a mop for cleaning the vinyl floor, you have made a good decision. They are good equipment for cleaning the whole vinyl floor with a minimal amount of water.
But, that does not mean you should randomly throw or spread water without considering the amount of water for cleaning the floor. You should instead be careful while splitting water for cleaning it.
That’s because overspreading of water upon the floor may damage the quality of your vinyl floor. That’s why it’s better to spread water only on those areas where you can see stains or dust marks.
You can use a mop to clean your floor. Rinse the mop to get rid of the water each time you cover any specific area of the floor.
This eventually helps you avoid dirt and stain-absorbed water to rinse out from the mop before dipping it into the water again to clean another portion of the floor.
Step 4: Careful While Rinsing The Mop
It’s always important for you to rinse the floor after mopping it. However, after rinsing the mop, get it assured that the rinsed mop is suitably ensured free from water and dirt.
At times, too many sticky materials may get stuck in the mop brushes. You should be careful while rinsing the mop. If any such sticky substance is clutched with the mop-top, get rid of it.
Drip it in freshwater. This will help you to get rid of the dirt. Once the whole floor is mopped and cleaned, use a dry towel or a soft fabric cloth to wipe it thoroughly. This will ensure a good look and feel to your existing vinyl floor. You can also learn more about drying water under vinyl flooring.
Step 5: Remove The Strong Dirt And Stain Marks
It’s important to remove the strong stains and scuff marks while cleaning vinyl floors. They are easy to remove with a soft fiber cloth after putting some jojoba oil on them.
No matter how hard, strong, or deep the stain mark is, you can get rid of those. Wine/fruit juice is also a very good option for removing stain marks from vinyl floors.
Baking soda is another good option for removing strong stain and dirt marks from your floor. In fact, it is a good solution for fighting corrosion and rust.
Lack of proper maintenance is one of the main ways to fight tough grease and stain. If you are willing to fight corrosion and rust, you should prefer baking soda for one such purpose.
After mixing baking soda with water for some time, you may give it some time to rest. This will eventually help you easily remove the strong dirt from your existing vinyl floor.
Step 6: Scrub The Area To Get Rid Of Tough Dirt
You need to be careful while scrubbing the tough dirt. Always choose a premium quality scrub with good nylon brushes for removing the dust.
Apply baking soda paste upon the stain while scrubbing it. This will help you to use a stiff brush or steel wool for scratching the soft surface.
Keep Reading: Complete Guide On Vinyl Flooring Underlayment
Top Few Advantages Of Installing Vinyl Floors
Guaranteed Affordability And Durability
Vinyl floors are easy to clean. The best part is if you are willing to impose a DIY cleaning remedy for removing the dust or replacing the old floors, they are comparatively easy with other types of flooring options available in the market.
They are a popular choice to cover the surface of the subfloor because they are resistant to water, and secondly, they are a pretty economical option when it comes to budget.
This particular type of flooring is also a wise option for commercial flooring. Maximum commercial property owners prefer vinyl floors to revive their old floors to enhance their property’s shabby and old look.
The best part is that vinyl flooring comes with a 15-20 years warranty.
Maintenance Cost Is Less
The maintenance cost of the vinyl floors is comparatively less to that of the other types of flooring. The main reason behind it is that vinyl floors do not require to be resealed, unlike hardwood floors.
They also do not need waxing from time to time as it is mandatory with the hardwood floors. A mechanical buffing machine or chemical stripping DIY strategy is sufficient to eliminate the old flooring by replacing those with the newer ones.
The most exciting fact is that when it comes to hardwood, it is compulsory to call a handyperson or a flooring renovation expert to reseal or restore your old flooring.
Whereas, when it comes to the wooden vinyl floor, you can always choose a DIY strategy for sure. That makes it easier for you to curb your maintenance cost. It’s another reason for reducing the maintenance cost of your vinyl floors.
Affordable
Vinyl floors are pretty affordable. That’s why it’s one of the most inexpensive options that you have got near you. If you are willing to install the flooring, you can complete buying and gathering the materials you will need for installing the floors and end up installing the floor at an affordable budget.
That’s another reason why vinyl floors are an excellent option to revive your existing subfloors. If you have any other types of flooring style already installed, it might take some time to remove your existing flooring pattern.
Once your previous flooring pattern is removed, installing vinyl floors on your existing subfloor is a matter of a few working days or hours just.
Keep Reading: Best Ways To Stagger Vinyl Flooring
Available In Multi-Color, Design, And Style
One of the main reasons for choosing vinyl flooring is that you will find plenty of available color options near you as a buyer. If you are willing to install vinyl floors, you can explore various color and flooring options available in the market.
Vinyl floors are a good alternative to concrete, wood, stone, and terrazzo flooring. Some models of vinyl floors look so amazing and unique that it might be difficult for you to differentiate between the original and the look-alike vinyl floors for you.
You can choose the flooring options available in the market after considering the interior colors of your kitchen, bathroom, or drawing rooms. Once the color is finalized, you can start a DIY work plan for renovating the interior flooring of your kitchen.
Less Time-Consuming Installation Process
Installing vinyl floors is relatively easy. If you are willing to install vinyl floors, you can always do it quickly. There are plenty of YouTube videos available to assure you pro guidance if you choose a DIY work plan to install vinyl floors.
Some varieties of vinyl floors can be directly glued down to the surface of the subfloor surface. Even if you are willing to remove the old vinyl, you won’t require much time to remove the old vinyl floors. You can do it quickly and implement the new vinyl floors.
Vinyl Floors Are Smooth And Softy To Walk On
Vinyl floors will ensure a soft feeling to your foot underneath the skin while you walk upon it. That is one of the reasons for which maximum flooring renovation experts suggest vinyl flooring to floor renovation service seekers.
If you have small children at your home, unknowingly, they may hurt themselves while playing on hardwood floors. At the same time, the soft surface of vinyl floors can guarantee you safety from such unwanted accidents happening within your house.
The thin layer of foam built below the vinyl gives comfort to your feet while walking on the floors. It will never let you feel the hard subfloor surface beneath your vinyl tiles. This is another reason for which you should walk softly on the vinyl floors.
If you are willing to avail all of these advantages in your existing flooring pattern, you need to install vinyl flooring in your house. That’s another benefit of using vinyl floors on your property.
Keep Reading: Steps To Lay Vinyl Flooring Flat
Vinyl Floor Types Available In The Market Depending Upon Its Popularity
The Vinyl floors have earned popularity amongst maximum people due to its two main types-
- Luxury Vinyl Tiles
- Vinyl Roll
Both of these vinyl floors are popular amongst flooring renovation enthusiasts in their own way. Let’s find out the basic differences between them.
Luxury Vinyl Tiles
The Luxury Vinyl Tiles are the exact replica of the natural flooring options available in the market. The main purpose of these flooring types is to ensure aesthetic quality and look without ignoring the longevity of the tiles.
The LVT tiles are considered more durable than other types of tiling patterns available in the market. The modular format of the LVT floors is easy to install. They are an attractive option to decorate your drawing, kitchen-pantry as well as reading spaces.
Even if you plan to replace your old flooring with LVT tiles, you may choose to install tile or plank formats popularly available in the market. The LVT tiles are relatively rigid and flexible compared to other vinyl flooring tiling options available in the market.
The most exciting part is- you can either prefer choosing a flooring expert to install LVT tiles. You can also prefer a DIY method for installing such floors in your house.
The best part about DIY installation is- they are a pretty cost-effective option. Moreover, you will find plenty of vinyl flooring renovation videos on YouTube. They will help you to complete your renovation work effortlessly.
Vinyl Roll
The vinyl roll flooring is a good option if you are much particular about the aesthetic beauty of your floor. The particular variety of vinyl floors comes with a cushion layer.
They are available for sale in various flexible sheets. The particular variety of flooring is an affordable option. Since they are known for low VOC emissions, they are an environmentally friendly flooring option for your home.
They are also free from phthalate. That also makes vinyl rolls a better option for redefining the flooring of your house. Apart from these particular types of vinyl floors, a few trendy vinyl flooring patterns are available in the market. Some of those trendy and popular flooring patterns available in the market have been shared below in detail.
Most Trendy And Popular Vinyl Flooring Patterns Available In The Market
Plank Patterned Vinyl Floor
Plank patterned vinyl floor is a wise option to create a dummy appearance that is quite equal to hardwood or wooden floors. The plank patterned vinyl floor is a smart option for giving a vinyl flooring look to your house.
The most exciting part is they are known for absolute durability compared to the wooden floor. Cleaning vinyl plank floors are simpler compared to other types of flooring.
This particular flooring type is free from water-related damage. You can also use cleaning mops for removing stains and other stains from this particular type of floor.
Tile Patterned Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl tiles are another good option for redefining your floor interiors. This particular type of flooring is also popular because of its affordability.
Unlike any other type of floor, vinyl tile floors are easy to clean, and that does not require much effort to maintain. You don’t have to call a flooring expert or a handyperson to repair the tiles.
You can always fix your faulty vinyl tiles with a DIY strategy. The best part is you might need a few hours to understand the entire DIY work plan to implement vinyl flooring patterned tiles for your house. Once you get the idea to install the vinyl patterned tiles, you can do it all alone.
Sheet Styled Vinyl Floors
Vinyl floor sheets are another excellent choice for decorating your rooms. Vinyl sheet-styled floors are a good option for your small modular kitchen and bathrooms.
You can use these particular vinyl-styled floor sheets to make them clean and calm. This particular type of vinyl floor sheet needs a good sweep and good mopping for removing the dirt.
That would be sufficient for maintaining the styled vinyl sheets. However, before buying vinyl sheet floors, you need to verify the brand of the vinyl floors. This will help you to choose suitable vinyl-styled sheets for your home.
Urethane Coated Vinyl Flooring Top
Urethane-coated vinyl flooring top is a suitable layer that is equivalent to a cover used for concealing the raw subfloor surface. Technically, this particular type of vinyl flooring coat has protected your subfloors for years.
While regular urethane keeps your floor safe from scratches and scuff marks, the durability of the layer, however, depends upon how you are using it.
Suppose you can maintain the layer as per the instructions shared by the manufacturers of the product. In that case, you can continually expand the longevity of this particular flooring type in the long run.
Do’s And Don’ts While Maintaining Vinyl Floor
Don’ts
- Avoid using too much water as that might turn the vinyl floors to soak while cleaning the vinyl floor.
- Try to avoid abrasive cleaners and tool to avoid the shiny appeal of your vinyl floor to get affected.
Do’s
- Protect your floor from scratches and heavy dent.
- Use rugs where there is a chance for scratch marks to impact your vinyl flooring pattern.
- Doormats are a good option to keep the vinyl floors dust-free.
- Clean the water spills from time to time to leave water stain marks remain on the floor for a long time.
Final Verdict
We hope this guide was helpful on how to clean vinyl floors easily with simple DIY methods. There are plenty of ways to clean your vinyl floors. If you are willing to run a DIY strategy for cleaning your vinyl floors, you may implement any of these DIY tips that have been shared above.
However, before using DIY tips, you may consider your vinyl floor’s present type and quality. Depending on that, you can choose any of the remedies shared above for cleaning your vinyl floor.
However, before cleaning your vinyl floor, you should know how to clean it without making a single mistake. Then only can you consider your DIY vinyl floor cleaning remedy is successful?
To avoid making any common errors while cleaning your vinyl floors, you can also take the few do’s and don’ts shared above. This will help you get rid of unwanted dust and dirt from your vinyl floor while cleaning it.
