Caring for your vinyl floor

Due to its versatility and durability, vinyl flooring is an increasingly popular choice for homeowners. While it is famously low maintenance, it will still need some care and attention to keep it clean and looking good as new. Here are some simple tips to help you care for your vinyl floor.

Keeping it free of debris

Vinyl can be vacuumed or swept with a broom, which should be done regularly to remove any sharp pieces of gravel or other debris that might have been trodden in from outside. Although vinyl is tough, sharp objects can scratch and dull the surface. As with any flooring, it is a good idea to place a doormat in front of any external doors for household members and visitors to clean their shoes on before entering the room.

Cleaning

Firstly, you should always make sure you use the right cleaning products. While lots of general-purpose floor cleaners will be perfectly safe for use on vinyl, you should always check the label if you are using a new product. Avoid any abrasive cleaners, as these can scratch the surface of your floor and cause irreparable damage. Vinyl is easy to clean and difficult to stain. You can use any kind of mop or damp cloth on your floor, but check that any products you use do not contain chemicals that might be harmful to children or pets.

Stain removal

It is generally pretty hard to stain vinyl flooring – certainly harder than it is to stain carpet – but accidents will always happen. The first thing to do in the event of any spill is to remove as much of the spill as possible with a damp cloth. Next, use your regular vinyl floor cleaner to see if it does the job. For tough stains, you might find you need a specialist stain remover. If the manufacturer states bleach can be used, this is another option and works well on stains such as ink from pens.

As vinyl is so hard-wearing, you have a lot more options available to you than you would with other types of flooring; what’s more, there are some simple tips you can try for certain stains. For grass stains, for example, slice a lemon in half and rub it on the stain. Wipe with a damp cloth, then repeat the process if necessary. With most stains, prompt action is the key to their successful removal.