How To Keep Your Vinyl Flooring Looking Good

How To Keep Your Vinyl Flooring Looking Good

Top Tips For Looking After Vinyl Flooring

That feeling you get when you walk across your brand new Vinyl flooring is second to none! We get it! Now, how do you make sure you get that happy new floor feeling everyday? Even the smartest of flooring systems require some level of upkeep to ensure they stay looking their best for years to come.

The first step to having floors which look amazing year upon year is to ensure that you have your flooring fitted by seasoned experts. There are some flooring solutions which are advertised as DIY but unless you are very experienced we would not recommend laying flooring yourself. The reason being that if any stage is not completed correctly, the flooring will experience problems in the long run and even sometimes in the short term too! New floors are an investment. Even the most budget friendly options are costing you money so why risk having to spend more to rectify an issue? We are not saying that you HAVE to use Hamilton Flooring for all your flooring needs…but I am saying that you won't be disappointed if you do! Right, back to caring for floors.

The second biggest tip that we would have is to pay attention to the manufacturer's advice…it is there for a reason! There are often small differences between products that the average consumer would not know about so even if you have two floors which are “the same” it doesn't mean that the same cleaning processes are suitable. If you are ever unsure, contact your flooring supplier and they will happily point you in the right direction.

Most leading flooring manufacturers will have their own or suggested cleaning products which have been tried and tested on their products. For example, Amtico has their ‘uniquely Amtico’ cleaning products, Karndean has ‘Karndean Clean’ and their floor cleaning systems and Forbo has developed a specific solution for their marmoleum products. Now, I'm not saying that you can only use branded cleaning products directly from the manufacturer but it is wise to check with the manufacturer if you wish to use a product that you are not sure of.

In the long term, there may be products you can use to spruce up your flooring but by doing some key things regularly, you can keep your flooring in great condition.

How to Clean Your Vinyl Flooring

To begin with, remove any obvious dirt and debris using a soft broom - you can follow this with a quick once over with a vacuum cleaner if you wish. Any dried gunk or general grime can be removed with a damp cloth or mop. Unlike some counterparts, Vinyl flooring is water resistant so you don't need to worry too much about small spills although you do not want your flooring exposed to prolonged periods of submersion. Vinyl floors are hardy but it is recommended that steam cleaning vinyl tile flooring should be avoided to ensure there is no lifting or damage to tiles or planks over time. However, infrequent steam mopping as a deeper clean MAY be permitted depending on the type of vinyl flooring you have. This would certainly be an instance where contacting the manufacturer would be necessary.

You may find that over time your floor appears to be getting dirtier quicker…this may be a sign that your cleaning solution is creating a build up of product. Most cleaners deposit trace alkalines which can build up over time so when using a floor cleaner it is worth giving the floor a once over with plain water afterwards to remove any residue.

Regular cleaning will help keep your vinyl floor looking fresh but there are some other methods you can use to keep your flooring in the best possible condition. Here is a quick non-exhaustive list of some preventative maintenance you can try:

1. Heavy furniture can cause scratches in even the hardiest flooring surfaces so it is always best practice to use protective pads. In particular, chairs and sofas are most likely to be dragged about so prioritize these objects.
2. On the topic of furniture scratching your flooring, you may wish to look at furniture with wider legs as they have a bigger surface area of contact which reduces the chances of getting a marked floor.
3. Vinyl flooring placed in heavy traffic areas such as doorways should make use of doormats - especially for outside leading doors. A doormat will trap dust, dirt and grime…plus there are some weird and wonderful options available these days so you could have some finding the right mat for your taste.
4. It should go without saying, but having a ‘no outdoor shoes in the house’ rule is a good way of protecting your lovely floor.
5. Deal with spills immediately to avoid rough stains and also to prevent slips and falls!
6. Take care when cleaning your vinyl floor. Using vacuum attachments with the hard tools is a big no-no as these can cause scratches

Taking care when cleaning your floor and taking care of those regular clean ups will go a long way to ensuring your flooring looks its best for as long as possible. If you have any questions or queries about how to look after your flooring please do contact us and one of our flooring experts can advise you.