Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring is a great option for your home. This type of flooring is a quality product because it’s durable, long-lasting and beautiful. Luxury vinyl plank flooring is also easy to maintain. When you take care of your Texas floors properly, you’ll enhance their beauty and extend their lifespan. Here is how to care for your LVP flooring.
Step 1: Eliminate Dirt and Debris
Dirt and debris may scratch LVP flooring. Care for your floors by sweeping, dust mopping or vacuuming the busy areas of your home each day. If you take the time to clean your floors daily, then you’ll protect the finish. This step also keeps your floors hygienic.
If you decide to vacuum your floors, protect them by taking out the appliance’s beater bar or purchase a vacuum that doesn’t have one. This part of the cleaner may damage the surface of your floors.
Keep dirt and debris away from your floors by using doormats. It’s especially important to place them in high-traffic areas.
Consider investing in shoe shelves that you can place near your home’s entry door. This will give you a dedicated storage place for everyone’s footwear. It will also prevent people from walking across your floors in dirty shoes. Mud is a tough substance to clean.
Step 2. Clean with Safe Cleaning Products
There are cleaning products on store shelves that claim to safely clean LVP flooring, but before using one on your floor, read the label.
Don’t use cleaning products that contain abrasive substances like ammonia because these products may damage your floors. Also, formulas manufactured for mopping and ones developed to create a shiny surface may leave a coating behind that attracts soil, making them an unsuitable cleaning product for laminate vinyl plank flooring.
The best cleaning products for your LVP floors are commercial cleaners formulated for this type of flooring or a homemade cleaning solution. It’s easy to make a safe cleaning solution at home using vinegar or liquid dishwashing soap.
You can use white vinegar to clean many surfaces in your home including vinyl floors. Apple cider vinegar is also a substance that you can use to clean LVP floors. The product contains an acidity level that easily and quickly removes the build-up of dirt and debris. If you decide to use apple cider vinegar, then be sure to dilute it with water. Using full strength vinegar can dull your floor’s finish. Keep in mind that you can’t polish LVP floors to restore their shine.
For grimy floors, use liquid dishwashing soap. Just add two or three drops of dishwashing soap into your regular cleaning solution. This combination will make your floors shine. Be sure to use a microfiber mop when cleaning LVP floors to prevent standing water.
Step 3. Ready Your Cleaning Mixture
If you decide to use apple cider vinegar, mix one cup of the vinegar with one gallon of clean water. Submerge your microfiber mop into the cleaning mixture and wring it out. You are now ready to clean your floors. While cleaning, rinse your microfiber mop out regularly in hot water. Use white vinegar to disinfect your floors.
If you have a slippery kitchen floor, go with a liquid dishwashing soap such as Dawn. This brand of soap features a degreaser element that can eliminate cooking spills and stains.
Fill a sink or a bucket with warm water, and then, add a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap. Use your microfiber mop to clean your floors.
Avoid overusing your cleaning solution because an abundance of suds may make it tougher for you to clean. Too many soap suds may also create a film over your floor that attracts dust or debris.
Step 4. Rinse Your LVP Floors
If you decide to use a commercial cleaner, then you won’t need to rinse it unless the container directs you to do so. You shouldn’t need to rinse with any cleaner unless you accidently add too much soap. However, if the luxury vinyl plank flooring feels sticky to the touch after you’re done cleaning, you can rinse it using water and white vinegar. After rinsing it, allow your floors to air dry.
Step 5. Fix Scratches and Scrapes
If you’re conducting an LVP inspection and spot a small mark, you should be able to fix it with a little bit of buffing. You can also purchase a spot floor repair kit that will help you get rid of the mark. For larger scrapes or scratches, use a vinyl floor sealer after cleaning to conceal the mark.
One unusual way to get rid of scratches and scrapes on LVP flooring is to rub a tennis ball over the mark and polish it away. Other substances that may remove marks are jojoba oil or WD-40.
If your floor has experienced severe damage like a deep gouge or a dent, then you may need to call an LVP flooring installation company to come out and replace the plank. You may also need to replace a plank if a furniture piece has worn away your floor’s protective layer. For instance, if a chair leg has moved forward and back over the same spot, then you may need to replace that section of the floor.
Step 6. How to Clean Stains from LVP Floors
If there are stains that remain after you’re done cleaning with vinegar, a commercial product or dishwashing soap, then there are other stain removing techniques that you can try to get rid of the stain.
For instance, if there is a stubborn food stain, such as tomato sauce or red wine, then you may be able to use baking soda to remove it. Combine two tablespoons of baking soda with one teaspoon of water to form a paste. Then, spread it over the stain with a microfiber cloth. Rub the stain gently. After the stain is gone, rinse away the paste with water and dry it using a towel.
It’s possible to remove cosmetics, makeup, ink or grease stains from LVP flooring with rubbing alcohol. Moisten a clean microfiber towel with the rubbing alcohol and begin wiping the stains from the outside edge moving in. Shift the cloth into the middle as you go. This prevents the stains from spreading. Hair shampoo may work to eliminate these types of stains if you’re out of rubbing alcohol.
To remove products like nail polish, latex paint or dry-cleaning fluids, gently remove the substance from the floor once it has dried. Then, use a cleaning stripper recommended by the floor manufacturer to eliminate the stain. Mineral spirits may also work with these types of stains.
Dos and Don’ts of LVP Floor Maintenance
When spills occur, be sure to clean them up right when they happen. Also, never clean a vinyl floor with steel wool. Using this type of cleaning product will damage your floors.
If you need to move furniture, don’t drag it across the floor. Instead, place furniture pads underneath the furniture legs to protect your floors.
Limit the amount of water that you use to clean your floors. Avoid using detergents to clean because they will leave a film behind that will dull your floor. Before using a cleaning product, check the manufacturer’s label to prevent voiding the warranty. Also, don’t use a steamer to clean your floors, even if they are labeled as waterproof.
Regular LVP Floor Maintenance
Regular floor maintenance will help you keep your luxury vinyl plank flooring looking beautiful for many years. Use these helpful cleaning tips to make sure that you’re safely cleaning and caring for your vinyl floor.