How To Clean A Really Dirty Vinyl Floor?

How To Clean A Really Dirty Vinyl Floor?

By : Angelina
If your vinyl floors are soiled with dirt and grime, it is time for you to do a deep cleaning. But first, you must understand what cleaning solutions and techniques will work best on vinyl flooring so you do not end up damaging the material. Vinyl is a common material used for household flooring as it is stain-resistant, durable and relatively cheaper than other types of flooring. This polyvinyl chloride flooring comes in various colours, shapes, and styles, like sheets, tiles, and plank flooring. Even though these vinyl floor varieties are more durable than other floorings, these materials still attract dirt and grime if not cleaned and maintained properly. If your vinyl flooring has a lot of built-up dirt and grime which has become embedded in the material, you should call bond cleaning Brisbane services to help you out. However, if you want to clean your dirty vinyl flooring on your own, follow the steps below.

Types Of Vinyl Flooring

There are three different types of vinyl flooring used in households, such as:
  • Vinyl Sheets- 6 to 12-ft wide sheets with tile designs
  • Vinyl Planks- Made of a foam core that looks like hardwood floors
  • Vinyl tiles- Individual stone tiles that are grouped with grout to give it a ceramic tile appeal

  • Professional bond cleaning in Brisbane services recommend using vinyl flooring sheet types for your home compared to tiles and planks, as the former is easier to clean and water-resistant. Vinyl tiles flooring can get dirty quickly as the grout in between the tiles attracts dirt and grime and can easily become warped if wet. But no matter what kind of vinyl flooring you have, it is important to maintain it using the following steps:

    1. Arrange Your Cleaning Caddy

    Expert bond cleaning in Brisbane services advise that you first keep a cleaning caddy ready with all your equipment so that you are not running back and forth while cleaning. Here are some items you must keep in your caddy to make sure your vinyl floors are clean:
  • Two buckets of warm water
  • Microfiber mop
  • 1 cup of Apple cider vinegar
  • Dish soap
  • Baking soda
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • WD-40
  • Clean towels
  • Broom
  • Vacuum

  • 2. Sweep The Loose Dirt Away First

    Before you mop the floor, it is important to dry dust and sweep away all the loose grime and household dust mites that have collected on your vinyl flooring. You can even use a vacuum to clean your vinyl floors but make sure you remove the beater bar to prevent your floors from getting damaged and keep it on the right setting for bare vinyl flooring. Tip You can sweep your floors every day before heading to bed to prevent a buildup of dirt and grime.

    3. Make A Cleaning Solution Of Vinegar And Water

    If you do not want to use a heavy-duty industrial cleaning solution to mop your floors, you can make your own solution using apple cider vinegar. Pour one cup of apple cider vinegar into one gallon of hot water and let the solution mix properly. The acetic acid in the vinegar will lift and remove stains and dirt without damaging the floor’s surface. Tip If you have hard floors, you can use this homemade floor cleaning solution instead.

    4. Mop Your Floors With The Solution And Rinse The Area Frequently

    Next, bond cleaning in Brisbane experts recommend you start working in squares of 3×3 and move from the back towards the front using an eight formation to avoid streaks. Once you have mopped the area with the vinegar solution, rinse your mop in a clean bucket of hot water and then use this clean mop to remove the vinegar solution. Next, dry the area with clean towels to ensure the water does not damage the flooring or seep between the seams. Tip If the floors are very dirty, you can spray dish soap and water, rinse the area, and then use the vinegar cleaning solution for a tougher clean.

    5. Use Baking Soda To Remove Tough Stains From Vinyl Flooring

    If your vinyl flooring has acidic stains like tomato juice and ketchup, you should make a thick paste of one cup of baking soda with ½ cup of water and apply it to the stains. Let it sit for ten minutes so the alkaline and abrasive baking soda can lift and dissolve the acidic substances and then scrub the stains gently with a clean microfiber cloth. Avoid using nylon or steel wool brushes to clean the stains, as they could scratch and damage the vinyl flooring.

    6. Apply Rubbing Alcohol For Ink And Crayon Stains

    If your vinyl flooring has ink and crayon stains, expert bond cleaning in Brisbane services suggest using rubbing alcohol instead of baking soda. Spray a few drops of rubbing alcohol on a soft microfiber towel, then scrub the area slowly to remove the tough stains. You can also remove scuff marks using WD-40 with a towel and then dry the area. Tip Here are some more rubbing alcohol cleaning hacks for you.

    7. Make Your Vinyl Floors Shine With Baby Oil

    Lastly, you must not use wax polishes on your vinyl flooring as it can collect over time and dirt and grime can get stuck under the wax. You can add shine to your floors naturally after cleaning them by adding baby oil to water and mopping them once. Ensure you dry the floors immediately and wring the mop out after cleaning each floor to avoid using the same dirty water. Tip Here are also some useful tips to clean concrete floors in your home.

    Conclusion

    Thus, cleaning and maintaining your vinyl flooring regularly is important to prevent the buildup of dirt and grime. Professional cleaners suggest keeping floor mats to prevent dirt and grime in high-foot traffic areas of your flooring and using furniture leg coverings to avoid dents in your vinyl flooring to maintain its structure and shine.