Tips on How to Clean Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Like a Pro
Known as one of the most pet-friendly and durable flooring options available, luxury vinyl planks are the perfect fit for active households. If you are looking to invest in this amazing flooring product, one of the first things you should look into is how to clean LVP flooring (and maybe how to shine LVP flooring if you're feeling ambitious). Fortunately, Georgia Carpet is here to help with everything you need to know about cleaning luxury vinyl plank. Learn all the right cleaning methods so you can properly maintain your floors and keep them looking new. Because of the unique characteristics of luxury vinyl plank, there are certain tips and tricks to cleaning it that every LVP owner should know.
What's The Best Way To Clean LVP?
Keeping a clean floor, in general, is a good rule of thumb to have. For everyday dirt and dust, it is best to sweep, Swiffer® or vacuum (with no beater bar) your luxury vinyl plank flooring throughout the week. Regularly cleaning luxury vinyl plank flooring is especially important in long-term care when you have furry friends who like to shed their coats or little feet that constantly carry in dirt and debris from the outdoors. Without picking up hair and dirt consistently, you can accidentally grind it into the flooring which makes deep cleaning more difficult and wears out the vinyl itself. The grit of even the smallest particles acts almost like sandpaper to your floor, making little micro-abrasions in the wear layer that you can't see now, but you might see later. By tracking dirt, sand and even pet hair around with shoes and feet (or paws), the finish of the LVP will start to wear down over time. As a side note, a steam cleaner/sweeper is not the best way to clean vinyl plank floors. While vinyl planks are durable and water-resistant/proof, they are not meant to handle steaming.
"....you should not clean luxury vinyl flooring with bleach, ammonia, or any high-pH detergents"
To help with the dirt issue, it 's helpful to have doormats to catch the initial outside debris from coming into your home. For the times when you want more than just a dust or vacuum, a mop and bucket will be your best friend. Since standing water can damage or stain some types of vinyl flooring, it's tough to know how to clean vinyl plank floors. For this type of flooring, a microfiber mop as opposed to a string mop is the best choice. Microfiber mops are more absorbent and will remove more of the mop water from the floor. When mopping most floors, making sure to thoroughly wring the mop out before you start is also essential to avoiding damage to your LVP. Before we move onto how to clean luxury vinyl plank and which cleaners to use, it is always good to do your own research on cleaning plank flooring and consult the manufacturer. Each flooring brand is different and might require special maintenance. Make sure to look up your brand of luxury vinyl flooring with a simple Google search or read the care instructions that came with the flooring. Read here to find the Best Type Of LVP.
What's The Best LVP Floor Cleaner?
When you search for how to clean vinyl plank flooring, you probably really want to know which cleaners to use. Generally speaking, most luxury vinyl planks can be cleaned using soap and water and don't require a special LVP cleaner. A dishwashing soap like Dawn is the best way to clean vinyl plank flooring because it will cut grime and grease without stripping your floors or damaging the wear layer. Mix about an ounce of Dawn dish detergent with a gallon of warm (not hot) water for the best results in loosening filth from your floors. Make sure to finish by rinsing the floors with clean water so you don 't leave any soap scum behind. Soap scum attracts dirt and makes it stick into the planks, which is the opposite of what you want. For a similar cleaning solution (minus the soap scum risk), vinegar is the best cleaner for vinyl plank floors. Apple Cider Vinegar is perfect for this or if you want to disinfect while cleaning, white vinegar works well too. Just make sure you don 't use full-strength vinegar on your floors as it can dull the finish. The acidity in the vinegar removes grime and dirt without leaving behind buildup and residue like soap can. It 's also important to note that you should not clean luxury vinyl flooring with bleach, ammonia or any high-pH detergents as these can cause permanent damage. These types of cleaners are corrosive and can cause extensive damage to the flooring. Instead of high-pH cleaners, look for pH-neutral cleaners.
If you are dealing with harder-to-clean stains or spots, try rubbing them out with a water/baking soda paste, isopropyl alcohol or three percent hydrogen peroxide. Another cleaning trick that works well for luxury vinyl is specific to areas like the bathroom or bedroom where hairspray is used. The mist from hairspray sticks to the floor and adds another grime layer that traps in dirt. Cleaning vinyl plank flooring with hairspray on it is quite simple. Combine a little shampoo and warm water, mop and then rinse! Shampoo gets hairspray out of hair and it also removes it from your flooring.
We hope that these various hacks and tips on how to how to clean COREtec LVP flooring and regular LVP flooring help you as you take care of your LVP and keep it looking like new. If you are looking to buy luxury vinyl wholesale flooring at a low cost, we have many designs here at Georgia Carpet Industries that would look great in your home or business. Shop online or visit our showroom, located in Dalton, GA.
"....you should not clean luxury vinyl flooring with bleach, ammonia, or any high-pH detergents"
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