How To Clean Vinyl Flooring
Clean vinyl flooring in any room once a week by sweeping with a soft-bristled brush or vacuuming to remove loose dirt. Deep clean vinyl floors once or twice a month, or when you notice stains or ground-in dirt. Mix 250ml vinegar and 5 litres of lukewarm water and gently mop. You can also find the best cleaner for your floor by checking the manufacturer's website, but avoid chemicals not designed for vinyl.
General Maintenance & Upkeep of Vinyl Floors
During the lifetime of your vinyl flooring, it's certain it'll see its fair share of dust, dirt, and other loose mess which you'll want to clean. Luckily, vinyl flooring is the same as any other in that it can easily be cleaned using a vacuum cleaner or with a dustpan and brush. If you use a dustpan and brush though, try to be gentle as stiff bristles can leave scratches in your vinyl flooring.
The benefit of vinyl over wood flooring is that spillages of water won't be able to harm your flooring if left for a short period of time. Spillages should be cleaned up with a cloth or absorbed with a paper towel - especially if it's a liquid other than water.
To try and keep your vinyl flooring in as good a condition as possible, it's worth following a few tips and tricks to avoid scratches, stains and other problems:
- Don't move furniture around a vinyl floor, as this can cause scratches and leave marks
- Don't use any chemicals that aren't designed for cleaning vinyl - if you're not sure, check the instructions on the bottle to see if it's suitable
- If your vinyl flooring is near an external door, use doormats to catch any dirt and debris you're bringing in from outside
- It's good practice to clean your vinyl flooring with a specialist cleaner at least once every two weeks
How to clean LVT flooring
LVT is tougher than sheet vinyl but more sensitive to the wrong cleaning products. Follow a simple three-tier routine:
Sweep or vacuum with a soft-bristle brush or a vacuum on the hard-floor setting (not the rotating beater bar). The single biggest cause of LVT wear is grit ground into the wear layer by foot traffic.
Damp-mop with a well-wrung microfibre mop and a pH-neutral LVT cleaner. We recommend Karndean Clean Start for Karndean ranges, Amtico Floor Care for Amtico ranges, and Dr Schutz PU Cleaner as a neutral option across every LVT brand. Never use a dripping mop - water pooling on click LVT can seep into the joints.
Deep clean with the same cleaner at the stronger dilution stated on the bottle, rinse with clean water, and buff dry with a microfibre cloth. Every 12 months on glue-down LVT, consider a refresh with a dedicated LVT sealer (Karndean LVT Refresh, Amtico Dressing) to rebuild the protective topcoat.
What to avoid on LVT
- Steam mops - heat and sustained moisture will damage the wear layer over time
- Bleach (neat or diluted) - dulls the wear layer
- Abrasive pads (scouring pads, steel wool) - scratches the surface permanently
- Wax polishes (furniture wax, spray polishes) - builds up, yellows, and is difficult to remove
- Oil-based floor cleaners - leaves a residue that attracts dirt
Stain-specific fixes
| Stain | Method |
|---|---|
| Red wine | Blot immediately with a dry cloth, then wipe with pH-neutral cleaner. If dried, apply diluted cleaner, leave 2 minutes, wipe off. |
| Pet accidents | Blot dry, clean with pH-neutral cleaner, rinse with water. Urine left on LVT for more than a day can etch the wear layer - treat quickly. |
| Grease / cooking oil | Wipe the bulk with paper towels, then clean with a few drops of washing-up liquid in warm water. Rinse. |
| Rubber marks | Eraser or a dab of white spirit on a soft cloth. Rinse with pH-neutral cleaner afterwards. |
Removing Vinyl Flooring Stains
How to remove stains on vinyl flooring differs by what you have to hand and the severity of the stain. For some light stains, warm water and a soft cloth might be enough to remove the mark. Unfortunately, that won't be the case for stains caused by pen and other substances.
The best way to remove tough stains is to invest in a specialist vinyl cleaning kit which can be found in most flooring stores, as these are designed with these tricky situations in mind. With these stains, it's important to act fast - the quicker you begin to treat a stain, the more likely you'll be able to remove it successfully.
If you're not having any luck with a cleaning kit or you don't have one to hand, there are other ways of treating stains. Carefully diluted bleach or certain alcohols can help remove stains, but this should only be exercised if you don't have a cleaning kit and warm water hasn't quite done the job. Bicarbonate of soda is also useful, as it has properties that are well known for helping to remove stains without harming your vinyl flooring.
How To Clean Vinyl Floors with Vinegar
Cleaning your vinyl flooring with vinegar is as simple as it gets, and another worthy alternative if you don't have a cleaning kit or bicarbonate of soda around. The best way to use vinegar is to dilute 250ml of vinegar in about 5 litres of warm water - this creates a mild solution which can help remove stains on your vinyl without doing any damage to the floor itself.
When it comes to cleaning your vinyl floors, being gentle is the key to success - the last thing you want is to leave more scratches cleaning a stain off your floor! Always be gentle and use soft cloths and sponges to keep your vinyl flooring in top condition. If you're interested in more tips and tricks, check out our vinyl flooring buying guide.
FAQs
How often should I deep-clean LVT flooring?
Weekly damp-mopping keeps the surface clean; a monthly deep clean with the manufacturer's recommended product keeps the wear layer looking its best. An annual professional refresh (or a DIY sealer application) extends the life of the original factory finish by several years.
Looking after your investment
For more on LVT specification and expected lifespan, see our vinyl flooring buying guide.
