Luxury vinyl plank flooring includes a protective wear layer that helps resist scratches, stains, and everyday foot traffic. However, that protective layer also plays a huge role in keeping your floors looking clean and polished.
Dirt, sand, dust, and debris can all slowly wear down the surface over time, so keeping up with regular cleaning is the best way to ensure that doesn’t happen. You just need to know exactly how, if you want to ensure that you’re not doing more harm than good.
One of the easiest ways to protect your luxury vinyl plank floors is to sweep or vacuum dirt and debris regularly. Dust, pet hair, and grit can all collect a lot more quickly than you might think, and the longer it is allowed to sit there, the higher the chance it has to cause scratches and scuffs.
Vacuuming is also a great option here, but you need to be sure that your vacuum is designed for hard surface flooring like vinyl. Rotating beater bars and some specific vacuum attachments can scratch LVP, so always use caution if you choose to vacuum instead of sweeping.
A microfiber mop paired with warm water is often all you need to keep up with regular cleaning and maintenance. Just be sure that you only use a slightly damp mop because, even though most vinyl flooring products are highly water resistant, using too much water can cause it to seep between planks and create issues beneath the flooring over time.
Another big thing to consider is the type of cleaning product that you use to clean your floors. Harsh chemicals like bleach and ammonia can damage vinyl flooring, so you should look for a pH-neutral cleaning product that’s specifically formulated for floor cleaning. Otherwise, you may end up accidentally wearing away its invaluable protective finish.
In some cases, you may even be able to get away with using a small amount of mild dish soap mixed with warm water to effectively clean your vinyl flooring. But it’s still important to review the manufacturer's recommendations before using anything new to clean your floors.
Though luxury vinyl plank flooring handles moisture impressively well, it’s still important to clean up any spills as soon as they happen. Drinks, grease, pet accidents, and any other moisture or liquid can potentially cause damage if left to sit there for too long, but using a soft cloth or microfiber towel is usually all you need to sufficiently clean up any spills.
Using a steam mop is easily one of the most common mistakes that homeowners make when trying to clean their vinyl flooring. The combination of high heat and excess moisture is vinyl flooring’s worst enemy, weakening adhesives and drastically reducing the stability of each plank in the process.
Even if your flooring looks waterproof on the surface, repeated steam exposure can and will shorten its lifespan, so a slightly damp microfiber mop is always the much safer bet.
Scrubbing pads, steel wool, and stiff-bristle brushes can remove dirt and sticky residues quickly, but they’ll also almost certainly scratch away the wear layer too. This is a big problem, as once the surface gets scratched, restoring the original appearance is nearly impossible.
Soft cloths, microfiber pads, and non-abrasive sponges are always the best move here because they provide all the cleaning power you need without the risk of causing any unnecessary damage.
Bleach, ammonia, wax-based cleaners, and strong solvents are all things that you should avoid when cleaning your luxury vinyl plank flooring. This is because all of these common household cleaning products can leave residue, create discoloration, or break down the protective finish over time.
Even simply using too much cleaner can leave streaks or a cloudy appearance on the floor, so in most cases, using less product will deliver far superior results.
Standing water is never ideal for any type of flooring. Water, or any other spill that you allow to sit too long near seams, edges, or transitions, can eventually seep into and underneath planks, causing big problems in the long run.
This means that after mopping, it’s always a good idea to dry any remaining moisture with a clean towel or allow the room to ventilate properly so the surface dries as quickly as possible.
Are you thinking about installing new luxury vinyl plank flooring in your home? Give us a call at (610) 385-3833.
Our team of LVP experts is always here to answer questions and will happily walk you through all of the best vinyl flooring options. We also offer you a free installation estimate, free flooring samples, and even advice about how to best clean your new luxury vinyl plank flooring after installation.
Don’t let your old, outdated floors get you down. Contact My Dad’s Flooring America and start transforming your home with new LVP flooring today.