How to Clean Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Are you looking for a luxurious-looking flooring material to install in your Grand Rapids home? Do you wonder if there is a practical, yet classy type of flooring to invest in? If so, then you need to learn all that you can about luxury vinyl plank flooring.

Doing so can help you maximize the aesthetic of your home. But what does it take to keep the luxury vinyl flooring looking good? How much care will you have to put into it as a homeowner?

See below for an in-depth guide on how to clean luxury vinyl plank flooring and keep it looking young.

Tips for Maintaining Vinyl Plank Flooring (Do’s and Don’ts)

As with any other type of flooring, luxury vinyl plank flooring has certain needs that should be met to help it keep its youthful glow. Not prioritizing simple maintenance for it can lead to permanent stains or damage the flooring beyond repair.

You should find this reassuring! As long as you do your part to maintain the luxury vinyl, it will keep that plank or tile aesthetic that you fell in love with. But what does “simple maintenance” actually look like? What does it entail? Here are several dos and don’ts of maintaining luxury vinyl flooring:

Do

  • Place some separation between it and furniture; invest in some felt pads you can adhesively apply to the bottom of your furniture legs
  • Clean up any spills immediately; the only way that stains occur is when a spill isn’t cleaned right away. Use an eco-friendly cleaning solution that doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals (more on that in a moment)
  • Invest in a microfiber cloth (or several) to clean up any signs of rust, spills, or mold

Don’t

  • Neglect your cleaning duties; vacuum and mop the vinyl flooring once a week
  • Use harmful cleaning solutions such as bleach or ammonia. Ammonia is especially harmful to luxury vinyl since it eats away at the finish
  • Use tough scrubbing tools (such as brushes with hard bristles or steel wool); instead, opt to use a microfiber cloth
  • Wax luxury vinyl; regardless of whether you have luxury vinyl planks or tiles, both are protected by a polyurethane coat throughout

How to Remove Stains From Luxury Vinyl Floors

In a perfect world, you would have time to immediately wipe up any spills on your floor, but those of you with kids know that’s rarely ever the case. Life gets in the way; what do you do if you notice stains on your vinyl flooring?

The key is to use the right cleaning products. The good news? That doesn’t require you to purchase anything beyond what you already have in your kitchen.

In fact, we typically recommend mixing dish soap and water. This helps prevent the use of bleach or ammonia and eats away at the stain, whatever it may consist of.

Start by getting a bowl and filling it with one part dish soap with three parts of warm/hot water. Mix the two until there are bubbles. Next, grab a microfiber towel and dip it into the solution that you’ve made.

Scrub the floor efficiently for about 15 seconds, then dab the towel back into your bowl of solution and scrub the area for about 10 more seconds.

If the stain is still prevalent, then you can use a bit of bleach by mixing one part of bleach with six parts hot water. Only do this process once.

How to Fix Scratches and Scuffs on Vinyl Plank Flooring

For those of you that want to invest in vinyl plank flooring specifically (as opposed to vinyl tile), you’re probably wondering how you can fix scuffs on your floor. After all, with a house full of family, your floors are bound to take some damage.

We have a few solutions for you, all of which are simple! First, grab a tennis ball and scrub at the scuff marks; this should make them disappear in an instant.

If you notice a few scratches on your floor, you have nothing to worry about! Simply pour a bowl of olive oil (don’t get too heavy-handed, you don’t need much) and dip your microfiber towel into it.

Gently dab at the area for 20 to 30 seconds, then allow it to dry. If the scratch is still visible after a few tries, then you can invest in a floor sealer to replenish the polyurethane coating.

How to Shine Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Last but not least, how can you make your new luxury vinyl flooring pop? How can you make it shine and give it that luxurious look that will make your guests’ jaws drop?

For the best results, we recommend investing in a luxury vinyl floor polish. These do an excellent job of giving it that sheen look and making it appear as if you just took a wet mop to it before your guests walked in the door.

If you’re in a pinch and need a home remedy to shine it, then you can mix together a small bucket of 1 part baby oil, 1 part white vinegar, and 3 parts water solution. Just give it time for the vinegar smell to air out before your guests arrive.

Invest in Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring for Your Grand Rapids MI Home

Now that you have seen an informative guide on everything that cleaning luxury vinyl plank flooring would entail, be sure to have it installed in your home right away.

To get started or learn more about the flooring options we offer, be sure to visit this page on our luxury vinyl services and we will be happy to assist you further.