Vinyl floors are waterproof, durable, easy to clean, inexpensive, comfortable to walk on and look great. No wonder it is one of the most popular choices for homes around the world.
However, like many other surfaces in your home, a question will always come up: How to clean vinyl floors?
If you are also wondering about this problem, in this article, Clairoliviawayman will give you a super simple guide on how to clean as well as maintain the eye-catching appearance of your vinyl floor – using vinegar.
Let’s get rid of all the toxic detergents and learn how to clean the vinyl floor with vinegar right now!
Table of Contents
Why Should You Use Vinegar?
Vinyl floor is the most common type of flooring that is known for its easily cleaned ability. The vinyl is resistant to stains, but dust and oil can be a trouble. There are many ways to clean your vinyl floor, but vinegar is the cheapest and safest product we recommend you to use.
Vinegar is a natural, non-toxic product that can disinfect, safely deodorize, and clean hard surfaces. When your floor becomes dirty, vinegar can clean it without any toxicity.
The pH of acetic acid – the main ingredient of vinegar is only about 2.4, making it a pretty strong acid. That acid can remove harmful bacteria and organisms on the floor. It works especially well to dissolve stains grease.
Once the vinegar dries, it leaves a pleasant scent for your home. You can also customize the scent by adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the vinegar solution before cleaning.
Besides white vinegar – the strongest type, you can also use apple cider vinegar instead.
Read more: How To Remove Rubber Marks From Vinyl Flooring – Foolproof Guidance
How Do You Clean Your Vinyl Floors With Vinegar?
If you are wondering how to use vinegar to clean the vinyl floor, you can follow these steps:
Step 1: Know How to Protect the Finish of Your Vinyl Floor
The vinyl floor has a layer of wax on it that helps the design stay intact and protect it from water. The wax is very soft and prone to abrasion so do not scrub the floor.
Many people do not know this, so they often scrub the vinyl floor as the way they clean porcelain tiles or countertops. This is a big mistake that you should not make. Scrubbing the vinyl floor will remove the wax coating, making it lose its water resistance and being scratched.
Always remember that the vinyl floor is very sensitive so let’s do everything with very minimal pressure to protect the finish of your floor. Because once the finish is damaged, nothing can help you.
Step 2: Prepare the Vinegar
First, you must choose the suitable vinegar. Not all vinegar can be used to clean the vinyl floor.
For example, red wine vinegar, which includes solvents and acids created in the process of wine production, can dirty the floor instead of cleaning it. White wine vinegar, or cooking wine, is the same. They can even damage the vinyl floor because of their high salt content.
To clean the floor, you should only use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar. White vinegar is the most active type as well as the perfect choice if you want to disinfect the floor. In case you just want to clean and get rid of odors, you should use the apple cider vinegar.
Mix vinegar with a little hot water to create a cleansing mixture. The acid in vinegar and heat will remove all stains, dirt and even compounds that are hard to get off.
Step 3: Clean the Floor
You need to prepare a mop or soft cloth. Do not use anything too rough or too hard as it will scratch your floor. It is best to use a cotton towel because it is soft and can easily be cleaned in a washing machine for later use.
Related that, you can read my buying guide about ” Best Mop for Vinyl Plank Floors ” and choose a good one!
Soak the towel in the prepared vinegar solution and then gently squeeze it to remove excess water. The vinyl floor is quite slippery so leaving puddles behind can be a danger. Make sure that your cleaning tool is moist enough to clean but not so much that it drips.
Then, wipe your floor with that towel and remember to rinse it frequently to avoid spreading dirt around.
With stubborn messes, you can add a few drops of dishwashing soap to the vinegar solution. Of course, vinegar alone can also clean your floor but adding soap will reduce your cleaning time a lot. No one wants to spend all day cleaning, right?
If you want to clean the stains, use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Soak the cotton towel in that solution and gently rub the stains until they disappear. After that, clean your floor with vinegar as usual.
Also read: Can I Use A Steam Mop On A Vinyl Floor? – Here Is The Answer
Step 4: Maintain your Vinyl Floor
Your floor will always keep its great look between cleanings if you have proper maintenance. Here are several ways that help you maintain the vinyl floor better:
Put down mats around the entrance: Dirt and tiny bits of gravel on your shoes are abrasive to the vinyl and will gradually make it scratched and stained. So, remember to wipe your shoes on a doormat or take them off before entering the house.
Sweep the floor daily: There is a lot of dirt and grime migrating into the house, so sweep the floor every day.
As mentioned above, because dust can wear down and damage the finish of the vinyl floor, it is essential to sweep the house daily to prevent them from building up.
If you do not like to use a broom, you can use a vacuum or a dry mop to remove dust and debris from your house. Be sure to clean under your furniture, along the walls, and under the cabinet.
Clean up spills immediately: Anything you spill on the floor, even a glass of water or fruit juice, clean them up right away.
Sugary drinks are more difficult to clean when they have dried and can even damage your floor. Cleaning up messes right away not only keeps the floor always clean but also saves your cleaning time later.
The Bottom Lines
Vinegar is a completely harmless substance that can clean vinyl floors and keep them looking fresh. While strong cleansers can irritate your skin and adversely affect your respiratory system, vinegar is a great alternative. It is cheap, safe, and very simple to use.
The acid in vinegar gently cleanses the floor without leaving residues like soap or other cleansers. Proper cleaning helps your vinyl floor looking new as if you have just installed them.
Hopefully, after reading this article by Clairoliviawayman, you already know how to clean vinyl floors with vinegar? If you have any question and suggestion, please leave comments below. Million thanks!
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What is the parts of vinegar vs water? Also, if one decides to use some dish detergent…how much?
You need to answer Pam’s question above, otherwise your article is useless.
I have a question, we just bought a brand new condo with the LVT flooring, it looks all streaked and you can see the “wiped up pattern” all over the floor. I cleaned it following the grain with Bona LVT cleaner but the streaks still show. I’m wondering if the cleaning crew used an abrasive cleaner on it that has damaged the top layer. Is there any way to “fix ” this so it looks new. I was looking at another condo and could see the same mess on the floor. I’m going to talk to the builder of these condo when better informed on the resolution, HELP PLEASE