- Caring for vinyl is first determined as to whether the flooring has been finished with a sealant or not. For sealed vinyl floors, floor care consists of regular vacuuming and/or mop dusting to remove soil and abrasive debris on at least a weekly basis. Wipe up all spills promptly. This should be complimented with using a natural pH floor cleaner that will not dull the floor appearance due to too high a pH. Frequency of cleaning will be determined by soil load and interior activities of the house.
- For non-sealed vinyl flooring that is without a sealant, the same cleaning practices are required, with increased cleaning frequencies since there is no protective sealant on the vinyl floor to protect it from stainage, soil, and abrasion.
- Be aware that vinyl flooring can be extremely slippery when wet. Use extreme caution when walking on wet vinyl flooring.
- There is currently a range of so called finish free vinyl flooring on the market today, claiming the benefits of these floors never having to be finished with a floor sealant. This is partially accurate for the short to mid-term life cycle of vinyl flooring, but for long term usage of a vinyl flooring product, some type of floor sealant will need to be used.
- Only use floor sealant from a reputable company brand. Avoid the so called daily and weekly floor sealant and wax applications as they do not provide long term durability, as well as creating soil build up on vinyl with accompanying dullness of appearance. This is as a result of the chemical properties in these ‘short term’ sealants and waxes actually attracting dirt and soilage. Avoid harsh abrasive chemicals at all times.
- A word of caution should be mentioned about grouting in vinyl floor applications. Wherever and whenever possible, ensure that you have a grouting installed whose coloration is matched to outside climate as well as being sealed with a protective water and dirt sealant, at the installation of the vinyl flooring. Such proactive thinking and installation will help avoid headaches and aesthetic compromise in later years due to unsightly dirt and stainage penetrating the grout and negatively affecting the overall look of your flooring product.
- Vinyl flooring can be negatively affected by exposure to the sun and the damaging effects of UV rays fading the vinyl surfaces. Plan to move your furniture on a rotational basis, so as to ensure that vinyl flooring ages evenly.
- Most spills will wipe up easily on vinyl flooring. To remove stains, only use a clean, white cloth turned frequently to avoid stainage spread. This should be followed by rinsing with clean water and repeating the process if necessary.
- Use caution when moving heavy items across vinyl flooring, utilizing protective material underneath the items, or a dolly with wheels that will not dent or scratch this type of flooring.
- Use door mats at outdoor entrances and encourage your family and friends to remove their shoes before walking on vinyl flooring. Using entrance matting is the single most important factor in keeping dirt and soil outside of your home and protecting your investment in flooring, including vinyl flooring. Use non-staining mats on vinyl flooring. Do not put rubber-backed, latex-backed, or coco fiber mats on vinyl flooring as these can damage and negatively affect the look of this type of flooring.
