When money was tight and we desperately needed to add something to our concrete floors, my parents opted for vinyl flooring, and that began my journey into the foray of vinyl. It’s an affordable, easy-to-install and good-looking option for flooring on a budget. When cleaning them, you have to be a bit careful because they’re not as resilient as wood or tiles. So, can you steam clean vinyl floors?
No. Vinyl floors should not be steam cleaned because the heat generated during the steaming process can potentially melt the vinyl glue used to adhere the flooring to the floor. Moreover, steam heat can cause the vinyl to warp, bubble, and disintegrate the glue used to hold the thick vinyl layers together.
Even though some high-end vinyl flooring claims to be hot steam-resistant, high heat from steam cleaners can still damage glue films.
If you must use your steam cleaner, make it once in a while, but even then, you will still be risking big time.
What Is Vinyl Flooring?
Vinyl flooring is a plastic (synthetic PVC) flooring material that can be installed over any surface, including concrete, wood, or tile.
Today, it is considered one of the most popular types of flooring due to its durability and ease of maintenance. Vinyl is strong enough to withstand high-traffic commercial spaces and does not require frequent care other than occasional sweeping and mopping.
Vinyl flooring is an incredibly affordable and resilient option for any homeowner.
It’s resistant to water damage and wear and tear, which makes vinyl one of the most popular types of floors in households with pets or children.
Here Are Your Options For Cleaning Vinyl Floors
Even though vinyl flooring can withstand a lot of abuse from high-traffic areas, the flooring deserves much more care for its maintenance.
Vinyl flooring constantly accumulates dirt, debris, and grime that need to be effectively cleaned. This leaves you with two options.
Option 1: Use a mop
Yes, you can mop vinyl floors. Flooring manufacturers recommend the application of warm water and mild liquid detergent to clean dirt and grime from your vinyl floor.
The warm water should be swept across the floor using a regular damp mop or microfiber cleaning pad available in most hardware stores.
The water should be gently rinsed off before you wipe the floor dry with a clean, soft cloth.
Option 2: Use a hard-surface floor cleaner
Hard-surface cleaners are effective in removing dirt and grime from vinyl floors.
However, it’s important to choose the right cleaner for vinyl flooring.
Before you proceed, make do of some research or ask the cleaner’s representative about the product’s suitability for your floor. Generally, you will need to clean your vinyl floors at least 2-3 times a month to maintain a clean and well-cared-for floor appearance.
Pros & Cons of Vinyl Floor Cleaning Mops vs. Hard-Surface Cleaners
Mops are cheap and available in almost every hardware store. However, using a mop is only good for small vinyl floors.
The pressing action applied by the mop can cause the vinyl surface to warp or break the top layers.
Moreover, if the mop is not properly dried after use, it will leave behind moisture, which can lead to mold and mildew growth on your vinyl floor.
Hard-surface cleaners are more effective than mops in all aspects.
They are effective in removing dirt and grime and do not leave behind moisture. The only limitation of this type of cleaner is that it can be expensive and often requires assembly before use.
As the saying goes, “If you want to make your vinyl floor last longer, then buy a hard-surface cleaner. If you want to save money, then buy a mop.“
How To Clean Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl is one of the most popular types of floors in households with pets or children. Its strength and durability make it the ideal floor covering for these areas.
However, vinyl floors still need regular care to keep them looking like new.
Wondering how to clean vinyl flooring? The best way is by using a hard-surface cleaning unit.
This will effectively remove dirt, debris, and grime from your floor.
However, you should still sweep the area to remove any loose dirt before applying the cleaning solution.
For best results, use warm water and mild detergent with a regular damp mop.
After rinsing off the cleaning solution from your floor, you should use a clean cloth to wipe off any remaining moisture.
Things Not To Do When Cleaning Vinyl Floors
- Never use cleaning chemicals, especially bleach. It will cause discoloration on the surface.
- Never clean vinyl floors with a hard broom or scrubbing brush, as it can cause scuff marks on the top layer and also remove the shine from your vinyl.
- Avoid steam cleaning, as it can cause residue moisture on the floor and potentially damage the vinyl plastic surface So, do not steam clean your vinyl floors. Instead, invest in a hard-surface cleaner. It’s an efficient and effective tool for cleaning grime and dirt from your vinyl floors.
- When moving furniture across your vinyl floors, you should use a thick cloth or towel as a protective barrier between the floor and the legs of your furniture. You can also lift the items instead.
- When vacuuming your vinyl floors, always use the lowest suction setting. The powerful suction from your vacuum cleaner can potentially cause damage to the surface of your vinyl floor. It can even potentially suck up and damage fibers in your carpeting.
- It’s a good practice to place felt pads or coasters underneath furniture legs and coffee tables.
- Don’t attempt to sweep your floor using a hard broom or acid-filled mop.
Final Thoughts
By cleaning vinyl floors appropriately, you’d be surprised how durable and long lasting they can be.
At one point, I had these tiles in my childhood bedroom for over a decade and they still looked as good as ever.
It was all because we used the right cleaning method regularly.
With that being said, I hope you enjoyed this article on whether or not you can steam clean vinyl floors. If you have any other questions for me, please feel free to let me know in the comment section below.
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