The Best Way to Clean Waterproof LVT Flooring
Do you think you’re cleaning your LVT flooring the wrong way?
Maybe your flooring didn’t come with a guide or you moved into a new home with a waterproof floor, like sheet vinyl, luxury vinyl plank or luxury vinyl tile.
If you Google, “How to clean LVT”, a lot of contradictory and, sometimes, misguided advice will result.
It is hard to know what answers to trust in the thousands of articles that you can find.
Are steam cleaners ok to use on luxury vinyl tile? What’s the best type of cleaner to use on LVP? Can you use a Swiffer mop on LVT floors?
We know how frustrating it can be to only find confusing answers to a simple question.
Cleaning your floor shouldn’t be hard or complicated. It should be something that you can fit into your normal cleaning routine.
Our goal is to make buying and owning a waterproof floor – sheet vinyl, luxury vinyl tile and luxury vinyl plank – as simple as it should be. No confusing marketing terms or complicated cleaning guides.
With just a few tools and some good habits, you can easily keep your waterproof floors looking like new for years.
Let’s start with the 3 common questions we hear about how to clean waterproof floors:
1. What should I use to clean my LVT floor?
All you need is a broom or vacuum, a microfiber mop kit (with both a dusting and cleaning pad) and an LVT safe cleaner. We recommend to always use an LVT safe cleaner, like Bona or Real Clean Floors.
Can LVT floors be cleaned with a Swiffer mop?
Most can be – microfiber mops that don’t have abrasive scrubbing pads can be used on waterproof floors.
2. Can I use a steam cleaner on my luxury vinyl floor?
Although waterproof floors are highly durable and, of course, waterproof, they are not steam proof. In fact, many types of waterproof floors are highly susceptible to heat. The finish can [symptom] and the boards will warp.
While some waterproof floors are more resistant to heat, like our Multi-Length Rigid Core floors, it is still a bad idea to use a steam cleaner. For really soiled areas it’s best to soak the area for a few minutes then wipe it down with a kitchen towel.
3. How do I clean a really dirty LVT floor?
You can deep clean the floors with your LVT approved cleaner or water and soap. Let the area soak for a couple minutes and then mop. You may need to re-mop again to remove more dirt.
Can I use vinegar to clean LVT floors?
Never use vinegar to clean waterproof floors, even if it’s diluted. Vinegar, along with other alkaline and ammonia products, will wear down the finish and make it dull over time. Most LVT approved cleaners are powerful enough to cut through the grime that you won’t need a stronger product.
The Best Way to Clean Luxury Vinyl Tile
The Tools You Need:
- Broom or Vacuum (never use the carpet setting)
- Microfiber Mop Kit (with both a dusting and cleaning pad)
- LVT Safe Cleaner – We highly recommend Real Clean Floors.
Steps:
- Vacuum or sweep all debris, dust, and dirt.
- Spray an LVT safe cleaner across the floor and clean with microfiber mop
- Repeat if needed on tough to clean spots
How often do I need to clean?
One reason so many homeowners love waterproof flooring is because of how easy it is to clean and maintain. Our basic rule of thumb: clean it as it gets dirty.
For high traffic areas, like your kitchen, living room, hallways, and bathrooms, it’s best to dry mop or vacuum several times a week. Never use the beater bar or carpet setting on your vacuum – this can cause scratching, even on some anti-scratch floors.
When spills happen, wipe up them up as soon as possible to avoid hard-to-clean messes later.
Once a week, use a wet microfiber cleaning kit to clean your floors with a vinyl safe cleaner. Keeping up with this weekly will prevent a build-up of dirt and grime. We really like Real Clean Floors Cleaner – it’s a multi-purpose cleaner that can be used on LVT, wood floors, and even countertops. They also have a heavy duty mop kit that’s easy to use.
When finished, wash the cleaning pad either by hand or in the washing machine. If you’re cleaning a large area, you may need to rinse out the cleaning pad to get out extra dirt.
Check your floor regularly to see if there’s a build-up of dirt and grime. If you see more grime, then you may need to clean more regularly.
For low traffic areas, like bedrooms or unused rooms, you can clean these areas as needed. Again, wipe up any spills right away and check for any messes that may have occurred.
Keeping these good cleaning habits will help you to avoid problems with your waterproof floor. It also eliminates any need for deep cleaning with a steam mop (which isn’t good for waterproof flooring, like we mentioned earlier).
How do I prevent scratches?
Although many waterproof floors, like ours, are anti-stain and anti-scratch, it’s still important to protect them.
Here’s a few tips to keep your waterproof floor scratch-free:
- Put felt furniture pads on all of your furniture (even big pieces like couches). We like Real Clean Floor’s Furniture Pads.
- Put mats inside and outside of your exterior doors to catch dirt and debris.
- Replace the wheels on your office chairs with ones that are safe for LVT and wood flooring. This will prevent scratches and help them to glide better on your floor.
- When vacuuming, never use the beater bar or carpet setting.
Keeping your LVT floors clean doesn’t require any special equipment or cleaning every day. Using the right tools and cleaning when they look dirty is all that’s needed to keep them looking great for years.
Looking for a new waterproof floor?
We know how confusing it can be to buy a waterproof floor. What is the difference between LVT, LVP, sheet vinyl, and the other acronyms many companies use? How can I compare seemingly identical products?
Our commitment is to make buying a waterproof floor as clear as possible.
We’ve created a free guide that goes through everything you need to know when buying a waterproof floor. Find out the top 5 things to know before choosing a waterproof floor. We also cover the big question, “What does waterproof mean, exactly?”
