Vinyl Flooring Mainenance February 27, 2008

Flooring, no matter how new or beautiful, is meant to be walked upon. Vinyl flooring is no exception. Time and the onslaught of foot traffic will most certainly take its toll. But take heart, keeping your vinyl flooring as beautiful and inviting as the day it was installed just requires a little knowledge. So, check out the following advice and be a little smarter about smart and stylish vinyl flooring.

New vinyl floors are extremely durable and long lasting, but like any floor covering they still need regular maintenance to stay looking like new. Follow these general guidelines for vinyl flooring. For more detailed information always refer to the manufacturer’s written floor care procedures. You can’t avoid wear on your vinyl flooring, but knowing how to care for and maintain it can keep you floor in beautiful condition and make it a source of pride for years to come.

 

• For the first 24 hours after your new vinyl floor is installed, protect all the seamed areas. Also, don’t walk on the seam sealer. The seams in the floor need time to set properly.
• Keep the room at 68° F or greater for at least 2 days after installation. This allows the adhesives to setup properly.
• Do not roll heavy objects directly on to a newly installed vinyl floor for at least 5 days. This can cause the vinyl and adhesive to become compressed, and once the adhesive sets up any compressed marks will become permanent.
• Allow 5 days before thoroughly washing your floor. This will give the adhesive time to cure.
• Lay plywood down before moving heavy objects. Before moving heavy objects across your vinyl floor, hold on! Always lay plywood or underlayment sheets down to disperse the weight.
• Check the condition of rollers and casters before use. Before placing chairs or furniture on your new vinyl floor check the condition of all the casters or rollers before setting them on your floor. Replace any worn casters or rollers.
• Protect your vinyl floor by covering the legs of furniture with felt protectors. Otherwise, damaging dents that cannot be repaired will scar your floor.

• Remove dust, sand and grit particles. Do this by frequently by sweeping or vacuuming your vinyl floor.
• Don’t use a vacuum with a beater bar. It may scratch your floor. The attachments that come with your vacuum are useful to clean the edges or to get to hard to reach areas. When sweeping or vacuuming does not remove the dirt, mop the floor with clean warm water.
• Rinse the floor thoroughly with fresh water after cleaning. If water alone does not clean the surface, use cleaning products recommended by the manufacturer.
• Place non-staining, walk-off mats or rugs at every outside entry to your room. Think prevention. This will help keep sand and grit from being tracked on to your floor.
• Be sure to avoid using rubber-backed mats or rugs. They can damage and potentially discolor your floor over a period of time.
• Use rugs specially designed for vinyl floors. Remember to treat them accordingly. Shake, shake, shake!
• For spots or spills, wipe them up immediately. Also, use a clean cloth to wipe the cleaner onto the floor. Rinse the spot or spill area thoroughly and wipe dry with a clean cloth.

• Make sure the floor’s manufacturer recommends the cleaner you are using. Also, check that the product label indicates “self-cleaning,” meaning you will not get an accumulation of wax on your floor.
• Avoid using abrasive scrubbing tools. They will leave scratches.
• Never use abrasive cleaners, soaps, paste waxes, or solvents on your vinyl floor. If your floor becomes dull looking, first, try cleaning it with lukewarm water. If that doesn’t work, use the manufacturer’s recommended floor polish to restore your vinyl floor to its original gloss level.
• If you purchased a PVC vinyl floor you should consider placing 2-3 coats of the manufacturer’s recommended floor polish on the floor immediately. Any vinyl floor with a PVC wearlayer can show scuffs, scratches and other marks. By adding the coats of floor polish you will make the floor easier to maintain.
• Cover open seams immediately. If you have a seam open, cover it immediately, do not wash that area, and contact us for a vinyl floor covering professional to repair the seam.
• If your floor gets a cut or gouge in it, cover the area immediately and call your flooring professional. A professional installer can repair the area, but if the cut is filled with dirt it may be difficult to repair correctly.
• Urethane floors finish can darken over time. Urethane floors in direct sunlight for long periods of time can continue to cure due to the ultraviolet light produced by the sun. This will darken the urethane. Make sure proper precautions are taken to limit direct sunlight to these products.
• For more maintenance information specific to your vinyl flooring, remember to consult the manufacturers’ recommendations. They have more specific information about your specific floor.
  

• For more information on how to clean vinyl floors, click here.
• Click on the manufacturer of your specific floor if known. Congoleum, Armstrong, Mannington, Domco