How To Approach Maintaining Vinyl Floors

Vinyl is an extremely versatile type of resilient flooring popular across a range of industry segments – such as hospitality, healthcare and aged care – and for homes. Favoured for its high durability, looks and ease of care, vinyl is often the best choice no matter the application. That being said, like anything you own, things need to be maintained to ensure optimum condition and their longevity. There are a few key things to consider to keep your floors looking their best for as long as possible.

maintaining vinyl foors

While vinyl is your best option for resilient, durable floors, everything needs to be taken care of. This is how to approach maintaining vinyl floors.

Vinyl flooring is recommended for environments that experience high foot traffic, intense conditions that involve heat and pressure, and areas that withstand high volume impact or spillage. Though they can withstand fair rough conditions, if you don’t take care of your floors their lifespan will shrink .

Cleaning The Right Way

General tips for keeping your vinyl floors clean:

• Dirt and sand can wreak havoc on pristine vinyl floors. Be sure to place at mat at all entrances to ensure they don’t make their way anywhere near your floors.

• Avoid using abrasive brooms or scrubbers. Soft bristled brooms are they way to go. Heavy duty scrubbing tools can leave small scratches in your floor which can be a gateway for moisture and other materials to get in and damage your floors.

• DO NOT use products like ‘wax and shine’ or ‘shine and mop’ – they will leave a layer or film on your floors that cannot be removed by scrubbing – this will require refurbishment or complete stripping in the worst case scenario.

• Also avoid using bleach or ammonias – they can be harmful to your floors.

• For stains such as ink or paint or varnish, rubbish alcohol (isopropyl) is your best bet for removal. Apply and gently scrub with a non-abrasive sponge.

• Scuff marks from shoes should be rubbed off manually. Follow by wiping or mopping the area with a vinyl floor cleaner. Be very careful using steam mops as the high temperatures can damage your floors.

maintaining vinyl floors

Handling Furniture and Equiptment

In commercial flooring, hospitality, aged care, education, healthcare and industrial sectors, furniture or equiptment is one of the key culprits to worn out, damaged floors. Make sure your consider the following:

• The feet of heavy furniture or equiptment can really damage vinyl floors over time. Consider putting casters underneath so that the weight is distributed more evenly in order to avoid irreversible denting or scratching.

• Never drag furniture or machinery over floors. If you need to move something, either carry with the help of others, or if this is not possible lay down plywood sheets and walk the appliance across. The flat surface of the plywood will distribute the weight across and deter scratching.

Combining all these factors with exponentially increase the lifespan of vinyl floors. Floors in poor condition are generally in such a state due to numerous small nicks, scratches, dents and stain that have build up over time. By address the small issues, you will see massive benefits in the long run.

If you are in need of quality flooring solutions or have questions regarding the best way to care for your floors, talk to the experts at Aussie Flooring Insights. Our highly trained professionals will be more than happy to help.