How to Clean Linoleum Floors

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By dlmiller
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Unlike vinyl flooring, which is synthetic and can handle harsh chemicals, linoleum is made of natural materials. It is not difficult to clean linoleum flooring, and your floor will last longer if you maintain it.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Ammonia
Vinegar
Bucket of warm water
Cloths
Rubber gloves

Clean linoleum floors gently and easily

Step 1

If you are unsure, you can determine whether you have a linoleum floor, rather than a vinyl floor, by scraping the top of an inconspicuous area. The color goes all the way through linoleum flooring, but the color pattern is stamped onto the top of a vinyl floor, so when you scrape the top of the flooring, the pattern will come off.
Step 2

Sweep the floor.
Step 3

Slowly pour warm water on the flooring and let it sit for a few minutes to loosen any sticky substances.
Step 4

Wipe up the water with a cloth or paper towels. This will clean linoleum floors that are not heavily stained.
Step 5

If there are still dirty spots on the floor, use a few drops of mild dishwashing soap and warm water and gently scrub the flooring with a cloth or a cleaning brush.
Step 6

For stubborn stains, like shoe scuff marks, try scrubbing with the outside of a tennis ball. This is usually easier if you cut the tennis ball carefully in half with a sharp knife.
Step 7

If your linoleum floor has yellowed under bath rugs, simply remove the rug. The flooring will gradually return to its normal color. A vinyl floor will not return to its original color.
Step 8

If these methods cannot clean your floor, you might need to strip the wax covering on your floor and apply a new coat or two.

Strip and Wax Linoleum Floors

Step 1

Make sure there is plenty of clean air circulating in the area by opening windows and using fans. You should wear rubber gloves while stripping and waxing your floor to prevent skin irritation.
Step 2

Working in small sections at a time, spread ammonia on the floor with a cloth.
Step 3

After about 30 minutes, use cloths or paper towels to remove most of the ammonia. This should leave even the dirtiest of linoleum floors clean.
Step 4

Use a combination of warm water and a few tablespoons of vinegar to remove any remaining ammonia.
Step 5

Apply a coat of floor wax using a cloth and let it dry.
Step 6

Apply second and third coats of wax if desired.