How to Restore Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is easy to clean, maintain and care for when you follow the proper manufacturer's recommendations. Vinyl floors are sealed by the manufacturer with a low-gloss, no-wax sealant that gives it shine and luster. After two years, this glow fades even if you use a proper cleaning regimen on your floors. You can restore vinyl flooring by stripping off old buildup and applying a manufacturer-recommended sealant. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Vacuum cleaner with brush
- Quality broom
- Rubber gloves
- Face mask
- Ammonia
- Water
- Absorbent towel
- Low-gloss floor sealant
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Instructions
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Remove any surface dirt from your vinyl flooring with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a soft brush attachment; if one is unavailable, use a good quality fine-bristled broom. Get into corners, nooks and crannies to remove any hidden surface dirt.
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Open your windows to properly ventilate the area in your kitchen or bathroom. Wear rubber gloves and a protective face mask before cleaning with ammonia.
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Get rid of surface film on your floor with a well-wrung mop using a mixture of lukewarm water and 1 cup of ammonia. Use a stronger ammonia solution for heavier dirt and wax buildup or wash the floor several times with the lighter solution to remove grime.
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Use a soft-bristled scrub brush to remove tough, embedded surface film left over from waxy floor cleaners, dulling soaps and trapped dirt. Once sealed, vinyl flooring should always use a water-based, no-wax floor cleaner that is free from waxes, polishes and detergents.
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Rinse mop the floor with plain water and dry it with an absorbent towel to remove excess liquid. Allow your vinyl flooring to dry thoroughly.
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Seal your vinyl flooring with a manufacturer-recommended, low-gloss floor sealant and mop. These sealants only need to be applied once every two years if you properly clean your vinyl floor with recommended cleansers each time you clean.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not use rubber-backed floor mats on your vinyl tile. They will yellow and dull the flooring.
Never use mop and glow-type products or any type of wax on your vinyl floor---it causes dulling and will seal in the dirt.
Avoid abrasive cleansers and scrub pads. They can permanently damage your vinyl flooring. Clean up tough messes with a vinyl scrubber.
