How to Protect Wood Vinyl Flooring
Wood vinyl flooring is the latest in highly embossed decorative floor coverings, and features the realistic look of real wood without the hassle and vulnerability often associated with natural wood fibers. Vinyl wood flooring is easy to clean, does not require waxing or buffing and is a resilient option for households that have active children or pets. Special care should be taken to protect wood vinyl flooring the week after installation to ensure it dries properly and retains a level installation. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Protective felt glides
- High-quality broom
- Mop
- Warm water
- No-rinse floor cleaner
- Soft absorbent cloth
- Walk-off mats and rugs
- Vinyl floor stripper
- Low-gloss vinyl floor polish
Instructions
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Avoid walking on the seamed areas of your new vinyl flooring for a minimum of 24 hours after installation. Adhesives cure best when allowed to dry for 48 hours in room temperatures above 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Keep heavy objects off of your vinyl wood floors for five days after installation to avoid compressing the vinyl to the glues; this can permanently depress areas of your flooring once the adhesive has dried. Do not wash or clean your floors for a minimum of five days after installation and avoid spills so you do not compromise the adhesion process.
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Examine any furniture that will be on the flooring to ensure the pieces have non-staining, large-surface felt glides and leg protectors. You should replace any narrow or dome-shaped glides with flat smooth ones, and avoid metal or other sharp materials that can harm vinyl floors. Chair casters and rollers should also be examined to ensure they are not worn, which can tear at the new flooring.
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Sweep your vinyl wood floors with a soft, high-quality broom or vacuum only with soft-bristled attachments on your cleaner. Regular sweeping several times weekly will help keep abrasive sand edges from gouging the vinyl.
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Rinse your floors to remove embedded dirt with plain warm water and a well-wrung mop. To remove sticky or grimy messes, use only no-wax, no-rinse, pH neutral cleansers recommended by the manufacturer on your floors. Harsh abrasives and cleansers can permanently damage vinyl.
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Clean up spills on your wood vinyl floor immediately with a soft absorbent cloth and avoid any surplus pooling of water or liquid; vinyl floors are not impervious to water damage and can buckle when exposed to excess moisture.
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Protect your floors when there is an open cut or break in a seam by immediately covering the area and calling the manufacturer for repairs. Accumulation of dirt in the tear can make a perfect repair nearly impossible.
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Tips & Warnings
Use non-staining rugs and walk-off mats near entryways and avoid the use of all rubber-backed rugs as these can permanently stain your vinyl wood floors.
Return the factory shine to your floors once every few years by using a recommended vinyl floor stripper and a low-gloss finish made especially for vinyl flooring. Never use waxes or polishes, especially 'clean and wax' type products as these will cause a yellow buildup on your floors.
Do not use ammonias, bleaches, hard scrub pads or other harsh solvents on your wood vinyl floors to avoid permanent damage.
