Best Ways to Clean Vinyl Plank Flooring | Do’s and Don’ts
February 5, 2023, by: Rob Parsell
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) is one of the most durable flooring types on the market however it won’t keep its good looks without your help. Loose dirt can scratch the coating on your tile, so it’s important to clean your floors frequently. Make a quick sweep part of your nightly clean-up routine to maximize the longevity of your floors. When you need your home to be truly spotless, here’s how to safely deep clean LVP.
DRY MOPS FOR DAY TO DAY CLEANING
Before you take water to your floors, make sure you have removed as much dust and debris as you can with a dry microfiber mop or vacuum cleaner. As with laminate flooring, you want to minimize the amount of water you use on vinyl plank. If water seeps in between planks it could curl the tile, loosen glue or cause mold in the subfloor.
Even if you have one of the many waterproof LVPs, caution with water is never a bad idea. Ideally water should only be needed to remove persistent dried residue once the bulk of dirt and dander is gone.
Dry microfiber mops work fabulously to remove the dust that gathers in corners and low-traffic areas such as under tables and floor lamps. Sweep the mop in an S-pattern, without retracing your strokes, to maximize efficacy.
You can use a traditional broom and dustpan on your vinyl plank or vinyl tile floors. Brooms are great for large pieces of debris – such as the apple peels that escaped from your baking project last night – but are much less effective against smaller particles, like the flour.
These tiny particles may seem harmless, but they can do significant damage to your floor’s polyurethane coating if tracked around by shoes, slippers or a wet mop.
CAN YOU VACUUM LUXURY VINYL PLANK?
Another option for daily dust removal is a vacuum cleaner. Yes, you can safely run a vacuum cleaner on vinyl – but only if it’s designed for hard floor use.
Lightweight vacuum cleaners are best, especially those with rubber or felt wheels that won’t leave marks. There are several stick and canister vacuums on the market designed with these features.
If you choose to use an upright vacuum, make sure it’s one with a hard floor setting that will lift the “beater bar” out of the way or has the option to manually remove the bar altogether. The beater bar is the rotating brush that sweeps hair out of the carpet so neatly – but can scar the finish on your vinyl.
HOW DO YOU DEEP CLEAN GRIME FROM VINYL?
Once you have removed the major dust and dander from your floor, use water and a cleaning solution to go after the stubborn grime. You may find that your floors are so clean after vacuuming that attacking the few remaining dirty spots by hand is the most effective approach.
Remember, your goal is to reduce the amount of water applied to your floor as much as possible. Warm water paired with a dot of dish detergent on terrycloth is the worst enemy of sticky, icky spots when you add some elbow grease.
CAN YOU WET MOP LVP FLOORING?
You can wet mop LVP flooring with warm water, avoid over soaking the floor. If you want to use a wet mop, a microfiber flip mop or spin mop are your safest options. Make sure to use a fresh cleaning pad, not the same one you used for dusting! Don’t use a sponge mop with an abrasive scratch pad.
What cleaning product is safest for vinyl floors? A simple solution of one part white vinegar to five parts filtered water is effective and inexpensive.
You can also use a product designed for LVP flooring, but always rinse using a fresh mop head afterward, even if the product says “no-rinse.” The overuse of soap on your floors will quickly cause buildup that can trap abrasive dirt particles and cut down shine.
IS IT SAFE TO USE A STEAM MOP ON VINYL PLANK FLOORING?
Quick, effective, and minimal, steam mops are the favorite tool in many a homemaker’s broom closet. But is it truly safe for the longevity of your floor?
Most experts will answer this question with a strong “no.” Steam mops drive moisture down between the planks, which is exactly what you want to avoid. This can weaken adhesive on glued floors and cause warping, or worse, mold. Most LVP manufacturers advise against using a steam mop on their product.
However, there is a counter argument in favor of steam mops: that they apply so little water compared with traditional mops that the occasional use may be safe or even preferred.
If you choose to use a steam mop, use it on a hot setting so that the water evaporates as quickly as possible. Do not use too frequently. Do not linger on any one spot.
Definitely check the manufacturer’s recommendations for your particular flooring product before you use a steam mop. The last thing you want to do is void a warranty due to improper care.
DO I NEED TO WAX LVP FLOORS?
Nope, you’re done! One of the beauties of luxury vinyl plank is that it stays pretty even without wax. In fact, applying wax to a floor that isn’t designed for it will just cause buildup and cut its luster.
Here are some additional tips to keep your now-sparkling-clean LVP floor looking new and gorgeous.
DOs AND DONT’s OF LVP CARE
Do clean frequently. Lots of love is the best way to prevent having to use scrub brushes or harsh products on old hardened grime.
Do wipe up spills immediately, so they don’t dry and harden, requiring more aggressive cleaning.
Do use a vacuum with a high-quality HEPA filter. Without a good filter, the vacuum will blow dust and allergens right back to your floor!
Do inform your house cleaner (if you have one) that your floors are LVP. Ask them to use your products and tools instead of their own.
Do apply felt tips to the legs of all your furniture. Avoid sliding, dragging, or rolling furniture. Casters are not friendly to your floor!
Don’t use harsh detergents, ammonia, or clean-and-wax combo products. Don’t use wool or abrasive brushes.
Don’t wear your shoes in the house. This is the cardinal rule of keeping your floors clean and scuff-free!
Don’t forget to purchase an extra box of material when installing your new LVP floors! That way if one plank is torn or badly damaged, you can swap it with a fresh one.
Do you have Luxury Vinyl Plank in your home? Do you love how easy it is to maintain? Share your spill stories and clean up tips in the comments below!
RELATED READING:
How to Clean Hardwood Floors
How to Clean Laminate Floors
About the Author:
Rob Parsell
Rob joined the Home Flooring Pros team in 2014 and is a freelance writer, specializing in flooring, remodeling and HVAC systems (read more).
“I’m the son of an interior designer and picked up an eye for design as a result. I started hanging wallpaper and painting at 14 and learned enough on the job to be the general contractor on two homes we built for our family and did much of the finish plumbing, electrical, painting, and trim work myself.”
Can you use a cotton mopping pad to clean your LVP flooring? I have on that I used for my hardwood floors. You can just throw them in the wash.
Eufy is a brand of robotic vacuum cleaner.
We installed vinyl plank flooring but now we need to treat it with some sort of anti-skid, non-slip product so that our pup doesn’t hurt himself when sliding across the floor (he loves to run through the house and it’s very entertaining). I’ve seen treatments/products online for other floor surfaces – tile, ceramic, vinyl, asbestos vinyl, linoleum, etc. Does anyone know of a slip-resistant product that can be used on vinyl plank?
I have scuff marks on my new vinyl flooring from where the installer used his shop vac. What is the best way to remove these scuff marks without ruining the finish on the floor?
Try lemon juice
Can I use Scrub-Free with oxyclean on my luxe-vinyl floor? Although the floor is new, it takes on so much dirt traffic that the light gray color is starting to yellow a little bit. I wash it daily with Swiffer wet-mop cleaning pads or with sprayed-on Simple Green.
I’ve used Scrub Free on my plaster walls to whiten them and it works great!
My LVP flooring says not to use any cleaner that isn’t a neutral PH so maybe thats why your floor is yellowing. Neither cleaner your using has a neutral PH.
The Swiffer Wet pads leave a sticky residue behind which will gather the dirt!
I can not get my vinyl plank flooring clean. I wet sweep everyday and the sweeper sheet is filthy dirty.
Should I get a professional floor cleaner to come out and clean it?
I have the same problem. Have you had any luck finding an answer? I have used Bona since having my floors installed. But my floors , for some reason, just never feel clean. I can wet mop with the Bona cleaner and my fiber mop and when it dries, I can literally take wipe and swipe the floor and itll be disgusting. I’m just so over this mess. I clean so much to no avail.
Me too…I vacuum daily and have used Bona cleaner. I noticed dirt in the grooves and used a scrub brush..I was shocked how much dirt is there. Hubby says floors are clean and I’m just neurotic but I’m at my wits end. I tried vinegar and water..nothing different. Last thing I want to do is scrub my floor on my hands and knees.
OMG , I am having this issue now. We installed these floors 8 months ago and as time passes they look worse and worse. I mop but it is just cleaning the surface. I trialed a small brush and it came clean. I now have to scrub the entire high traffic area with a brush! Not happy with my low maintenance flooring to scrub with a brush to clean!
The residue left behind from the cleaner actually causes hazy streaks and the dirt sticks to the residue. We are trying Norwex dry microfiber and water only Norwex wet mop so there is no cleaner left behind and it really looks much better.
Cleaners make it worse. The dirt sticks to it. My best so far is steam mop. Evaporates quickly; only uses water; kills 99% germs & gets the floor clean. Just don’t allow water to sit on floor. Goes fast & easy. Before this, it was a pain.
I would like to use a robot vacuum on my vinyl plank flooring. Is there one that won’t harm the flooring?
I have been living with LVP for only 3 months. I have been using a Eufy and it is great!! I am ticky about my floors since the sun coming thru the windows highlights all dust particles. The Eufy really gets all of it up, even along the baseboards. I use it about every 4 days. Once a month I use a damp rag or sponge to wipe in the corners, along the edges and under pieces of furniture – anywhere dust collects that the Eufy or vacuum cannot get to. I love my LVP, but it is cold to walk on 🙂
PS. I do NOT work for Eufy.
What is Eufy?
I have an I Life 4S Pro Robot for our LVP upstairs. I have an older I Life Robt for our ceramic tile floor downstairs. Much less expensive than the “name brands” and much quieter! It might not be a great product for carpet but perfect for hard flooring.
It does a great job on our LVP flooring. No scratching. Even after sweeping, I will run the robot and it’s amazing the debris it will pick up! Also great that it goes under beds and most furniture.
Ive used the deebot for years on my vinyl floors. It works great and has never harmed my floors
I have been washing with white vinegar. Recently read my instructions which says do not use vinegar. I am confused.
I have been too, but mine are Mohawk, and in the care they said only use water, or water with vinegar….so I assume it must be okay
Can Mr. Clean be used on vinyl plank flooring?
I have 4 dogs and use mr clean pet on my vinyl floors with no problems.
I just had some planks replaced in my new house because of a scrape. The boards replaced do not have the luster that the others have. do they need to be cleaned differently somehow?
I had to use a knee scooter and can see scuff types of marks.
What is the best way to work on removing those types of marks?
When I first put down my vinyl plank floors, I was immensely pleased. However, after a couple of years, the planks began buckling up, and moisture would collect around and under the strips.
I purchased a product to clean and seal the surface of the flooring. But first, I had to “reattach” the planks to the concrete. I removed the pieces which were loose, one at a time, cleaned under them, made sure they were bone dry, then used spray contact cement to glue them back down. When I had an area large enough to work with, I cleaned the floor, let it dry, and added the sealer.
The product worked fairly well, but the finish was only so-so. Not to be out done, I purchased some Rejuvenate for a try. Much, much, much better. However, I have a large dog who sheds like crazy. Remember how Pigpen in the Charlie Brown books, always walked around in a haze of dirt and dust? Well, Callie walks around in a haze of shedding hair. Well, every time I put a finish on the floor, hair gets trapped, and it drives me crazy.
Now, I have a finish which will work, but need suggestions on ways to clean the floor before hand. All I know to do is get on my hands and knees and clean, guard the floor, then add finisher. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I have vinyl plank flooring in my brand new home. Been moved in only 2 weeks. I HATE this flooring. Never looks clean. Wish I had real hardwood. Will be replacing as soon as possible. I have a dog and you can see his paw prints all over the floor. Nothing I have tried cleans the floor always looks dirty.
I share your frustration Karen. We just installed Nucor Dark Mahogany floor and it never looks clean, except when it is still wet from cleaning it. As soon as it dries it looks dull and dusty. We installed the lvp because we had hardwood in our other house and the dogs scratched it very badly and it looked horrible. I don’t know the best flooring solution but it isn’t dark lvp or hardwood if you have pets.
100% agree with you. Vinyl Plank Flooring is cheap and looks cheap! Ill take wood floors every say of the week!
It depends on the manufacturer, color, grain, lifestyle and what you clean it with. I have a home with 3500sf of hardwood plank and a home with just as much lvp. The LVP always looks clean and I have 9 dogs. I only ever use a robot to vacuum and rarely wash it. It isn’t meant to shine or be polished. It is meant to live with.
I just installed 2000sf of Cali Long Boards and they look great (actually much more realistic than I expected) but I do not like floating floors. Ive had hard wood floors my whole life. I’m trying to figure out the best plan to clean this LVP floor. If vinegar works well, Id rather do that than lay a layer of chemicals down that layers sticky film on the boards.
I have the Cali LVP long planks and have been using the Bissel Powerfresh steam mop. However, I just read on their care manual that steam cleaning is a no-no. I have not noticed any issues so far, but according to Cali Bamboo it can dull the finish. The style I have is more rustic looking with no shine, so I cannot see evidence of dulling yet. I will be a bit more careful now, though: Vinegar is a no-no as well:
Cali Care Instructions:
General Care:
• For general cleaning, dry or damp mop as needed using Bona Stone Tile & Laminate Floor Cleaner or something similar.
• Never use a steam mop or wet-mop as standing water may cause permanent damage and the heat from the steam mop may dull the finish. The moisture from the dampened mop should evaporate off the floor quickly.
• Although Cali Vinyl Plank Flooring is waterproof, it is still a best practice to avoid excess moisture on the floor. Therefore, we recommend soaking up spills immediately using a dry towel or dry mop.
• To clean up dried glue use either Bostik Ultimate Adhesive Remover or Titebond Adhesive Remover cleaning wipes.
Abrasive or harsh chemicals should not be used to clean the floor. Never use any of the following products on the floor: mineral spirits, paint thinner, acetone, ammonia-based cleaners, acrylic finishes, wax-based products, detergents, bleach, polishes, oil soap, abrasive cleaning soaps, or acidic materials such as vinegar. Never apply wax treatments to the floor.
Hardest floor to keep clean.
I don’t know if the cleaning crew put something on the floor before we moved in but I can not get rid of the streaks; we have lived in the new home for a month and I have more scratches and tears than I have ever had in any flooring. There are air pockets where the floor in uneven so it pops when you walk over it. It makes our home look cheap.
I will be replacing with engineered hardwood.
I have Shaw Coretec LVP flooring that was already in a new build spec house, I bought. There are large spots of where it looks flawed, all in different areas. I have used the Encore cleaner and doesn’t look any different. I have contract shaw about filing a claim and they said it didn’t warrant an inspector to come and look at it and I should use a hard surface cleaner such as zep or shaw. I really don’t think it will change anything. I have cleaned it so many times since I move in 4 weeks ago. Any suggestions or help would be appreciated.
thank you