1. Keep out dirt and chemicals
with a doormat. A doormat helps keep out your vinyl floor’s two greatest
enemies: dirt and chemicals. Tracked-in dirt means extra broom time. Grit acts
like sandpaper, removing the finish from your floor. And even though you can’t
see them, chemicals from asphalt can stick first to your shoes and then to the
floor, causing it to yellow.
2. Keep your floors clean. The key to keeping any
floor in good shape is to keep it clean, and sheet vinyl is no exception. Get
the dirt off before it gets ground in, and your vinyl will last longer. Sweep
frequently. It’s a good idea to get in the habit of quickly running a soft broom
across the kitchen floor every evening after you put the dishes in the
dishwasher.
3. Shampoo away hair spray. If you have hairspray
buildup on your vinyl floor, just shampoo it away. It works on your hair,
doesn’t it? Mix a squirt of shampoo with a gallon of warm water. Mop, then
rinse with a damp mop.
4. Learn low-impact cleaning techniques. Resist
the temptation to blast away dirt with heavy-duty cleaners. Instead, clean your
vinyl floor using the mildest possible method. Sweep or vacuum it every
evening, and wipe up spills right away. To clean dirt that the broom or vacuum
can’t get, use a mop dampened with warm—not hot—water. If all else fails, use
soap, but make sure the soap is designed for your flooring.
5. Use the right cleanser. If your no-wax vinyl
needs cleaning, wash it with a cleaner made specifically for no-wax floors,
following the directions on the container. If you have older vinyl that
requires waxing, clean it with warm water and detergent. Dampen a mop or sponge
with the mixture, and rub the floor just enough to loosen the dirt. Try not to
rub off the wax because you’ll just have to reapply it. Rinse with clean, cool
water—no matter what the soap label says about not needing rinsing— otherwise
you’ll leave a residue on the floor.
6. Don’t drench your vinyl. Water from an overly wet
mop will work its way into the cracks, seams, and edges. Once there, it can
destroy the glue bond that holds down the vinyl, causing it to come loose or
corners to curl.
7. Rinse well to remove all soap. Soap may
get your floor clean, but soap scum leaves a film that actually collects dirt.
Until your floor needs a serious cleaning, stick to damp mopping with just
water. When you do need to wash the floor, use two mops—one for washing and a
second one just for rinsing.
8. Preserve the sheen. “No wax” really means “Don’t
wax.” No-wax vinyl has a clear polyurethane coating that makes it shine. Wax
won’t adhere well to the coating and will leave behind a mess that you’ll have
to strip off. (Don’t use mop-and-wax products, either.) If your no-wax floor
loses its shine, restore it with a polish or sealant made for no-wax flooring.
Make sure the floor is thoroughly clean and apply one or two thin layers as
directed. It should keep your floor shining for at least a year with only
routine damp mopping. If you have an older floor that requires waxing, wax when
it loses its sheen, but use only the amount called for on the container label.
9. Outfit your furniture and large appliances with protective
“feet.” The weight
of heavy items (such as tables and refrigerators) that occupy permanent places
in your kitchen can dent vinyl flooring. Prevent these dents by fitting your
furniture with floor protectors, which you can find at hardware stores and
home-improvement centers.
10. Forgo rolling casters. These, too, can damage
the surface of your tile. Instead, consider fitting chairs with felt tips,
which won’t harm your vinyl.
11. Before big moves, put appliances and other heavy items on a
plywood path. More often
than not, when we replace or move appliances, we drag or push them across the
floor rather than lift them—but dragging them will only scratch and scuff your
vinyl flooring. To keep your vinyl in tiptop condition, lay a piece of plywood
sheeting along the route that you are going to take out of the room, and push
or “walk” the appliances out along the plywood path.
