How to Care for Your Luxury Vinyl Tile and Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
minute read
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) and Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring, more popularly known as “fake tile” and “fake hardwood” flooring, can be found in most American homes. With more durability, lower cost, and an attractive aesthetic, it’s no surprise that this type of floor has become so popular.
That said, LVP and LVT aren’t invincible. How you treat it will affect the longevity of your floor, making it important to follow best practices for maintenance and professional cleaning.
Understanding Luxury Vinyl Flooring
LVT and LVP may seem simple—and they are, for the most part—but it’s important to really understand this flooring type if you want to keep it in the best condition possible.
Vinyl tile floors come in square or rectangular tiles to mimic real tile, while vinyl planks resemble traditional hardwood planks. Both options are excellent for high-traffic areas in your home, especially if you have kids or pets that might damage more fragile and expensive flooring. Luxury vinyl flooring also offers a wide range of design options, from various colors and patterns to textures that replicate natural materials.
This way, you can get the look of real hardwood or tile without the hassle or cost.
LVT and LVP are less porous than the natural alternatives, making maintenance cleaning generally more effective than it is for natural tile and hardwood. That said, substances can still become embedded or stuck to the surface of your floor, causing spots that are very tough to remove.
Speaking from personal experience, I’ve failed to clean my LVP in the proper time and ended up with spots I’ve never quite been able to scrub out with my own cleaning methods.
Finally, although LVT and LVP are more durable, harsh cleaning solutions will still break down the floor’s sealant over time, putting the floor at greater risk for scratching and allowing spots to sink below the surface where they can cause permanent discoloration.
Maintenance Practices
Here are our best tips to keep your vinyl floor in top condition between professional cleanings.
1. Regularly sweep or dry mop your floors to remove dirt, dust, and debris. Ultimately, a microfiber mop will be the most effective and gentle option, which is why it’s our top recommendation for this type of maintenance.
That said, you can use any soft-bristle broom or dry mop without risking scratches on the surface of your floor. You can also use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment or a setting designed for hard surfaces. If your vacuum has a beater, turn the beater off while you vacuum to avoid scratches on your floor.
2. Clean up spills or pet accidents immediately to prevent stains and odors. Use a damp cloth or mop to wipe up the spill, avoiding excessive water that can seep into seams and cause damage.
3. When you mop the floor, avoid abrasive cleaners, harsh chemicals, or wax-based products, as they can break down the sealant on your floors. Read the label on each cleaner you’re considering to see if it can be used on LVP/LVT to be safe. As you apply the solution and rinse, avoid excessive moisture that can seep into the cracks and cause water bubbles under the flooring.
Stanley Steemer has a hardwood floor cleaner that is also safe and effective for use on LVT and LVP. Visit our online store to purchase.
4. When moving furniture, lift it instead of dragging it across the floor to avoid scratches and marks. We also recommend placing protective pads under furniture legs in case the furniture is accidentally shifted around in daily life.
5. Trim pets' nails regularly and use mats or rugs in high-traffic areas.
6. Use curtains, blinds, or window films to block direct sunlight during peak hours, protecting your floors from discoloration and fading caused by UV rays.
7. Regularly inspect your flooring for loose or damaged planks or tiles. Address any issues promptly to prevent further damage, and contact a professional for repairs if necessary.
8. Apply a protective coating or sealant to enhance your floor's durability and resistance to wear. Consult the manufacturer's guidelines or seek professional advice to choose the right product and application method. Stanley Steemer offers a professional-grade sealant after cleaning LVT and LVP.
Professional Cleaning Services
Finally, like any other surface in your house, we recommend regular professional cleanings. While daily or even weekly maintenance is essential, nothing can substitute for professional cleaning when it comes to preserving the longevity of your floors.
Stanley Steemer offers professional LVT and LVP cleaning, as well as linoleum cleaning. Here’s our process:
Our technicians will conduct an inspection to determine the specific kind of vinyl in your home and check for any pre-existing damage. This allows us to choose the safest and most effective cleaning solution and equipment.
Next, we’ll prepare the space by moving as much furniture as possible out of the way. Then, we’ll vacuum the entire area with our truck-mounted vacuum system to remove all loose dirt and debris. Once this step is complete, we’ll start applying our vinyl floor cleaning solution.
Depending on the floor type and condition, we’ll use a specialized vinyl floor auto scrubber, a 4-jet gecko, or both. This machine utilizes our specially formulated vinyl floor cleaner and hot water to lift and remove dirt without harming the vinyl.
After deep cleaning the vinyl floors, we quickly dry the area with a microfiber mop to ensure no excessive moisture remains. This protects your floor from any water damage and allows you to walk on the floor immediately.
Finally, we conduct an inspection with you to make sure you’re fully satisfied with the service, leaving your vinyl floors clean and refreshed.
Call 1-800-STEEMER or visit our online quote tool to schedule your vinyl floor cleaning today!