How to Clean Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring is a fantastic material for updating your home design. It provides the appearance of hardwood floors without the high costs involved. LVP is comfortable, durable, and generally straightforward to clean if you know what you’re doing. With proper maintenance, it can also last a lifetime. 

However, not everyone knows how to clean LVP flooring. That’s why our team at Baker Bros has created this guide. If you're considering installing LVP flooring but are worried about cleaning it correctly, you’ve come to the right place.

What Is LVP Flooring?

Before we tackle cleaning LVP floors, it’s important to know what exactly LVP is. By understanding its composition, you'll understand why maintaining and routinely cleaning it is essential. 

Essentially, luxury vinyl plank flooring is a type of man-made flooring comprised of five layers. These layers include a design layer with a printed image and top coat, a fiberglass backing layer, a rigid PVC backing layer that adds strength, a cushion foam layer, and a click-and-lock system layer. 

With its unique design, this flooring is meant to be easy to install—DIY safe—and versatile. LVP flooring is also designed to be easy to clean, requiring minimal effort and tools. 

Cleaning Luxury Vinyl Flooring: A Step-by-Step Guide

Correctly cleaning luxury vinyl plank flooring doesn’t need to be complicated, provided you have the right steps and tools. Below is a breakdown of the tools and steps you will need to clean LVP flooring effectively:

Tools You Will Need

Before you start cleaning your LVP floors, here's a complete list of what you need:

• Microfiber cloth or mop: A microfiber cloth or mop is essential for cleaning LVP floors. It effectively captures grime and dirt without leaving any residue, lint, or scratches behind.
• Bucket: A bucket is necessary for your cleaning solution.
• Vacuum cleaner or broom: A vacuum cleaner with stiff-bristled brushes or a broom and dustpan is crucial for removing dust, loose dirt, and pet hair from the floor before mopping.
• Vinyl floor cleaner or mild soap: You will need a pH-neutral and gentle cleaner designed for luxury vinyl floors. Under no circumstances should you use commercial floor cleaners or harsh chemical cleaners, as they can damage the flooring's surface.
• Sponge or soft-bristled brush: If you need to gently scrub any affected areas, a sponge or soft-bristled brush will help with dirt buildup or stubborn stains.

Step-by-Step for Cleaning Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Now that you have the necessary tools, let’s examine the step-by-step process for cleaning your LVP flooring below. 

“It's often possible to clean luxury vinyl flooring with just water if you want to skip the cleaning solution step.”

Step One - Vacuum or Sweep Floors

Start by vacuuming or sweeping your floors to eliminate dust, debris, and loose dirt, paying close attention to the edges and corners where dirt often accumulates.

Step Two - The Cleaning Solution

In a bucket, combine 1 tablespoon of dishwashing soap or dishwashing liquid with 1 cup of distilled white vinegar or a vinyl floor cleaner (following the manufacturer's instructions) and 1 gallon of warm water. However, avoid using excessive amounts of soap, as this can leave the floor with a sticky residue.

Step Three – Thoroughly Mop The Floor

Dip a microfiber cloth or mop into your pre-made cleaning solution, wringing out any excess water. Next, use a back-and-forth motion to mop the floor, working in small sections. As you do this, rinse and wring the mop frequently to minimize the spread of dirty water and prevent damage.

Step Four – Spot-Clean Any Stains

For hard-to-remove spills or stains, use a damp sponge or soft-bristled brush with the cleaning solution to gently scrub the affected areas. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners or abrasive scrubbers like steel wool, as they can tarnish or discolor the flooring.

Step Five – Deep Clean The Floors

There comes a time when your floors need a deep clean, especially in high-traffic areas where dirt and grime accumulate. When you’re ready to deep clean your LVP floors, use a slightly more concentrated vinyl floor cleaning solution with a microfiber cloth or mop. Alternatively, you can try a steam mop that uses only water. 

Step Six – Rinse With Clean Water

Once you have finished mopping, thoroughly rinse the cloth or mop with clean water to remove excess soap. After rinsing off the excess soap, mop the floor again to eliminate any remaining residue.

Step Seven – Dry The Floor 

While luxury vinyl flooring is water-resistant, it’s best not to let water sit on its surface for too long. Therefore, we recommend drying your LVP flooring immediately after washing it. 

You can dry the floor by hand using a microfiber towel or mop. To prevent streaking or slipping, avoid walking on the wet floor during the drying process.

How to Remove Scuffs & Tough Stains on LVP Floors

Keeping your luxury vinyl plank flooring free of scuff marks and tough stains can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be. Below, we’ve compiled a few methods for removing scuffs and tough stains from LVP floors. Armed with this information, you shouldn’t encounter any issues getting rid of unsightly marks that could detract from the appearance of your home. 

Scuffs

Luxury vinyl plank floors are prone to scuffs from furniture and shoes. To remove them, spray the scuff mark with a small amount of WD-40 and buff the area using a clean, dry microfiber cloth.

Lipstick, Ink, or Grease Stains

To remove lipstick, ink, or grease stains, you can use rubbing alcohol. Wet a microfiber cloth with rubbing alcohol until it’s slightly damp. Start at the outermost edge of the stain and work inward toward the center to prevent the stain from spreading. 

Additionally, while cleaning, move to a clean section of the cloth to avoid smears. However, be careful not to use too much rubbing alcohol, as it can damage the vinyl and lead to bubbling and cracking over time.

Food Stains

You can use a baking soda paste to gently remove dried-on food stains, such as red wine and tomato sauce, without dulling the vinyl surface. Mix one teaspoon of water with two tablespoons of baking soda until a paste forms. Once the paste is ready, use a clean microfiber cloth to remove the stains.

Final Thoughts

Mastering the art of cleaning your LVP flooring is a simple yet vital step in preserving the integrity and beauty of your home's floors. By following the steps outlined in this blog on properly cleaning luxury vinyl plank flooring, you can ensure that your vinyl plank floors remain durable and in good condition. 

If you haven't yet installed LVP flooring, consider reaching out to us at Baker Bros. We can help you choose flooring that not only suits your home but also your budget.