Vinyl floors: how to best wash and clean them so they don't end up becoming slippery

Vinyl floors are the most commonly found in home given their durability and relatively low cost. That said, some vinyl finishes are more slippery than others, and cleaning errors can make this situation worse.

The upper surface of a vinyl floor can become treacherous if we don't wash and clean it correctly. Fortunately, there is some sound advice on how to do this, detailed below:

Caring for vinyl floors

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Depending on the finish, vinyl floors usually come with a protective surface layer already applied. Typically, we will also have the manufacturers' instructions on how to maintain the flooring.

Notwithstanding this, we may sometimes use detergents which leave a residue that cannot be completely washed away, and which compromises the safety of the flooring.

Additionally - perhaps out of fear of damaging the finish - we may put off cleaning the floor for too long. Doing so allows for dirt and dust to accumulate, which also becomes slippery over time (especially in the kitchen). Given all this, it is crucial to know how best to clean vinyl floors.

The best ways to wash vinyl floors

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For regular cleaning, remove any dried dirt residue from the floors as often as possible:

• Vacuum up the dirt: as with parquet floors, this is the best method;
• (or) Sweep thoroughly: in the absence of a vacuum cleaner, sweep up thoroughly to remove all dry dirt, dust, crumbs, hair and fur.
• Another method is to use duster mops (i.e mops with electrostatic or microfibre cloths that are fitted over the mop heads).

If you need to wash the floor proceed as follows:

• Vinyl-specific soaps are the best to use - these usually have a neutral pH.
• If you don't have any of this soap to hand, use hot water and a dash of dishwashing liquid. You only need small quantities of this detergent.
• However, if this doesn't work, and you don't have the necessary detergents to hand, use a degreaser that isn't too aggressive.

Other useful tips for caring for vinyl floors

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Here are some other useful tips:

• Do not use steam-cleaning appliances as they could damage the vinyl;
• Use anti-slip products specifically formulated for this type of flooring;
• Never wait too long to clean up liquid spills, as these could penetrate to the lower layers of the vinyl flooring and cause permanent damage.

With a little care, your vinyl floors will last for a long time and remain in top condition!