It can be overwhelming trying to determine the best way to take care of your flooring to make it look new for years to come. The internet can be a scary place when searching for cleaning tips so we want to give you some advice on what products and methods have been successful for us personally, as well as our clients!
Cleaning Luxury Vinyl Planks:
You might be thinking, “What could be so hard about cleaning a waterproof flooring? If it is waterproof can I use anything?”
Well, yes, however, some will have better performance than others. There are certain formulas to floor cleaners, so when purchasing your cleaner you want to be sure to look at the description for what flooring type it is meant for. The main things you need to look for on the description are Resilient Floor Cleaner, Hard Surface Floor Cleaner, Stone Tile & Laminate Floor Cleaner, or Luxury Vinyl Floor Cleaner.
Cleaning formulas are typically modified for each type of flooring. LVP cleaners usually have a higher solution to water ratio as this type of flooring has a coating that can handle something more aggressive. The brand we carry and recommend is Bona. It is very similar to Swiffer , however Bona is non-toxic and environmentally friendly. Since many of our clients have children and pets, we find it is the safest product, just in case you have a crazy cat that likes to lick the floors in the house or something like that. If you prefer to make your own cleaner, that works, too! Some people prefer the good old fashioned Vinegar and Baking Soda Method, or even just a Lysol All Purpose Cleaner mixed with some water. All of these cleaners are safe for your flooring, but sometimes can leave a streaky residue. If you choose to use your own cleaner you will just have to play with your water to cleaner ratio to see what works best for you. We have found using the correct Bona formula’s have the best performance with no residues.
If you have a mess that seems has gotten down into the textures and grooves of your flooring we suggest using a soft bristle brush and some elbow grease to loosen up those spots so that you can easily mop them up. We do not recommend any abrasive brushes or Brillo pads .
Cleaning Engineered and Solid Hardwood:
Hardwood can be tricky when it comes to cleaning methods. Hardwood has a certain polyurethane coating that with some cleaners can wear off. Much like LVP, hardwood has cleaners with a specific formula as well. Usually, hardwood cleaners have a higher water to solution ratio so that it will not eat the top coat of your hardwood. LVP Cleaners can be used on hardwood, but sometimes can make the floor look hazy or have streaks in it. We recommend Bona Hard Surface Cleaner, or Bona Hardwood Cleaner for engineered and solid hardwood. You can never go wrong with baking soda and vinegar, however if you do not mix it to the correct ratio it, too, can leave a residue on your flooring. Many people prefer to use a Murphy’s Oil to clean their hardwood flooring, and there is nothing wrong with that! We do not recommend ANY wax or wax based cleaners as they typically are creating an extra coat on top of your flooring that in the long run ends up looking cakey or hazy.
Since Hardwood is porous like a sponge, we recommend dry mopping, but we understand that most people have an O’Cedar Mop, a Swiffer, or a Bona. All great gadgets to use, it is just important you mop until the floor is completely dry, or take a towel to dry everything after you have completed cleaning the area. Here’s why- if water is left on hardwood long enough it can begin to absorb into the wood or even around the tongue and groove. If that happens you could run into a situation where your hardwood expands and buckles in some areas. If you have cleaned and are afraid this has happened, don’t fret! Run a dehumidifier in the effected area and hopefully that would be the first step to absorb some of the moisture back out of the hardwood.
Can I use a Steam Mop?
Yes, BUT, not regularly. It can be confusing when someone tells you not to use the best type of cleaning method to clean your flooring. Especially if it is waterproof, but let us explain why it’s important to only use a steam cleaner quarterly, yearly, or only during your DEEP CLEANS.
Steam is essentially just water in it’s gas state- so it is creating moisture in the area between the mop and the floor. The mop is directly on the floor, so that leaves no where for the moisture to go except for IN the floor.
Wood is already porous so it can absorb that moisture immediately, which can cause the flooring to buckle. However, if you only resort to steam cleaning for heavier messes, quarterly deep cleans, or a yearly refresh, that would be when it is okay to use a steam mop on hardwood. The faster the motion of movement the better. The longer you hold the steam mop on an area, the more likely it is to absorb into the wood in that spot.
Although Luxury Vinyl Planks are Waterproof from the top down, the steam, being humidity, can make its way around the locking system. This can cause moisture to make it’s way underneath the flooring. This is not to say that WILL happen, but there is a likelihood it could, so if you insist on steam mopping your LVP, we would recommend only for deep cleaning, spot cleaning, quarterly, or yearly cleans. The quicker the motion, the better, as the longer the steam is on the area, the more likely it is to make its way around the locking system.
