Can You Steam Clean LVT Flooring?

LVT flooring is fairly easy to look after, but a steam mop is one cleaning tool we recommend leaving out of the routine. The combination of high heat and moisture can affect the flooring over time, even when the product itself is described as waterproof.

For everyday cleaning, you do not need anything quite that intensive. A well-wrung mop or damp microfibre cloth gives you much more control over the amount of moisture reaching the floor and is usually all that is needed.

The same advice applies across our LVT ranges, including SPC flooring and real wood veneer flooring. The reasons vary slightly depending on how the floor is constructed, which we explain below.

No, a steam mop should not be used on LVT flooring.

Normal damp cleaning puts a controlled amount of moisture onto the surface. Steam cleaning is different because it combines moisture with much higher temperatures and delivers both directly onto the floor.

Over time, that can affect the appearance and performance of the flooring. Heat and moisture can put stress on the surface and the construction of the boards, and there is also the possibility of moisture finding its way around joints, edges or expansion gaps.

Waterproof is worth separating from steam-proof here too. A waterproof floor is designed to cope with moisture and everyday spills, but that does not mean it is designed for repeated exposure to hot steam.

No. SPC's rigid core is fully waterproof, which is one of the reasons this flooring works so well in kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and other busy parts of the home, but that waterproof construction doesn't make it steam-proof. Sweep or vacuum loose dirt first, then use a well-wrung mop with a suitable cleaner when the floor needs a deeper clean, and wipe up spills as they happen, especially around edges, doorways and fixed fittings where water can potentially reach beneath the floor.

For any range-specific installation or care requirements, check the SPC flooring fitting guide for your product.

No. Real wood veneer has a waterproof hybrid core, but the top layer is genuine oak, so you're still looking after a real timber surface, and repeated heat and moisture can affect the oak and its finish. Remove loose dirt with a soft brush or a vacuum suitable for hard floors, then follow with a well-wrung mop or damp cloth when needed. Wet towels, bathmats and cleaning cloths shouldn't be left sitting on the floor, and spills are best wiped up promptly.

The real wood veneer flooring fitting guide gives the full product-specific requirements for fitting and care.

You really don't need much. Sweep or vacuum away dust, grit and loose debris, then use a well-wrung mop or damp microfibre cloth so the floor is lightly damp and dries soon after cleaning. Our FILA LVT and Laminate Cleaner is suitable for regular maintenance across our LVT, SPC, real wood veneer and laminate flooring ranges, follow the dilution and application instructions on the bottle rather than using more than recommended, since extra product won't clean the floor any better and can leave residue, showing up as smearing or a slightly tacky feel underfoot.

Steam is the main thing to avoid here, but for the full routine, including everyday cleaning, spills, stubborn marks and the full care differences between SPC and real wood veneer, read our guide on how to clean LVT flooring.