How to Clean and Care for LVT Flooring

Dust, crumbs and grit are easier to deal with before they are walked across the room. A quick sweep with a soft brush or a vacuum suitable for hard floors will take care of most everyday debris.

Pay a little more attention to:

• Entrances and doorways
• Areas beneath dining tables
• The floor in front of kitchen units
• Utility rooms and spaces leading out to the garden
• Places where pets tend to eat, sleep or come indoors

Once the loose dirt has gone, wipe the floor with a well-wrung mop or damp microfibre cloth. The surface should be lightly damp rather than wet, and it should dry shortly after cleaning.

There is no fixed schedule that suits every home. A quieter bedroom may need little more than a weekly clean, while a hallway or family kitchen may need sweeping every day. Let the room and the amount of use guide you.

The sooner a spill is dealt with, the easier it is to clean. Start by blotting or lifting the liquid with kitchen paper or a soft cloth, taking care not to spread it across a larger area. Wipe what remains with a clean, damp cloth and use a suitable LVT cleaner where needed.

For marks that do not lift during normal cleaning, a damp microfibre cloth and a suitable LVT cleaner will often be enough to start with. Work over the mark rather than the whole floor and use light pressure, as hard scrubbing can alter the appearance of the surrounding surface. A soft-bristled brush can be useful where dirt has settled into a textured grain, gently working over the area in small circles before wiping it clean.

For more stubborn marks, FILA Multi-Surface Stain Remover may be suitable, but test it on an inconspicuous area first and follow the product instructions carefully.

Once the area is clean, wipe away any remaining product residue as directed and dry the floor with a soft cloth.

A steam mop should not be used on LVT flooring.

Steam combines high heat with moisture, which can damage LVT over time and affect both its appearance and performance. A well-wrung mop gives you more control and is all that is needed for routine cleaning.

Steam cleaning should also be avoided on real wood veneer flooring, where the surface is genuine oak and more sensitive to heat and moisture. For more information, read our article on Can You Steam Clean LVT Flooring?

Some of the most effective floor care happens before the mop comes out. A good doormat will catch grit, small stones and damp from outdoor shoes. Placing one at both the front and back door can help stop all of that being carried further into the house.

It is also worth checking that the mat is suitable for LVT, as some rubber or latex backings can react with vinyl surfaces and cause discolouration.

Felt pads beneath furniture legs are also worth fitting, particularly under dining chairs and other pieces that are moved often. Replace the pads if they start to wear down or collect grit.

When moving heavier items:

• Lift rather than drag where possible
• Use furniture sliders suitable for hard floors
• Protect the route before moving appliances
• Avoid rolling heavy furniture directly over click joints

Pet claws can leave fine surface marks too, especially where animals turn quickly or run through the same area. Keeping claws trimmed will help reduce this.

Luxury Click SPC flooring has a fully waterproof rigid core, so it is well suited to kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and utility rooms. Cleaning it is much the same as cleaning any other LVT floor.

Sweep or vacuum first, then use a damp mop with a suitable cleaner. Spills should be dealt with as they happen, and any water left around edges or fixed fittings should be dried rather than left sitting.

Although the core is waterproof, there is no need to flood the floor. Water can still get through unsealed edges or gaps and reach the subfloor if it is left there for long enough.

Steam mops, abrasive pads and harsh chemicals should all be avoided.

Real wood veneer flooring needs a slightly gentler approach because the top surface is genuine oak. Remove loose dirt with a soft brush or a hard-floor vacuum attachment, then use a well-wrung mop or damp cloth with a suitable cleaner when it needs a deeper clean.

Spills should be wiped up promptly, and wet towels, bathmats or cleaning cloths should not be left sitting on the surface. Steam cleaners, soaking-wet mops, wax, household polish, abrasive cleaners and harsh chemical sprays should also be avoided, as they can damage the oak surface or affect the finish.

Because this is a hybrid wood floor with a real oak surface, it is more sensitive to direct sunlight and significant changes in temperature. It is not suitable for conservatories, so it is worth checking room suitability before fitting.

Most damage does not come from ordinary use. It tends to come from cleaning too aggressively or using a product that is not suited to the floor.

The most common mistakes are using too much water, leaving spills to dry, steam cleaning, applying wax for extra shine, scrubbing with rough pads and pouring concentrated cleaner directly onto the floor. Mixing household cleaning products and dragging furniture across the surface can cause problems too.

It is usually better to repeat a gentle clean than to attack a mark with a stronger product.

One of the nicest things about LVT is how little it asks of you once it is down. There is no need for constant deep cleaning, and most of the care comes down to a few simple habits that are easy to keep on top of:

• Sweep or vacuum loose dirt regularly.
• Use a hard-floor vacuum setting or attachment.
• Mop with a lightly damp, well-wrung mop.
• Choose a cleaner approved for LVT, such as our LVT and Laminate Cleaner.
• Clean spills as they happen.
• Dry any water left around edges and doorways.
• Use suitable mats at entrances.
• Protect furniture legs with clean felt pads.
• Lift heavy furniture instead of dragging it.
• Avoid steam, wax, polish, abrasive tools and unnecessary amounts of water.