How to clean LVT flooring

Luxury Vinyl Tiles, also known as LVT, are popular due to their easy to maintain properties making them a practical and durable option for every day life in your home. Following our easy maintenance tips to keep your new tiles looking as good as possible.

How to clean LVT click flooring in two simple steps...

Cleaning vinyl floor tiles is quick and easy if done regularly and correctly. First off, get a good quality vacuum cleaner that is ideal for hard floors, alternatively use a brush to sweep up the loose debris.

Can you mop LVT flooring? Absolutely, it needs to be a well wrung out mop or a damp cloth to wipe the surface, it’s important not to over wet or soak the floor.

It’s recommended to clean your LVT flooring once or twice a week depending on the use of the room, this will avoid any stains settling into the surface. Best practise to keep your floor looking brand new is to mop up these spills as and when they happen.

If you’re looking to use a cleaning fluid on your floor, always check the label to ensure they are compatible with vinyl flooring and safe for children and pets if applicable. These cleaning products can sometimes contain chemicals that cause a floor to become slippery so ensure you use only a little product and buff the floor well when drying. For the same reason, wax shouldn’t be used and it can also dull the appearance of your vinyl tiles.

Some stains can be tricky to remove, especially for kitchen floors which are prone to greasy spills and splashes. To clean LVT flooring, use a damp cloth with hot water and a mild detergent to help lift the stain, remember to not soak the floor.

If a mark is still visible, try using a soft bristled brush in gentle circular movements. If you’re using chemicals, ensure they are suitable for LVT flooring before applying.

Once the stain has been removed, wipe over the floor with a clean damp cloth and fresh clean water. Ensure there are no puddles of water and that you have buffed the surface so it dries quicker.

General cleaning and maintenance is required to keep any floor looking pristine in your home however there are few other tips we’d recommend following to keep your luxury vinyl tiles looking their best throughout their lifetime.

Trap dirt and moisture before you step on your LVT flooring by using doormats at all entryways into your home. Remember to clean these mats regularly too!

Some LVT ranges feature UV protection but this is no applicable to all so it’s best to avoid laying them in areas that has extreme sunlight. Alternatively, keep curtains, shutters or blinds closed during the peak sunlight hours to prevent any discolouring of the tiles.

If you’re laying in a conservatory, ensure you pick an LVT tile that is suitable as it will have enhanced properties to help with the effects of extreme sunlight and heat.

DO

Vacuum regularly with a tool suitable for hard flooring

Sweep with a soft broom

Put doormats and rugs by entryways

Keep pets’ nails trimmed

DON'T

Over wet the LVT when cleaning or removing stains

Use wax

Use a steam mop

Drag furniture across your LVT

Place in direct sunlight

We’d recommend investing in a tool like the Aircraft Powerglide (also recommended by Good Housekeeping in October 2020), an electric mop is quicker than manual mopping, allowing you to control the amount of water used whilst also buffing your floor for a streak-free finish that dries in minutes.

You can buy specialist LVT floor cleaners however this isn't necessary to the upkeep of your LVT flooring. If you prefer a natural product, you can add household white vinegar into your mop water. Or, if you have multiple surfaces that need cleaning across the home, opt for a one stop shop with the FILA multi-surface cleaner, it can be used lots of surfaces, from ceramic tiles to laminate!

For those tougher stains, which are still present after following the advice above, you could try Fila's Multi-surface stain remover. We'd recommend doing a patch test first in a tucked away place to ensure it's compatible with your specific LVT flooring.

Find out more about our LVT ranges with our useful articles. Need a little more help deciding on your favourite LVT tiles, shop the full range online.