Floor Factory’s Cleaning Mini Guide
LVT, Laminate or Engineered Wooden Flooring
All year round, our flooring takes a battering, whether its a well trodden hallway or that new office space in the spare room. Take a look at our mini guide on how to keep your luxury vinyl tiles (LVT), laminate, or engineered wooden flooring clean and looking their best.
Cleaning Starts Outside
The first rule of a clean house is to keep as much of the dirt outside as possible. This doesn’t mean you have to be a no-shoes home, but the less dirt you bring in, the less dirt you have to sweep out.
Invest in a high quality and effective entranceway mat to limit the amount of footprint-decorating your guests or kids might do on your floors. If you do decide you prefer no shoes inside, then make sure there is a place for guests to put their shoes. If you make it easy and obvious that you’d prefer no shoes inside, you’ll avoid any awkward conversations. LVT, laminate and engineered wooden floors are easy to clean no matter what has arrived inside on someone’s shoes.
Vacuums Aren’t Just for Carpets
Whether you’ve got a Roomba or a Henry, a Dyson or a Kirby, giving your floor a regular vacuuming is one of the quickest ways to keep your floor free of small particles that have the potential to scratch away and damage the surface.
A cordless vacuum is a great idea for this kind of quick regular cleaning. Because you don’t need the sucking power that a long-pile carpet might require, you can vacuum up dust and small particles with even a relatively low power vacuum cleaner. And the convenience of not having to drag a cable behind you means you might be more inclined to vacuum more regularly.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with a humble brush and pan to get the job done. Just make sure the bristles on the brush aren’t too hard, to prevent scratches over time.
Damp It, Don’t Drench It
Using a well wrung mop (if its dripping lots of water when you hold it up, it’s still too wet), or even a damp cloth, wipe your floor on a regular basis. Depending on the room, the regularity of the clean will vary. But a wipe down once a week or less will usually be sufficient in combination with a daily vacuuming or sweep.
Even though they can handle some spills, and they are generally more water resistant than hardwood flooring (especially if it’s untreated), with both engineered wood and laminate, it is important not to soak the floor. LVT is less susceptible to water damage, but even with LVT, don’t drench it. A light and regular wipe will quickly bring your floors back to their best.
Green and Clean
The stain resistant design of LVT, and the hardwearing properties of engineered wood and high-quality laminate flooring means you’ll often be able to opt for a gentler cleaning product that relies less on nasty chemicals, and more on natural cleaning ingredients.
Talk to the team at Floor Factory for a specific recommendation or look for eco and earth friendly products in your local supermarket. Remember to check that the product you are using is designed for your specific flooring. What works for LVT won’t necessarily work well for laminate or engineered wooden flooring. Spending a few moments picking out the right product not only means you can be more earth-kind, it can also help ensure you don’t end up with unexpected colour bleaching.
Spot or Not
Face it, no matter how good your Bolognese or famous BBQ sauce is, there is a chance some of it is going to end up on the floor. Kitchens especially are prone to spills that might need a little more cleaning care and attention. Whenever you are cleaning up something that might stain, speed is your friend. Try not to let the spill sit for too long, and quickly wipe it up with a damp cloth or kitchen towel.
If there is still a mark, then try again with a cloth with some warm water or a cleaning product. Remember to make sure the product you use is designed for your flooring type; else you might remove some shine along with the stain.
Finally, if it is a stubborn stain, then using a brush with soft bristles gently try and remove the mark. Avoid using anything with a scratchy surface (for example kitchen scourers), as you might dull the surface or leave small micro scratches that will be visible in certain light. After any spot cleaning, it is always good to wipe the area with fresh clean water.
Wax Off
Your LVT or laminate floor’s shiny surface might look like it has been polished with a floor wax, but it hasn’t. In fact, using wax can have the opposite effect than what was intended. Waxing a laminate or LVT floor can damage the built-in protective surface and leave your floor duller and less protected. If you’ve started to notice some dullness to a laminate or LVT floor that used to sparkle, and you’ve tried all of the above cleaning tips, then give Floor Factory a call for some advice.
As always, for impartial advice, design ideas and to find your perfect flooring, contact Floor Factory today to discuss your flooring options. Call us on 01332 986261, make an appointment at our showroom or fill out our online contact form!
