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 Whenever
possible, place a non-staining doormat outside each entrance to
your home to prevent dirt, sand, grit, and other substances such
as oil, asphalt, and driveway sealer from being tracked onto your
floor. Do not use latex-backed, rubber-backed or coco-fiber mats
on your vinyl floor.
- Sweep your
vinyl floor regularly (at least once a week).
- Vinyl manufacturers
recommend the use of latex-based driveway sealers to minimize
the potential staining from asphalt sealer tracking.
- To avoid sunlight
causing your floor to fade or discolor you should always close
your curtains or blinds where extreme sunlight hits the floor.
- Replace
all narrow furniture rests with wide-bearing ones. Support
furniture with wide-bearing, non-staining floor protectors.
It is recommended that all furniture protectors be at least
one inch in diameter, made of non-pigmented, hard plastic,
and rest flat on the floor. Non-staining felt protectors
are also acceptable. Casters with a minimum 3/4" flat
surface width or floor protectors are recommended for all
moveable furniture. Metal floor protectors are generally
not recommended.
- Always use
strips of 1/4" plywood or sheets of underlayment as runways
to protect the floor if you need to move heavy objects, such
as your refrigerator, across your vinyl floor. Runways should
always be used even with furniture dollies, or even if the
heavy objects are equipped with wheels or rollers.
- Wipe up spills
immediately to help prevent stains. The longer a stain sits
the tougher it will be to remove from the surface.
- To prevent
dirt build up occasionally mop your floor with the manufacturer's
recommended floor cleaner. Follow the instructions on the bottle
and do not over mix or your cleaning solution may leave a dulling
film. Avoid soaps, cleaning powders and detergent products
as they will leave a dulling film. Although the no-rinse cleaners
do not need rinsing, rinsing will provide the better shine.
If you do notice a dulling film after cleaning the floor, try
a thorough rinse with warm, clean water.
- To restore
the hi-gloss on a urethane vinyl floor most manufacturer's
recommend the use of a polish. Do not use paste wax and do
not try to buff a urethane vinyl floor. Be sure the floor is
thoroughly clean and completely dry before applying the manufacturer's
recommended floor polish. (If all the dirt is not removed prior
to applying the polish the dirt will become trapped underneath.)
- Vinyl floors
can become slippery when wet. Use extreme caution when walking
on a wet floor.
- Some of the
newer vinyl floors have a low-gloss finish and the use of a
floor polish may make the floor shiny.
- It may be
necessary after several applications of polish to strip the
entire floor and reapply a new coat of polish. This may also
be necessary for excessive dirt and grime build-up. Use the
manufacturer's recommended heavy duty floor cleaner and stripper
product. Once the floor is thoroughly cleaned, rinse, dry,
and then apply a new coat of polish. High traffic areas may
require more than one application of polish. Allow polish
to dry "tack-free" between
coats.
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