Affordable, hard-wearing and moisture-resistant, there are lots of reasons people choose vinyl flooring for their living spaces. Even in your home’s high-traffic areas, vinyl is sturdy enough to stand up to everyday wear and tear. Unfortunately, accidents can still happen that lead to stains on your floor.
To keep your floor looking its best, it’s important to get rid of any spills or marks fast. We’ve put together a few cleaning tips so, should stains happen, you’ll be ready to remove them.
Common stains on vinyl flooring
As vinyl is widely used in living spaces such as kitchens, living rooms and bathrooms, the risk of stains is always present. In family homes with children and pets, it becomes even more likely, particularly on light vinyl flooring. Understanding the most common ways your floor might get damaged is the first step to preventing it.
Spills and splashes
Food and drink is one of the biggest culprits for vinyl floor stains. Coffee, wine or tomato sauce are all acidic and can quickly turn into stubborn marks or grime. Grease and oil can also cause areas of discolouration or leave a film. Hot spills can leave faded patches. If you’ve got little ones doing crafts with pens and crayons, there’s a danger of marks. Make-up can also leave blemishes, which will build up if they’re not dealt with.
Glue and fixtures
If your vinyl floor has recently been installed, you might spot some excess glue or marks from where fixings or trim have been used. Even if you’ve run a cloth over your vinyl after finishing it, some blemishes can get left behind or emerge as the floor settles into place. The edges of rooms, areas around door frames, and joints in the flooring are the places where you’re most likely to spot these stains.
Dirt, grime and scuffs
Muddy shoes (or paws), moving furniture (like chairs being pulled from under the table) and general everyday activities can lead to muck, dust and scratches building up on your floor. Although vinyl is easy to clean and maintain, it’s not always possible to catch or spot everything when you hoover and mop, particularly on dark and oak flooring. Corners or areas under furniture can get particularly grubby over time.
Sunlight exposure
Just like heat, sunlight can leave faded patches or discolouration in vinyl flooring. Direct sun is particularly damaging and can even cause it to melt and warp if it’s strong or combined with high temperatures. Certain areas near windows or glass doors will be more susceptible to this type of exposure.
How to prevent a vinyl floor stain
Some stains are unavoidable, but there are certain steps you can take to keep your vinyl flooring looking its best:
- Put rugs or mats down to protect your flooring from scuffs or sunlight exposure. Placing them under furniture, in high-traffic areas like hallways and under kitchen sinks will reduce the amount of spills or scuffs on your vinyl
- Keep an eye out for any stains and deal with them quickly. In particular, any moisture should be mopped up quickly to avoid damage. With food and drink spills, grime or faded patches, the earlier they’re addressed, the less stubborn a blemish will be
- Run a regular cleaning routine of sweeping, hoovering and mopping. Make sure you’re using vinyl friendly cleaners (test small areas first) and equipment (such as soft mops and hoovers adjusted for use on hard floors)
How to clean stained vinyl floors
Before you start to clean the stain, it helps to work out exactly what it is. That way you can figure out what the most appropriate stain removal methods and cleaners may be. Taking some pre-cleaning steps will make the overall process a lot easier and mean you don’t cause further damage:
- Move items like rugs, chairs and tables around the stain away from the area so they don’t get damaged
- Cover nearby walls or furniture with cloth or towels to ensure they don’t get splashed by any cleaners or water
- Run your standard cleaning routine over the stain and surrounding area, including sweeping or hoovering and mopping to remove dirt or dust that could cause extra scratches or scuffs
If your standard cleaning process doesn’t shift your stain, then you could try spot cleaning it directly. Mix warm water and your floor cleaner, dip in a soft cloth or sponge, squeeze off most of the moisture and gently rub the area. This extra attention may be enough to lift the stain.
What can remove vinyl stains?
If you’ve spot cleaned the area and a stain still isn’t lifting, then you might need to try one of the options below. Before you do a full clean with these solutions, check any guidance for your flooring and test a small part of the area to make sure it won’t cause further damage.
Washing up liquid
It removes food, drink, oil and grease from your plates and will do the same for your floor. Squeeze a small amount of washing up liquid into a bucket and mix in warm water. Then dip in a sponge, soft towel or mop, wring off any moisture and spot clean the stained area. Use a cloth rinsed in warm water to remove any excess soap. You may have to repeat this process once or twice.
Lemon juice or vinegar
Acidic substances like lemon juice and vinegar are good for cleaning up stubborn stains like limescale, rust or mould and mildew. Mix the same amount of vinegar and water together before spraying it onto the stain or squeeze lemon juice directly on the area. Leave for a few minutes before rinsing off with a damp, soft cloth and a little water.
Baking soda
If the stain has been caused by an acidic item like wine, coffee or fruit juice, then alkaline baking soda is a good substance to counteract it. Mix a tablespoonful of it with a small amount of water into a thick paste. Put this on the stained area and leave for up to 15 minutes. Then take a soft cloth or sponge rinsed in clean water and mop the area before drying.
Rubbing alcohol
Pen marks, make-up and scuffs can all be lifted by rubbing alcohol. If it’s particularly strong, dilute some with warm water and a floor cleaner before applying. Or if it’s a mild solution, put some directly onto the stain. Rub gently or dab the area to try and lift the stain. Then rinse a soft cloth or sponge in warm water and remove any excess alcohol before drying.
WD-40
This lubricant is useful for removing scuffs and scrapes. Fill a bucket with a mix of warm water and your standard floor cleaner or some washing up liquid. Spray some WD-40 onto the marked surface and leave for a couple of minutes. Rub or dab gently with a soft cloth until there’s no mark remaining. Dip the cloth into the cleaning solution and wipe away any excess WD-40.
Nail polish remover
It can lift your nail polish no problem and will do the same for tough stains. Have some soapy, warm water ready in a bucket and put some remover onto a soft cloth. Use this to gently rub or dab the stain until it lifts. Then clean the area with the soapy water, rinse with clean water and dry the area thoroughly.
Bleach
If all else fails, then bleach might be a good option. Put on some rubber gloves and keep the room you’re in well ventilated. Putting any pets or children out of the room is also a good idea. Dilute the bleach with water (one part to four), soak a soft cloth in it and wring out any excess. Leave the cloth covering the stain for a few minutes or up to an hour. Rinse the area thoroughly and dry.
Things to avoid when cleaning vinyl
The last thing you want to do is cause even more damage to your floor while trying to remove a stain. Although it's fairly hard-wearing, there are certain substances that will ruin the overall look of your vinyl.
Abrasive scrubbers
Steel wool, hard brushes and dish scrubbers will all scratch and scuff your vinyl floor. So although it may be tempting to pull one out to try and get rid of a stain, don’t! Instead, try one of the solutions above to lift your blemish and always use a soft cloth or sponge when cleaning your floor. It may require a bit of elbow grease, but it’s a better option than scrubbing and scuffing your vinyl.
Abrasive detergent
Before using any cleaner on your floor, it’s important to test it on a small area. However, never reach for cleaners with particulates in them. These are designed to scrape away dirt and will soon start doing the same to the surface of your vinyl. Even if you use a soft cloth or sponge, these products can do huge damage, so steer clear!
Ammonia-based solutions
If you see ammonia on the back of any cleaner bottles, don’t put it anywhere near your vinyl floor. It can cause huge damage including cracking, discolouration and dullness. It’ll also strip away the protective coating on your floor, making it more susceptible to stains and scratches in the future. So make sure you keep any ammonia-based products well away from your vinyl flooring.
Get durable, stylish vinyl flooring
Although stains can happen on any vinyl floor, choosing a quality product will help it stand up to wear and tear. So as well as matching your style, your flooring will cope with the daily traffic, spills and scratches. Check out our vinyl range to find an option that best suits your lifestyle.