How To Get Stains Off Of Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring can elevate the look of any home's interior and lasts for years if it's well taken care of. You can get away with a simple swipe of a mop since it's flexible and tough against most messes. In addition, vinyl flooring is durable and water-resistant, making it one of the more popular styles for home floors. However, things can get tricky along the way since vinyl can stain easily. So, if you have kids or pets that track in dirt, you might be cleaning your vinyl floors frequently. Leaving any shoes by the front or patio door is best to prevent bringing unwanted dust or dirt into the house.

On the other hand, skid marks from shoes are a culprit in staining and revoking the shine in your vinyl floors with marks that can be difficult to remove, especially if they're not cleaned up right away. Stronger cleaning solutions or mild solvents are perfect for clearing and cleaning stains on vinyl flooring; you won't have to worry about scrubbing with your go-to vinyl-safe cleaner and a sponge. Here are a few cleaning solutions you can use to get stains off your vinyl floors.

Getting rid of stubborn stains on vinyl flooring can be challenging, but using isopropyl alcohol, a mild solvent, can remove any marks, skids, or stains quickly and easily. Most stores sell isopropyl alcohol by the gallon or in smaller amounts for you to have at home. You can use it whenever there are tougher stains your mop can't clean up. Isopropyl alcohol removes ink, nail polish, shoe scuffs, and hair dye stains.

A little goes a long way when using the solvent. You can apply the isopropyl alcohol in two ways. First, pour a small amount onto a white cleaning cloth and rub the stain until it disappears. It's better to use a white cloth because a colored material can stain the flooring more. You can repeat the process as much as it needs until the stain is entirely gone. Second, transfer the isopropyl alcohol into a spray bottle, sprinkle the stained area, and mop it clean. Or, wipe it down with a white cloth. If the discoloration still doesn't come out, you can try using the abrasive side of a sponge to scrub the blot, but don't scrub too harshly, or it'll scratch the vinyl.

Another easy cleaning solution to remove stains from your vinyl floors is mineral spirits. You can use it to get rid of oil, grease, paint, and marker stains. The solvent dissolves oil and is often used as a paint thinner, but they share a few differences with paint thinners. However, it'll still easily clean up any pesky stains. When using mineral spirits, avoid pouring the liquid directly on the spot; instead, pour it on a cloth to rub the stain away. If you're trying to remove paint, oil, or grease, the flooring company, Weaver Carpets, suggests scraping off the residues with a dull plastic putty knife so that it's easier to remove with the mineral spirits.

Lighter fluid is also an excellent alternative to mineral spirits and isopropyl alcohol since it's a degreaser, so you can use it to remove paint, grease, and oils. It's also common at home; you won't have to purchase it at the store. To use the lighter fluid on your vinyl floors, apply a small amount to a white wash cloth and rub the stain after prepping the area by removing any deposits from paint or oil. It's vital to keep in mind that isopropyl alcohol, mineral spirits, and liquid fluids are all highly flammable. Hence, if you use a cleaning cloth, ensure it's completely dry before throwing it away or reusing it, and turn off any pilot lights.