Affordable Products And Cleaners That Are Safe For Vinyl Floors

Vinyl floors are a popular home choice as they're easy to install, durable against foot traffic, and water-resistant. They can even mimic the appearance of more expensive options like wood and ceramic tiles. What about cleaning them correctly? Some cleaning agents you should seriously avoid using on vinyl floors include anything with ammonia, bleach, abrasive ingredients, or wax. Make sure you also avoid products created for hardwood only.

After the initial dry cleaning step with a broom, dry mop, or vacuum, some of the easiest ways to clean vinyl floors include using water and vinegar, baking soda, or even dish soap and essential oils. If you're not into using natural remedies like vinegar or using up all your dish soap, there are also plenty of safe, affordable, and effective commercial products to consider. These cleaners are created specially to bring out the beauty in your vinyl flooring, remove scuff marks, and cut through tough grime with ease.

As you stock up on top-ranking vinyl cleaning products, your cleaning closet may include brands like Bon, Coretec Encore, Squeaky Cleaner, Rejuvenate, Quick Shine, and WD-40. Some of these options come in a spray bottle or a concentrate you must mix with water according to instructions. Regardless of what commercial cleaning products you use on your vinyl flooring, make sure to quickly dust or sweep the surface before and dry the floor after cleaning to avoid streaks. Sweeping as needed can help keep daily debris at bay, but you should be cleaning your vinyl plank flooring with these commercial products around once a week to keep everything in good shape.

Some cleaners may leave residue on laminate floors, but Bona Pro doesn't. In addition, it's Greenguard certified, which means the product has been tested for and proven to have low chemical emissions, helping to make your indoor environment safer for your family and pets. If you love aromatherapy, you'll also enjoy this cleaning solution's refreshing crisp lemon mint scent. After cleaning, expect your floors to dry quickly so you don't have to worry about slipping around in wet areas. Do you have other hard floor surfaces in other parts of the house? It can work on stone and laminate as well.

The Bona Pro Series Stone, Tile, and Laminate Cleaner is available on Amazon for $9.49 and has amassed an impressive 4.5 star rating from reviewers. To help save some money over time, you can also hang on to your bottle and purchase a gallon of the Bona's Stone Tile & Laminate Floor Cleaner for $23.63 for refills. If the professional label is a bit intimidating, the brand also carries a more pared-down Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner Spray that's safe to use on the same materials. Don't let the lack of "professional" in the title fool you, however — this cleaner has left a major impression on customers, with reviewers on Amazon giving it 4.6 stars.

The Basic Coatings Squeaky Cleaner is a favorite among cleaning professionals and floor installers. It's very easy to use on vinyl, other hard surface floors like hardwood and laminate, and even to clean your wood kitchen cabinets. This popular spray option can work with an automatic scrubber, doesn't require rinsing, and has a low VOC formula for your safety. You can also buy the 1 gallon jug of Basic Coatings Squeaky Cleaner Concentrate for $36 on Amazon if you're looking to get the most bang for your buck. If you find yourself cleaning your floors daily, you can rest assured that this product is a safe option. Simply spray it on the floor and wipe it up with a mop or microfiber cloth.

You can use the concentrate to refill your squeaky spray bottle by just adding a little water. After cleaning your floors with this product, it doesn't leave behind a sticky film and is streak-free to enhance the shine of your vinyl floors. Many reviewers on Amazon praised the cleaner for its pleasant scent, including one reviewer that is highly sensitive to overpowering smells. They also noted how clean and fresh the floors feel thanks to lack of residue.

A pH-neutral cleaner has a pH of 6.5 to 7.5 and doesn't include acidic elements like silicates, phosphates, or hydroxides that can damage certain materials. Coretec Encore is such a floor cleaner, and, therefore, it won't etch the surface of vinyl, stone, or ceramic tile. Use it on nearly all hard surfaces, including sealed hardwood, to remove smudges, stains, dirt, scuffs, and spills. Since it's an alcohol-based cleaner, it dries quickly without leaving a residue. Using alcohol to clean vinyl floors can be helpful to remove stubborn stains, so this is a good product to keep on hand to help tackle those tough marks. Keep in mind, however, that a pH-neutral cleaner won't remove wax buildup or lime stains.

Listed with 4.6 stars on Amazon, the Encore Floor Cleaner Care for Luxury Vinyl Flooring only costs $12.99. Reviewers praise the product's cleaning capability and most enjoy the subtle scent. Get even more for your money with the Encore Floor Cleaner Care for Luxury Vinyl Flooring Ready To Use 1 Gallon Refill for $25.75.

For only $11.57 on Amazon, you can get the 4.6 star-rated Quick Shine Multi-Surface Floor Finish. This product has an U.S EPA Safer Choice certification, meaning it has met strict safety criteria for people in your home and the overall environment. Rest assured that your indoor air quality won't be jeopardized as you're cleaning your vinyl or other hard floors. This product is for shining, renewing, and polishing your luxury vinyl tile, luxury vinyl plank, stone, laminate, or hardwood.

Quickly polish your floors with a squirt and spread it around with a mop. If your floors have micro scratches, the polish provides a protective layer that can improve its overall appearance and fill in those marks. One Amazon reviewer mentioned using it successfully on Epoxy cement flooring to restore it without re-epoxying it. It's free from fragrances, aluminum, ammonia, and gluten. Another 5 star review noted that the polish worked wonders on their over 100-year-old hardwood flooring. Because this is a finishing product, however, it should be used sparingly. Using this in lieu of a regular cleaner could result in unwanted buildup.

When it comes to vinyl and other floors, cleaning isn't the only concern. If your floors have lots of foot traffic or you have active pets, scuffs and scratches can become a problem and make your vinyl appear dull and worn. Scuffs may also develop as you move furniture around. Luckily, a scuffed-up floor has no chance when faced with WD-40, a multi-purpose lubricant that also acts as a rust-repellant, degreaser, and moisture barrier for auto parts.

WD-40 is a trusted solution that can help to reduce the appearance of scratches and damage. Apply the product directly on the scuff mark or on a cloth, then buff the area until it is smooth. After the scuff is gone, you can clean up the remaining WD-40 from the floor using vinegar and water or another vinyl-safe cleaning solution.

If you don't already have some in your garage, you can get a 16 ounce can of WD-40 Multi-Use Product for as low as $7.53 on Amazon. However, if you don't think you'll use this product often, consider something smaller like the WD-40 Original Formula Precision Pen 3-Pack for $12.99 on Amazon. Reviewers like how well the precision pens work in smaller spaces with less mess. In addition to having some WD-40 handy, be proactive in preventing floor scuff marks by not wearing outdoor shoes in the home or using rugs and furniture pads.