How to properly clean wood-look vinyl flooring: A detailed guide from A to Z

Properly cleaning wood-look vinyl flooring is crucial for keeping your floors clean and durable over time. Improper cleaning or using unsuitable solutions can easily cause glue-down vinyl flooring or SPC click-lock flooring to become dull, scratched, or warped – especially in Vietnam's consistently hot and humid climate.

In this article, Thien Ha Floor will guide you through the correct techniques for cleaning and maintaining wood-look vinyl flooring, as well as effective tips for easily tackling common stubborn stains like grease, tea, or ink.

Secrets to making your vinyl flooring shine like new

To effectively clean wood-look vinyl flooring without spending too much time, simply maintain a simple daily and weekly routine.

1. Sweep or vacuum the vinyl floor

If you have young children, the floor must always be clean to ensure their safety, without worrying about bacteria or small objects causing injury. Even in areas with low foot traffic, regular sweeping is necessary.

1. Use a soft brush or a mini vacuum cleaner to remove dust, small grit, and hair from the floor surface.

2. Focus on areas prone to dust accumulation such as:

   • The click-lock joints between the floor planks

   • Wall corners, under cabinets, under tables and chairs

   • Areas near doorways

3. If using a vacuum cleaner, opt for a soft brush attachment to avoid scratching the UV coating of the vinyl flooring.

Removing dust before mopping helps prevent sand from causing scratches when mopping with moisture.

Recommended frequency: 1-2 times/ day in high-traffic areas, or every other day if the room is used infrequently.

2. Use specialized vinyl floor cleaner

When the floor has stubborn stains like grease, ink, soda, or food spills, avoid using laundry soap or harsh detergents, as they can easily fade the floor. Instead, choose specialized floor cleaner for wood-look vinyl flooring, vinyl flooring with a neutral pH of 7-8, which is safe for the UV coating.

1. Use a microfiber cloth or mop that has been wrung out almost dry (moisture content around 70-80%).

2. Mop along the wood grain of the floor to avoid streaks and ensure a more even clean.

3. For heavily soiled areas (kitchen, high-traffic paths), change or wash the cloth every 10-15m² to avoid spreading dirt to other areas.

If the floor surface is stained with grease, tea, ballpoint pen ink, or other difficult-to-remove stains, here are some highly effective tips you can apply.

3. Do not pour water directly onto the floor

A common mistake when cleaning wood-look vinyl flooring is pouring water directly onto the floor and then mopping it up with a floor mop. This method may seem to clean the floor faster, but it actually damages the floor more quickly, especially with glue-down vinyl flooring.

Although vinyl flooring is highly water-resistant, water can still seep into the joints or edges. This can cause the adhesive underneath to peel off, leading to the floor warping or developing mold.

Even with SPC click-lock vinyl flooring, leaving water to stand on the surface for extended periods is not recommended. Water can make the floor slippery and affect the bond between planks if this occurs frequently.

The best approach is to use a microfiber mop wrung out almost dry and clean small areas at a time to control moisture and protect the floor structure long-term.

Tip: If you need to clean a large floor area (for periodic cleaning), open windows or turn on ventilation fans to help the floor dry faster.

How to properly maintain vinyl flooring

In addition to cleaning wood-look vinyl flooring correctly, daily usage and maintenance habits also significantly impact the floor's durability.

Avoid using stiff brushes or wire brushes

When encountering difficult stains like sticky substances, chewing gum, or dried-on dirt, many people resort to using stiff brushes, scouring pads, or coarse plastic brooms to scrub the floor surface. However, this can damage the protective surface layer (UV coating) of wood-look vinyl flooring, causing it to fade quickly and reducing its lifespan.

A safer way to handle these stains is:

• Moisten the stain with a specialized floor cleaner for a few minutes

• Gently wipe multiple times with a soft microfiber cloth until clean

Protect the floor from scratches and heavy objects

In reality, deep scratches on vinyl flooring often occur when moving heavy furniture like tables, chairs, or beds without proper protection. To minimize this, apply some simple methods:

• Attach rubber or felt pads to the legs of tables and chairs to reduce friction when moving them.

• Use floor mats at entrances to prevent sand and dirt from being tracked in from outside.

• When moving heavy items, lift them instead of dragging them across the floor. You can even install specialized wheels with soft pads on some furniture to reduce friction.

Additionally, avoid wearing high heels on vinyl flooring, as the concentrated pressure can scratch or dent the surface.

If you have pets like dogs or cats, trim their nails regularly to prevent them from scratching the floor.

Limit direct sunlight exposure on the floor

Prolonged direct sunlight can cause wood-look vinyl flooring to fade or yellow, losing its natural wood grain appearance. This phenomenon typically occurs in areas near large windows, balconies, or doorways.

To minimize the impact of UV rays, you should:

• Install curtains or blinds in living rooms and bedrooms.

• Apply UV-blocking window film to glass panes to reduce sunlight intensity.

• Place decorative rugs or furniture in areas where the floor is frequently exposed to sunlight.

Besides sunlight, high temperatures can also affect floor quality. Therefore, avoid placing hot items like freshly cooked pots or pans directly on the floor. High temperatures can damage the protective coating and cause surface deformation over time.

By paying attention to these small details during use, you can help your wood-look vinyl flooring maintain its beautiful color and stable durability for many years.

Periodic maintenance of vinyl flooring

Like many other flooring materials, wood-look vinyl flooring requires periodic inspection and maintenance to ensure optimal durability. However, maintaining this type of flooring is generally simple and less complex than natural wood flooring. You just need to maintain a few habits:

• Thorough cleaning once a week with a specialized floor cleaner.

• Immediately address any peeling, chipping, or deep scratches with a vinyl floor repair kit.

• Call a technician for periodic checks every 6 months if used in public areas.

• Dry the floor immediately after any spills.

• Inspect the joints and edges of the floor to detect early signs of warping, gapping, or slight bulging.

Where to buy quality vinyl flooring at a good price?

Thien Ha Floor is a leading supplier and installer of wood-look vinyl flooring and stone-look vinyl flooring in Vietnam with over 12 years of experience. We offer a diverse product catalog with hundreds of designs to meet all customer needs, from residential projects to large commercial and industrial projects covering thousands of square meters.

Contact us immediately via Hotline 0909 192 557 for dedicated consultation and the best pricing!