You can’t polish your vinyl floor like hardwood floors. So you must know which product to use on vinyl floors and which should not. So, can you clean vinyl floors with vinegar? If yes, how do you use vinegar to clean your vinyl floors?
This article will answer those questions and discuss related topics you may need to know.
Cleaning vinyl floors with vinegar
Diluted vinegar is one of the effective and easy ways to clean vinyl floors. But dilute the vinegar properly, as strong vinegar can dull the vinyl floor. Apple cider vinegar is suitable for regular washing, while white vinegar works best when there is a lot of dirt on the floor.
Table of Contents
Vinyl floors are one of the popular types of flooring due to their versatility and affordability. So, you have vinyl floors in your house and are confused about if you can wash your floor with vinegar.
The answer is yes, you can. There are two types of vinyl flooring, and vinegar works excellent on both.
When it comes to vinyl floors, you must be careful to use any substrate on them. Those floors can not be polished; changing is the only option once it fades. Vinyl floors are affordable, but changing floors is no less hustle than changing homes.
Vinegar is a weak acid. It’s so weak that you can even eat them. But vinegar is strong enough to dull your vinyl floor if you do not properly use them. But if you use it properly, vinegar can shine your vinyl floor with minimum effort.
Acids can break down loosely attached particles. When you use vinegar on your vinyl floors, the acid removes the dirt and grease from the deep of the floor. Well, by deep, I mean from every part.
No matter how smooth something looks, at the microscopic level, there are many small tiny curves. Dirt and stains can get stuck in those places. When you use vinegar, the dirt gets dissolved in those places.
But if you use strong vinegar without dilution, that can damage the upper part of the floor, which will cause fading color. When that happens, there is no way back, no matter how much you wash.
Apple cider vinegar is less strong than white vinegar and is suitable for regular usage. White vinegar is also effective but has a smell and strong cleaning abilities, but white vinegar can dull your floor if you use it too frequently.
Vinegar is also very effective in disinfecting. It can remove bacteria, fungus, and other microorganisms from your floor.
Knowing the vinegar solution preparation and the right way to use it is essential. In the later part of the article, we will discuss the step-by-step process of applying vinegar on vinyl floors. Let’s find out if you can use vinegar on those floorings.
Vinyl plank flooring:
You can clean vinyl plank flooring with vinegar. Those types of vinyl flooring are non-flexible and easy to install and maintain.
Luxury vinyl flooring:
You can use diluted vinegar to clean your luxury vinyl flooring. Those types of flooring come in many different styles. You can choose hardwood or ceramic style luxury vinyl flooring. And vinegar does excellent to bring back the shine of luxury vinyl tile flooring.
Vinyl roll flooring:
Vinyl roll flooring is flexible and comes in many different designs. And it is an excellent option for DIY flooring projects. You can easily clean this type of floor with vinegar.
Does vinegar dull vinyl floors?
Vinegar does not dull the vinyl floor if you use correctly diluted vinegar. But the high concentration of vinegar can damage the color of the vinyl floor. However, there are many types of vinyl floors in the market, and they also come in various qualities.
Generally, expensive vinyl floors are less likely to get damaged by some substrate. At the same time, cheaper ones are more prone to become dull. Vinegar is a weak acid, and it will usually not harm your flooring if you add water to it.
UV rays are mostly responsible for the dullness of the vinyl floor. So, those floors are not suitable for Veranda or similar places. Vinyl flooring lasts 5-25 years, depending on the quality and how well you maintain it. The maintenance of the vinyl floor is pretty straightforward.
You can clean the floor even without any added components like vinegar. But vinegar will surely add extra cleaning power. You can also add a few drops of soap if there is too much dirt on your floor.
Some food stains are hard to wash with vinegar and water solution. In this condition, you can use baking soda to clean the strains. Some commercial sprays are specially made for removing stains from vinyl floors without damaging the floor.
What vinegar to use to clean vinyl floorings?
Apple cider vinegar is the best for cleaning vinyl floorings. It is gentle to the vinyl floors and cleans effectively. It also does not have harsh smells.
White vinegar is also usable to clean vinyl flooring, but we do not recommend regular use. It is stronger and regular use can make the floor dull. However, white vinegar cleans more deeply and effectively removes bacteria, fungus, and other microbes.
How much vinegar to use to clean vinyl floorings?
Mix one cup of vinegar with one gallon of water. Make sure to follow the concentration strictly. If the vinegar concentration is less, the cleaning power will reduce. If the concentration is high, you may damage the color of your vinyl floor.
Follow the same rule for both apple cider vinegar and white vinegar. Use apple cider vinegar most of the time. But if you think the floor is too dirty, use white vinegar. White vinegar is smelly, but don’t worry. After drying, there will be no sign of vinegar on your floor.
Now you know how much vinegar you need per gallon of water. Now you can simply guess the amount of water you need to wash the floor and add the right amount of vinegar. Add two cups of vinegar if you need two gallons of water to clean.
Use a soft nylon brush to clean the floor effectively.
If you don’t have vinegar, you can use dish soap and water solutions to clean your vinyl flooring. Add a few drops of the mild dishwasher in water, and then use a nylon brush to clean the floor. You also have to rinse the floor after using soap or water.
But if you use a vinegar solution, you will not have to rinse the floor and simply let the floor dry.
How do you clean vinyl floors with vinegar?
Cleaning the vinyl floor with vinegar is easy, but it is vital to follow the correct procedure. Doing anything wrong can lead to floor discoloration. Follow the steps below to clean your vinyl floor.
Vacuum:
Vacuum the floor thoroughly. Make sure there is no dust on the floor. Vacuum under the furniture and corners carefully.
Prepare the solution:
Then, prepare the vinegar solution. Take one gallon of warm water and add one cup of apple cider vinegar. You can use white vinegar if you want extra cleaning power. White vinegar is also effective in disinfecting your floor if you have time.
Use a few drops of dishwasher soap with the water if you have time. But you will have to rinse the floor with clean water if you use liquid soap. If the floor looks dry, add a few drops of baby oil to the solution.
Damp the mop:
Make the mop damp with the solution and clean the floor. Make sure to cover all the floor. Rinse the mop frequently with clean water and wet the mop with vinegar solution.
Use baking soda:
If there is any food stain on the floor, vinegar may not be enough to clean the stain. You can use baking soda to clean the stain. Just make a paste with two spoons of baking soda and water.
Use the paste on the stain, wait for five minutes, and then wash the stain with clean water.
Rubbing alcohol:
You can remove other stains like ink or lipstick with rubbing alcohol. Just soak a cloth with a bit of alcohol and rub in the stains. It is an easy way to deal with stubborn stains on your vinyl floors.
Nail polish stains are also quite challenging to remove if you don’t know the right way. Nail polish remover will not harm the vinyl floor; you can use it to remove nail polish.
Final Thoughts
Vinegar works nicely to shine up your vinyl floor. But make sure to follow the correct steps and use the right concentration of vinegar. Use one cup of vinegar for one gallon of water and use the solution to clean your vinyl floor. You can use diluted vinegar on all types of vinyl floors.