Luxury vinyl is affordable, easy to install and more durable than other types of flooring, such as ceramic or stone. With proper care and cleaning, your luxury floor can have a long, beautiful lifespan.

The best way to have clean luxury vinyl floors is to avoid dirt, dust and grime from being ground in and accumulating on the floor. Keep a basket full of clean, comfortable slipper socks near the front door and ask everyone to remove their shoes when they enter. Consider what your family’s shoes might encounter throughout the day, such as dirt, animal droppings and automobile fluids. By preventing this filth from entering your home in the first place, you can reduce the need to clean your floors excessively.

Before mopping, it is imperative to remove as much dry dirt and dust as possible. Thorough sweeping on a regular basis is typically adequate. If you have pets or live in a dusty area, you might need to sweep daily. If your vacuum has a bare floor setting, it may lift more dirt from the floor than your broom can. If the floor has small crevices and lots of ground in dirt, scrubbing it with a dry scrub brush will help loosen the debris. You can then sweep or vacuum the dirt away. Never use the beater bar, which could damage your gorgeous floor.

Many cleansers will leave a film on luxury vinyl floors. This film will actually attract more dirt, as it adheres to the residue, making it even more difficult to clean. Removing this film can also remove any wax or sealant used on the floor, leaving a dull finish. For best results, try cleaning your luxury vinyl floor using clean, warm water. The key is to make sure you rinse your mop well and replace your mop water once it becomes dirty.

If water alone simply is not cutting it, add just a bit of mild dish detergent to your mop water. Make sure you do not use soap that contains bleach or other additives, as these could cause discoloration. Mop well with the soapy water, then mop again with clean, warm water. If you have a large floor to clean, do one area at a time so that the soap does not dry on the luxury vinyl.

Finally, protect your floor from scratches and scrapes caused by furniture. Place protective pads on the legs of any piece of furniture that touches the flooring. Avoid steel or plastic glides that secure to legs with a nail or screw, as these can gash and damage luxury vinyl. Opt for soft, adhesive felt pads instead.

Learning how to take care of luxury vinyl flooring will guarantee your floors look stunning for years to come.