Vinyl flooring has a plethora of advantages over other choices of flooring in existence today. It’s durable, affordable, and easy to clean. And vinyl flooring comes in a variety of colors, which is a huge plus!
This notwithstanding it has some pretty conspicuous drawbacks – it’s chiefly a porous material that gets stained with ease. If scuffs or spills aren’t dealt with quickly, this may result in tough stains that may prove hard to remove.
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Now let’s look at several ways on how to remove stains from vinyl flooring
Ground-in soil stains& stubborn stains
To remove stubborn stains and ground-in soil from your vinyl flooring use a 1:10 solution of ammonia and water. Dip a plastic scouring pad on the solution and use it to scrub the area gently. Alternatively, you can use a ball of extra-fine steel wool to cleanse the area. When through, polish or wax the floor to keep it shining.
Rust Stains
If your vinyl floor has developed tough rust stains, you need not worry. The best remedy to remove this stain is oxalic acid. In most hardware and paint stores, oxalic acid is labeled “wood bleach.” Dip a soft cloth on the solution and use it to rub the area gently. If the stain doesn’t rub off, lay the wet cloth on the stain for 10 minutes and try rubbing the area once more. Finally, use clean water to rinse the floor.
Black Heel Marks
You can easily remove black heel stains from your vinyl floor by applying white appliance wax on the spot and rubbing gently to remove the entire stain. Alternatively, you can use silver polish. Apply the polish onto the stained area and scrub gently to remove the stain. Use a soft cloth to get rid of the extra silver polish or wax.
Chewing Gum
You’ll need crushed ice in a sealable bag to remove chewing gum stains from your vinyl floor. Place the bag on top of the stain and let it sit on the area for a few minutes. Check to establish the chewing gum is brittle then use a dull knife to pry the gum.
Nail Polish
If nail polish accidentally spills on your vinyl floor, it’s easy to peel it off without leaving any traces if you let it dry completely. You can as well use a nail polish remover to clean the stain. This stain remover will leave the spot appearing dull and uninviting, thus using wax or polish is fundamental to brighten your floor.
Yellowing
Your vinyl floor turns yellow due to continuous contact with the rubber. Although yellowing is considered a permanent occurrence on the vinyl floor as it ages, it’s possible to remove these stains. Sweep the floor to make it spotlessly clean; then wet the yellowed area with a damp cloth and sprinkle baking soda on the surface. Allow the baking soda to act on the stains for around15 minutes, and then use a wet cloth to clean the stain. You should repeat the process severally to eliminate the stain.
Other Stubborn Stains
You can use baking soda to remove stubborn stains occasioned by ink, grape juice, tomato sauce, ketchup and other related stains. Baking soda will work wonders to leave your vinyl floor gleaming and stain-free. Use a soft damp piece of cloth to apply baking soda on the stain and rub the area gently until the stain vanishes.
How to prevent tough stains on your vinyl floor
The best way to avoid tough stains on your vinyl floor is to ensure regular cleaning and maintenance of your floor. Any time you notice any stains on the floor, use the best method to remove it. This will ensure your vinyl floor ever looks great. Additionally, waxing your floor can prevent tough stains from taking hold of the floor.
After removing the stain, if possible mop the area using a microfiber mop to make the floor sparkling. You may use a commercial cleaner or make yours by adding a cup of vinegar to a gallon of hot water. After making the solution, you may add two to three drops of dish soap if you wish. Use the mop to clean the floor.
Conclusion
Spills and scuffs on your vinyl floor are inevitable, but how you deal with them will determine if your floor will be ruined. Any time you note a stain on your vinyl floor use any of the applicable stain removal techniques highlighted above for effective and quick results.
