How to Care for Your Luxury Vinyl
Your Step-by-Step Luxury Vinyl Care Routine
Cleaning Your Luxury Vinyl Flooring
- Sweep, dust mop, or vacuum regularly to reduce loose dirt and grit. Do not use treated dust mops or a vacuum with a beater bar head.
- When moving heavy objects or furniture, always protect your floor by using plywood or other approved methods to prevent damage.
- Occasionally, deep clean the floor using a properly diluted Neutral pH cleaner in cool water or ready-to-use spray cleaner that will not leave a residue, such as Bona® Professional Series Stone, Tile, and Laminate Cleaner in a premixed spray bottle.
- Use dirt-trapping walk-off mats at all exterior doors to keep sand, dirt, grit, grease, and oil outside.
- Rolling chairs, wheelchairs, electric scooters, or other heavy mobility aids will damage your flooring and should not be used on waterproof floors. Glass floor protectors are preferred.
- Remove spills promptly using a clean, soft cloth.
- Dried spots should be removed by gentle agitation and rinsed with water. Blot dry.
- Do not use products that are 2-in-1, cleaner/polish; they may contain urethane or acrylics that may damage the finish.
- Place protective pads beneath furniture legs and feet to reduce scratches and dents. Replace when needed.
- Make certain furniture casters are clean and operate properly, and are at least 2” in continuous width (3” is needed for persons over 250lbs.).
- Remember, waterproof products should only be installed indoors, in a climate-controlled environment.
- For commercial applications, the wear warranty is a “walk” warranty only. Heavy loads should not be rolled across the floor; it can damage the locking mechanism.
Preventative Maintenance
- Use dirt-trapping walk off mats at all exterior doors to keep sand, dirt, grit, grease, and oil outside.
- Keep your pets' nails trimmed and paws clean, free from dirt, gravel, grease, oil, and stains.
- Remove shoes with spiked heels or damaged heels before walking on the floor.
- Rolling chairs, wheelchairs, heavy mobility aids, and scooters will damage your flooring surface. We recommend tempered glass chair mats. Mats need to be a minimum thickness of 1/4" or 6mm.
- When moving heavy objects or furniture, use a dolly and protect your floor by using plywood or other approved methods to prevent damage.
- Place protective pads beneath furniture legs and feet to reduce scratches and dents. Replace them as needed.
- Make certain furniture casters are clean, operate properly, and are at least 2" in continuous width (3" is recommended for persons over 250lbs).
Luxury Vinyl Care Tips From the Pros
Luxury vinyl is one of the easiest floors to live with, and a few smart habits keep it looking beautiful for years. In this short video, our flooring pros share their favorite tips for keeping your floors fresh, from busy entryways to kitchens and baths. Press play and see how simple it is to keep your luxury vinyl looking like new.
How Do I Clean LVP?
Sweep, dust-mop, or vacuum regularly to remove loose dirt and grit (no treated dust mops, and no beater bar). To deep clean, use a properly diluted neutral-pH cleaner specifically formulated for flooring. We recommend Bona® Hard Surface Floor Cleaner for Vinyl & LVP, Stone & Tile, and Laminate.
Can I Steam Mop LVP?
Never use a steam machine or any other cleaning machine. Heat and forced moisture from a steam mop can damage the planks and the locking system over time. A damp mop with a neutral-pH cleaner is all LVP needs.
What Else Should I Avoid on LVP?
2-in-1 polish. Skip 2-in-1 cleaner/polish products, which can contain urethane or acrylics that damage the finish.
Rolling loads. Don’t roll heavy loads, rolling chairs, wheelchairs, or scooters across the floor — they can damage the surface and the locking mechanism. Use glass floor protectors.
Outdoor or unconditioned spaces. Waterproof products should only be installed indoors, in a climate-controlled environment.
Is LVP Really Waterproof?
The core resists water and spills, so standing water won’t ruin the floor — but it’s still worth wiping spills up promptly to keep the surface clean and prevent slips.
How Do I Handle Spills and Dried Spots?
Wipe fresh spills promptly with a clean, soft cloth. For dried spots, loosen them with gentle agitation, rinse with water, and blot dry.
How Do I Protect LVP From Scratches?
Place protective felt pads under furniture legs and replace them as needed; use plywood or another approved method when moving heavy objects; keep walk-off mats at exterior doors, and make sure casters are clean and at least 2 inches wide (3 inches for anyone over 250 lbs).
Common Luxury Vinyl Care Questions
Questions About Your Floor? We’re Here to Help
Whether you’re planning a project or caring for floors you already have, our team is glad to help. Stop by a showroom to talk it through, or schedule a free in-home estimate, and we’ll bring the answers and the samples to you.