Floors contribute to the overall look and feel of any given home. It is no wonder why many take such painstaking effort in maintaining the floors in their homes. Polished and well-maintained floors can add a touch of class to any given home. It also can be quite frustrating when tiles end up dull and lacking in shine since dill floors can ruin an otherwise elegant interior.
One of the more frustrating and seemingly hard-to-maintain floors is vinyl plank flooring. Once they start to lose their shine, they end up being an eyesore even. Maintaining vinyl plank floors isn’t as difficult as it may seem though. There are ways be which one can maintain vinyl plank floors without much difficulty. Knowing how to do this will definitely bring your home’s interior back to its classy look.
What are vinyl plank floors?
Vinyl plank floors are types of flooring materials that are made up of many protective layers that are designed as strips similar to the look of hardwood or stone floors. Installation of these kinds of flooring materials is pretty simple as they lock onto each other pretty much jigsaw puzzle pieces. These are coated with several layers to protect them from scratching or tearing. They also have a design layer that gives that gives them that realistic wood or stone look.
These days, vinyl plan floors have become a popular choice for flooring material and are commonly used in many new homes.
Vinyl plank floors have gained a fair degree of popularity since it is stain and water-resistant compared to real wooden floors. It also has pretty good insulation and is quite durable.
In terms of installation, it isn’t so difficult to manage since the procedure doesn’t involve so much complicated steps.
Is there a difference between vinyl floors and vinyl plank floors?
Vinyl floors are basically synthetically-made types of floors. These are made from plastic and are generally waterproof and, to some extent, scratchproof. This makes them quite ideal for use in kitchen, bathrooms, and in areas where much moisture is to be expected.
Vinyl plank floors are basically vinyl type of flooring materials that come in the form of planks. They are quite easy to install and they may be installed on top of other types of flooring.
What’s the difference between vinyl plank and hardwood flooring?
Although these two look quite similar, these two types of floors are entirely different.
Durability
Vinyl plank floors are indeed quite durable. The more expensive ones, most especially, can last for years. They do need to be taken care of since they still may be scratched or even dented.
Hardwood flooring, especially when properly installed, can last even for decades. With special care, hardwood floors can last for a very long time.
Cost
In terms of cost, vinyl plank floors are definitely more affordable. They can cost for as low as $2-7 per square foot, compared to hardwood floors, which may cost as much as $8-15 per square foot.
Installation
Vinyl plank floors are definitely much easier to instill than hardwood floors. Proper installation of hardwood floors requires special processes which entail extra costs as well.
Material
Installation
Vinyl plank floors are synthetically produced mainly from plastic and petroleum. Hardwood floors are made from natural wood or timber.
Resale value
It is without question that houses with hardwood floors can demand higher resale prices compared to houses with vinyl plank floors.
Repairs
There are different approaches to repairing these two types of flooring. Vinyl floor planks have to replaced with new ones. Hardwood floors, on the other hand, can be repaired followed by a bit of sanding and refinishing.
Vinyl plank floors need to be maintained and cleaned, just like any other kind of flooring. Although these are generally scratchproof and stainproof, these still do need some amount of care and maintenance. Part of its maintenance requirement is the need for vacuums that won’t cause scratches on the flooring, nor should the vacuum affect the shine of the vinyl floor. A good vacuum cleaner for vinyl plank floors though, should still be able to suction as much dust and debris as possible since vinyl plank floors do tend to attract a lot of dust. What should you look out for then in a good vacuum that can do a good cleaning job on vinyl plank floors?
Suction Type
Like all other vacuum cleaners, suction power accounts for most of what a vacuum can actually do. Vinyl plank floors usually need a strong and consistent suction that doesn’t fluctuate during the cleaning process. This will make cleaning much easier and more efficient.
The Filter
People often don’t take into account the role of a good filter in a vacuum cleaner. What they tend to forget though is that vacuum cleaners suck up not only dirt and debris, but allergens as well. A good filter in your vacuum should be able to keep those allergens away from spreading around the household in order to protect you and your health in general.
Weight
Remember that you will have to be lugging the vacuum cleaner around the house. You will have to be going to almost every corner of the house that needs to be cleaned. It would be more practical then to choose a vacuum that is lightweight so that moving this around won’t be so difficult and inconvenient.
Power Cords
You really would want your vacuum to reach as much space as possible in one go. Having a long power cord makes cleaning more convenient since you won’t have to keep on changing plugs in the middle of cleaning.
While there are cordless vacuums out in the market, their charges usually last around a maximum of thirty minutes. You would then have to keep on stopping for a recharge, which will the process of cleaning such a tedious task.
Maintaining your Vacuum Cleaner
A vacuum cleaner is indeed a great help when it comes to maintaining your vinyl plank floors. Besides the floor though, you will have to maintain the vacuum cleaner as well, in order for it to function in topmost condition. There are things that you can do in order to keep your vacuum cleaner at its best.
If your vacuum cleaner makes us of a vacuum bag, make sure that you replace the bag when it reaches around 2/3 full. For bagless vacuums, always clean them after every one or two uses.
When the vacuum starts making a loud noise, or when it seems that the suction power of your vacuum is quite weak, try to clean the filter. This can be done by washing the filter under running water. There are filters though that cannot be washed, but instead, need to be replaced. Make sure to check what type of vacuum you have.
Regularly check the parts of the vacuum such as the brush roll, hose and other such vital parts.
Always make sure that the vacuum is unplugged when not in use.
Additional Tips for Maintaining Vinyl Plank Floors
The most important thing to take not of when it comes to vinyl plank floors is that they need to be properly cleaned and maintained. Vinyl plank floors tend to attract a lot of dust which can affect its shine. Knowing how to take care of these floors will help in maintaining that polished look for years to come.
Daily Cleaning
Although fine dust and debris may seem harmless, these may actually act like sandpaper that can cause minor scratches if not removed or wiped on a daily basis. Using a broom or vacuum regularly helps in getting rid of this debris. Mopping the floor with solutions recommended by the manufacturer, such as warm water mixed with either mild soap or vinegar, can also help in maintaining the cleanliness of the floors.
Try to Avoid Creating Scratches
Scratches on vinyl plank floors are difficult to repair or remove. It is, therefore, best to avoid situations that may cause this to happen.
Dragging large pieces of furniture that have caster rollers across a room may cause scratches and even major damage on your vinyl plank floors.
To protect these floors, place cloth pads on the legs or at the bottom of furniture pieces so that they do not cause damage on the vinyl plank floors.
Abrasive cleaning products and sharp objects must not be used on vinyl plank floors at all times. They may cause scratching on the protective layer of the vinyl plank floor and result in the loss of the floor’s shine.
Vinyl plank floors are, indeed, a good alternative to more expensive types of flooring materials such as hardwood and granite. They do, however, need proper maintenance and care. Vacuum cleaners come in handy so that maintenance is made more convenient. Taking care of both the vacuum and your floor can help you maintain a classy look in your home for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can vacuum cleaners be used on vinyl plank floors?
Vacuum cleaners can, indeed, be used for cleaning vinyl plank floors. In fact, they come in highly recommended. One must, however, know what type of vacuum to use since not all vacuums are meant for cleaning these types of flooring materials. Check out vacuums that are capable or are dedicated to vinyl plank flooring as there are some available now in the market.
What is the best way to clean vinyl plank floors?
A mop using solutions of water mixed with mild soap or vinegar is one of the best ways to clean vinyl plank floors. Using a broom or vacuum also helps in removing dirt or debris from the floor.
Can a steam mop be used on vinyl plank floors?
No. Steam mops may even cause damage to vinyl plank floors since the steam can seep through the grooves of the planks and cause warping or bending. Steam can also damage the top layer of the vinyl and affect its shine,
Can you use Murphy’s oil soap on vinyl plank floors?
Yes. This is one of the cleaning solutions that can be used on vinyl plank floors on a regular basis.
What can you do to remove scratches on vinyl plank floors?
Removing scratches from vinyl plank floors really depends on two things: the skill of the person doing the repair and the degree of damage.
If part of the flooring is scratched, you can start by cleaning the area with a cleaning solution.
Get a piece of medium-grit sandpaper and use it on the area with the scratch. Try to remove as much of the scratch as possible. Use the sandpaper only on the scratched area using light strokes. Remove all the dust and use car wax on the area which has been scratched to bring back the floor’s shine and luster.