How to Clean Vinyl Floors (and What Never to Use)

That's the whole routine. The rest of this page covers why each step matters, how to shift stubborn marks, and the habits that keep vinyl looking new for years. It's based on the care guide and warranty for the vinyl planks we sell, checked against advice from other flooring makers.

What's the best way to clean vinyl floors?

Every vinyl plank has a clear top layer called the wear layer. It protects the printed timber look underneath. On the vinyl planks we sell (Timberland 2.5mm, Timberland 4.5mm and Premium Herringbone) it's 0.5mm thick, with a UV-cured coating on top. Cleaning vinyl comes down to two jobs: keep grit from grinding that surface down, and keep harsh chemicals off it.

The care guide for our planks sets out three levels of cleaning:

Grit matters most. Sand and dirt act like sandpaper under shoes, and our supplier's warranty doesn't cover wear from grit, pebbles or abrasives. A mat inside and outside every outside door stops most of it before it reaches the floor.

If you vacuum, use the hard-floor setting. A spinning beater bar is made for carpet. The warranty on our planks excludes damage from vacuum beater bars.

How to damp-mop vinyl

1. Sweep or vacuum first, so you're not dragging grit around with a wet mop.
2. Mix a pH neutral floor cleaner into a bucket of warm water, at the dose on the label.
3. Wring the mop until it's damp, not dripping. A flat microfibre mop or a fringed mop both work.
4. Mop along the length of the planks. Rinse the mop often and change the water when it looks dirty.
5. Let the floor dry before you walk on it.

Our planks are 100% water resistant, so normal mopping won't hurt them. Puddles are a different story. Water left sitting on the joints can work its way down to the glue, and flood damage isn't covered by the warranty. Damp is enough.

What's the best cleaner for vinyl floors?

Look for two things on the label: pH neutral, and safe for vinyl floors. pH measures how acidic or alkaline a liquid is, on a scale of 0 to 14. Seven is neutral, the same as pure water. Our supplier's care guide asks for a pH neutral detergent for weekly mopping and deep cleans. The brand matters less than what the label says.

Use the dose on the bottle. More cleaner doesn't clean better. The extra dries into a film that looks streaky and holds dirt. If your floor looks smeary after mopping, go over it again with clean warm water.

Can you use vinegar? We don't recommend it. Vinegar is an acid, so it isn't pH neutral, which is what our supplier asks for. A lot of the vinegar advice online comes from linoleum makers. Forbo, which makes Marmoleum linoleum, says a 50/50 vinegar and water mix is fine on its floors. Vinyl is a different material with its own care guide.

Can you use dishwashing liquid? A few drops in a bucket won't wreck anything, but it's easy to use too much, and the leftover leaves a dull film. If you use it, keep it to a few drops and rinse with clean water afterwards. A floor cleaner that says pH neutral on the label takes the guesswork out.

What should you never use on vinyl floors?

Most damage to vinyl floors comes from the wrong product or tool, not from feet. These are the ones to keep away from the floor.

The rubber stain is the one people don't see coming. Armstrong, one of the biggest vinyl makers, explains that the chemicals added to keep rubber from going brittle can move into a vinyl floor and leave a permanent yellow mark. No cleaner removes it. A woven mat, or one labelled non-staining, avoids it completely.

Can you use a steam mop on vinyl floors?

Not on glue-down vinyl like ours, and we'd be careful with any vinyl.

Our planks are glued to the subfloor. Their installation guide says any area that could reach 45°C, such as a sunroom with full glass, needs a special high-temperature adhesive. Steam leaves a steam mop at about 100°C and is pushed straight down onto the joints. The warranty also excludes damage from extreme localised heat.

Australian consumer group Choice notes that some flooring makers don't recommend steam mops on vinyl or linoleum, and says to check with your floor's maker first. If your vinyl came from somewhere else, read its care guide. For ours, a damp mop does the same job without the risk.

How do you get scuff marks and stains off vinyl?

Start with the gentlest thing that might work, and stop as soon as the mark is gone. Test anything stronger than water on a hidden spot first, such as inside a cupboard.

Isopropyl alcohol (sold as rubbing alcohol at chemists and hardware stores) is what Armstrong suggests for heel marks and hair dye on its vinyl. Use a white cloth so no dye transfers, and wipe the spot with clean water afterwards.

Never reach for a scourer, however stubborn the mark. Scratches are permanent, and the warranty doesn't cover scratches or scuffs caused by the wrong cleaning.

How do you make a vinyl floor look new again?

A deep clean every few months brings back most tired floors. This is the method in our supplier's care guide:

1. Vacuum or sweep the whole floor.
2. Spread a pH neutral cleaner solution over one section and scrub it with a soft nylon brush.
3. Pull the dirty water off with a floor squeegee before it dries.
4. Rinse that section with clean water.
5. Dry it with a clean cloth or dry mop, then move to the next section.

If the floor still looks dull, the usual cause is old cleaner left behind. One more rinse with plain warm water normally fixes it.

A clean can't fix deep scratches, gouges or dents. Because our vinyl comes as separate planks, a badly damaged plank can be cut out and a new one glued in its place. Keep a few spare planks from your order for this.

Strong direct sun can fade any vinyl over time. Our supplier recommends tinted windows, and blinds or sheer curtains help in rooms that get hard afternoon sun.

How do you protect a vinyl floor?

These habits do more for a vinyl floor than any cleaner:

• Felt pads under chair and table legs. Replace them when they wear thin or pick up grit.
• Lift furniture, don't drag it. For heavy items, lay down a sheet of plywood and move them across that.
• Soft castors on office chairs, or a chair mat with a non-staining backing. Our warranty excludes damage from castor wheels.
• Shoes off at the door if your house will go for it. The warranty also excludes damage from high heels and sports cleats.
• Trimmed pet nails. Vinyl copes well with pets, and we cover the details in is vinyl flooring pet friendly.
• Kitchen benches and islands go in before the floor, not on top of it. Heavy stone benches sitting on the planks aren't covered.

How soon can you clean a new vinyl floor?

Leave a newly laid floor alone for 72 hours: no walking on it and no furniture. That's how long our supplier says the glue needs to set. After that, give it a first clean with warm water and a pH neutral detergent to lift the dust from installation. If you're laying it yourself, our guide on how to lay vinyl plank flooring covers the whole job.

How do you clean old vinyl or lino floors?

Many Australian homes still have older sheet vinyl or vinyl tiles, often called lino. The same gentle routine works: sweep, then damp-mop with a pH neutral cleaner.

Real linoleum is a little fussier. Forbo, which makes Marmoleum, says cleaners for its linoleum should sit between pH 6 and 8, the floor should never be flooded, and you should rinse after cleaning because leftover cleaner attracts dirt. Not sure which one you have? Our guide to lino vs vinyl flooring shows how to tell them apart.

Cleaning vinyl floors: common questions

Updated October 2026 · Hybrid Floors Australia