Vinyl Flooring: Cleaning and Maintenance
Author: Richard DinaeVinyl flooring, also called resilient flooring, requires a smooth surface to perfectly cover the surface. Resilient means that is designed to repel the weight of objects that hits it. It is available either in tile or sheet depending on the need. It has been found out that the solid vinyl is more durable than vinyl composition. Further, there are three basic categories namely homogenous, inlaid, and layered composite.
Cleaning is the most important task when the living room is covered with vinyl. The first step to cleaning is to make sure that the area is well ventilated to avoid accumulating moisture from the damp mop that will be used in the clean-up process. Next is to choose a floor cleaner manufactured only for vinyl flooring. It must not require more such as heating before it can be used so that the person can save time and effort. . A vacuum cleaner is not advisable to use since it may scratch the floor. Then spray a small amount of cleaner to the floor and wipe it with the mop. A sponge is also recommended since it absorbs water and dirt easily. Warm water is suggested to be used over cold water. Continue spraying and mopping the floor until there are no more residues that can be seen. Lastly, make sure that there are no soap residues from the cleaner and the surface is dry enough to avoid slipping.
Next to cleaning is the maintenance task. The thickness of the vinyl flooring determines its performance and the amount of maintenance needed. The time and temperature upon installation must be within accepted standards. It is important that the temperature is just right so that the adhesives won't tear and will work properly. For atleast five days, there should be no rolling of heavy objects for the position of the newly glued vinyl might change. Marks of compressed adhesive will be permanent so anything that may cause this must be avoided. For the day that the vinyl flooring is installed, all seamed areas must be protected and no one should walk on it.
Regular maintenance includes simple vacuuming and washing occasionally with a floor cleaner is done every week to remove accumulated dirt and dust. Sometimes, the rough surface of the vinyl tend to gather dirt more than those smooth ones. However, the spills like soda that leave stains must be immediately wiped off to avoid staining that will damage the vinyl's beauty. There must be non-staining rugs that are placed to sections that are prone to spill over or anything that causes stain to prevent staining too.
Once a year, stripping is done to remove the soap build up made by the normal cleaning. When losing shine, a polish specially made for vinyl flooring is used to recover its shine. Being very careful when moving objects such as sofas and cabinets is a must for the movement may cause scratches. These scratches can make the dirt stay on the holes made. This is why when moving something; it is advised to cover the floor with plywood to avoid having scratches. In addition, moisture beneath the vinyl flooring must be removed. It is much difficult to clean moisture than removing stains.
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