How to Clean and Protect Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring is becoming increasingly popular in commercial applications due to its durability, versatility, and affordability. However, there are challenges when it comes to cleaning and maintaining LVP. While durable, the factory finish can be damaged over time and is susceptible to scratching. Some LVP floors have a wood grain that can create valleys where soil gets stuck.
To maximize the lifespan and value of this asset, it’s essential to follow the correct procedures for maintaining LVP flooring. This article will detail our best practice recommendations to clean and protect your flooring investment.
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) vs. Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)
In this article, we refer primarily to Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring. Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) is a similar product, with the primary difference being the shape of the individual pieces of flooring. LVT flooring tends to be square, to provide a similar look to ceramic, porcelain, or natural stone. The products and procedures in this article are recommended for LVT, in addition to LVP.
LVT flooring is not the same as vinyl composite flooring (VCT). VCT flooring is composed of polymers and some natural components, like limestone. If you have VCT flooring, we recommend you use products from our resilient floor care program.
Best Practices for Maintaining LVP Flooring
As a facility manager responsible for custodial staffing and cleaning procedures, it is vital to incorporate these best practices for preserving and protecting LVP (luxury vinyl plank) flooring into your daily routine.
Prevent scratches and wear patterns
- Entry matting: When preventing scratches and wear patterns on floors, facility managers must prioritize using well-maintained and correctly sized entry matting. This is crucial for keeping abrasive soils out of the building and protecting the floors. For a thorough review of entry matting and its value in your cleaning program, see this link: Entry Matting: Trapping dirt to lower the total cost to clean.
- Lift and Carry Furniture: Lift and move furniture instead of pushing it across the floor, especially on LVP floors.
- Furniture Pads and Area Rugs: Furniture pads and area rugs are recommended wherever possible, as they provide an extra layer of protection.
- Maintain Chair Glides: It's essential to inspect chair glides on sliding chairs and ensure they are in good condition. When glides fail, a leg of the chair can dig into the floor, causing damage that is difficult to repair.
- Avoid Chairs with Rolling Casters: Chairs with rolling casters should be avoided, but if necessary, area rugs or floor protectors should be used in those areas. Some flooring manufacturers explicitly warn against roller chairs in their usage guides and warranty.
By following these guidelines and implementing proper measures, facility managers can effectively reduce scratches and wear patterns on floors, ultimately extending the lifespan and appearance of the building's flooring.
Dust mop or vacuum the flooring regularly
Promptly removing abrasive soils from LVP flooring helps reduce damage caused by foot traffic.
- Dust Mopping: Use a dust mop treated with Super Hil-Tone to remove dust effectively. Maintain dust mops to avoid the accumulation of abrasive dust. This article, How to Clean Hardwood Gym Floors, although geared towards gym floors, contains our best practice guidelines regarding dust mop use.
- Vacuuming: Alternatively, a backpack vacuum with a non-abrasive hard floor tool can also be used. It is essential to avoid using upright vacuums with brush rolls, as they may scratch the flooring.
Scrub the floor with an automatic scrubber
Use an automatic scrubber whenever possible. Recovering soiled cleaning solution with a vacuum system helps reduce the dirt redeposited in the valleys of the wood-grain texture of some LVP flooring. Avoid abrasive pads when scrubbing. See our procedure below for detailed instructions.
If mopping is the only method available, it is important to rinse the mop head frequently and change the solution regularly to avoid depositing soil in the wood grain. Instead of mopping, consider using a micro-scrubber rather than a mop and bucket. See this article for a more thorough analysis of the benefits of micro-scrubbers: Cleaner, Faster, Safer: The Advantages of Micro-Scrubbers Over Mop and Bucket Systems.
Use Hil-Sheen LV as part of your cleaning program
Using Hil-Sheen LV on LVP flooring can improve shine and minimize the appearance of scratches. This product combines non-abrasive surfactant cleaners with a proprietary blend of polymers to clean the floor and help minimize the appearance of scuffs and scratches. Hillyard Hil-Sheen LV is available in a one-gallon concentrate and five-gallon bag-in-a-box concentrate.
Packaging Options
- HIL0014106 - Hil-Sheen LV Luxury Vinyl Floor Cleaner, 1-gallon Bottle
- HIL0014107 - Hil-Sheen LV Luxury Vinyl Floor Cleaner, 5-gallon BIB
How to clean with Hil-Sheen LV and a microfiber mop
Although not the preferred method, this procedure will help you maximize your results when mopping an LVP floor.
- Place wet floor signs at all entry points of the area.
- Thoroughly vacuum or dust mop the area with a Super Hil-Tone treated dust mop.
- For best results, preclean with Hillyard Heavy Duty Floor Cleaner or Clean Scrub HD before using Hil-Sheen LV for the first time.
- Dilute Hil-Sheen LV at two-ounces-per-gallon (1:64).
- Damp mop with a microfiber flat mop with overlapping passes.
- Allow the floor to air dry before allowing traffic.
- Change the solution often if it becomes soiled.
For a complete guide on microfiber maintenance, see this article: Upgrade Your Cleaning With Microfiber Cloths.
How to clean with Hil-Sheen LV and an automatic scrubber
Cleaning LVP flooring with an automatic scrubber is recommended to avoid depositing soil into the LVP flooring wood grain.
- Place wet floor signs at all entry points.
- Thoroughly vacuum or dust mop with a Super Hil-Tone treated dust mop.
- For best results, preclean with Hillyard Heavy Duty Floor Cleaner or Clean Scrub HD before using Hil-Sheen LV for the first time.
- Treat the automatic scrubber recovery system with Defoamer II for best results.
- Dilute Hil-Sheen LV at two-ounces-per-gallon (1:64).
- Autoscrub the flooring with a red or white scrub pad, using overlapping passes.
- Recover the cleaning solution while scrubbing.
- Promptly pick up any residual squeegee trails or puddles with a damp mop.
- Allow the floor to air dry before allowing traffic.
- Drain and rinse the scrubber's solution tank immediately after use. Do not allow Hil-Sheen LV to dwell in the solution tank.
- Drain and rinse the scrubber's recovery tank immediately after use. Allow the recovery tank to air dry.
Maintain Your Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring with Expert Advice
Hillyard representatives throughout the United States can help you develop a best practice process for your specific situation. Whether developing cleaning procedures or managing custodial staffing, our team is ready to assist you.
Fill out the "I'm Interested" form below, and one of our representatives will contact you for expert advice on maintaining your luxury vinyl plank flooring. With our guidance, you can make sure that your flooring remains in top condition, improving your facility's overall appearance and cleanliness.
Trust in Hillyard to provide the expertise and support you need to keep your flooring looking its best. Fill out the form today and take the first step towards maintaining your luxury vinyl plank flooring with our expert advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean commercial luxury vinyl plank flooring?
To clean commercial LVP flooring, use non-abrasive dust mops or a backpack vacuum. Scrub with an automatic scrubber, avoiding abrasive pads. Consider Hil-Sheen LV for shine and scratch minimization. Consult with Hillyard representatives for expert advice tailored to your situation.
What should you not clean LVP floors with?
Avoid harsh chemicals and abrasive scrubbers when cleaning LVP floors, as they can damage the factory finish. Avoid steam cleaners because they can impact the flooring and the adhesive used during installation.
What's the best solution to clean LVP floors?
Use Hil-Sheen LV for LVP floors. It improves shine and minimizes scratches. Dilute at two ounces per gallon and apply with a microfiber mop or an automatic scrubber. Follow the provided cleaning procedures for optimal results.
What is the best way to deep clean LVP flooring?
For deep cleaning LVP flooring, use an automatic scrubber with Hillyard Heavy Duty Floor Cleaner or Clean Scrub HD. Dilute the solution per the product label, scrub with red or white pads, and recover the cleaning solution. Follow up with Hil-Sheen LV per the label instructions to take advantage of the protective qualities of its proprietary polymer blend.