Can You Use A Steam Mop On Vinyl Plank Flooring?
Last Updated on October 15, 2023 by admin
Can You Use A Steam Mop On Vinyl Plank Flooring??
Answer to this question is not straight forward and to get the answer a thorough and complete understanding of “Vinyl plank flooring” and its usage is needed.
With the trend of vinyl plank flooring becoming an affordable alternative to hardwood, learning how to maintain your floors will help prolong the life of them. Vinyl planks are a popular choice for people who like the look of wood but want something more durable than some types of laminate and even hardwood.
It is a synthetic product so companies are manufacturing it on a large scale and make it a very easily available product in the market. There are different reasons behind the usage of vinyl floor planks but following two properties of vinyl floors make it the best option to use for floor coverings.
1. Easy to install
2. Easy to clean
Easy to install
Vinyl Floors are very easy to install and there are no technical skills or technical work is required to install it. You can easily install it wherever you want without much hard work. Due to this ease lot of people prefer it as they can easily change their floors covering if they wish.
One thing must be kept in mind that proper adhesion of the vinyl on the floor and adequate sealing for groves is very important as it can cause the damage later on as water can enter through it can remove the glue so it is better to install it properly at the first time rather than repairing it all the time.
Easy to clean
Vinyl Floors are very easy to clean as it is water-resistant and it does not absorb it so if something spells over it you can easily remove it and can keep your floor clean and tidy. Even though cleaning of the vinyl is effortless but sometimes it gets badly stained that it cannot be cleaned with a simple mop and thus you have to look for alternatives.
One of the questions asked is
“Is steam mop will be appropriate to use on vinyl floor planks??”
Before reaching to answer the following topics will be discussed to understand and make a better decision.
What is Vinyl Plank Flooring?
“Vinyl plank flooring” refers to synthetic vinyl flooring printed in a wood grain pattern and sold in 4-inch-wide strips rather than 12-inch squares vinyl floor tiles. These 4-inch strips having wooden texture give the looks of wood planks and use as an alternative of standard wood flooring.
Usage of Vinyl Plank Flooring
Vinyl floor is cheaper than wood flooring and moderately durable. The water-resistant property of vinyl makes it a right choice for areas such as kitchens and bathrooms that come in contact with water regularly. These Vinyl planks are glued on the floors with the help of commercial glues and adhesives. The common use of vinyl plank flooring is in the areas where stains and spills are common, so it is very important to know the best method to clean it properly without damaging it.
Spills and Stains
As Vinyl floor does not absorb substances so in most cases if some things spill over it can be cleaned with a cloth or with a simple mop, sometimes it can become stained if exposed to inks or dyes for an extended period of times and these stained will be the real challenge to remove. Over time, the colour of the vinyl tiles also gets fade as dirt gets accumulated on it. You may find the need for a steam mop in these cases.
In case of any spills on the vinyl floor try to clean it as early as possible and never leave it for long periods as it will leave the stains on the vinyl floor and will make it hard to remove later on.
Operation Mechanism of Steam Mop
A steam mop is a simple machine operated with electricity that uses heat to transform water into steam and then uses it to clean the surface. The steam mop has different levels for heat control and also for the steam throw. Dark and sticky stains can be removed by using a good steam mop. The steam mop is better than simple mop as it uses steam so it can easily remove the stains from the surface without wasting much water and without putting much effort.
The use of the steam mop is becoming prevalent, and a lot of people prefer it, but it is very important to know the compatibility of the floor material with heat or steam before using a steam mop for cleaning that material.
Consideration
The heat from steam mops is the concern you want to be most careful about when it comes to vinyl floors. Vinyl floor is a synthetic product with a specific thermal resistance limit. One of the main differences between vinyl plank flooring and other types of laminate or wood floors is the use of glue. Due to a width of 4 inches “Vinyl planks flooring” have more groves than other vinyl sheet floor or square tiles, through these grooves steam can enter and remove the glue and planks can be detached or removed.
The heat of steam mop, on the other hand, can cause damage to the texture of the vinyl plank tiles or can wrap it. Vinyl gets deformed and alters its shape if excessive heat is given so the heat of steam mop can cause damage to it.
Precautions
The heat of the steam mop can cause damage to the vinyl planks flooring but with proper care and following some precautions, steam mops can be used to clean it.
● While using a steam mop, make sure to set it to the lowest heat level.
● Never hold the steam mop in one spot for an extended period. Use quick, straight strokes while cleaning.
● Never pause with the steam mop on one place.
● Be sure to mop with the grain to avoid depositing tiny particles of dirt into the grooves.
● Make sure to turn off the mop if you need to stop for a moment.
● Before using the steam mop, uses the vacuum cleaner to remove the dirt or other loose material from the floor.
● Before using a steam mop for vinyl floor planks first check in the user manual of a steam mop.
Recommendation:
Although steam mop can cause damage to the vinyl tiles with proper care and by following the right precautions, you can avoid it and get your vinyl floor clean properly and effectively by using steam mops.
I will recommend using a simple mop on a daily or regular basis to clean your vinyl floor and after long periods like six months or a year. If it seems that your vinyl floor is very dirty and needs to be steamed, opt for the professional workers as they know very well, and they can help you. In this way, you can save you money and all the hard work of replacing the damaged vinyl floor.
