Vinyl flooring offers numerous benefits in commercial spaces. It’s easy to install, feels comfortable on the feet, and lasts a long time without much maintenance. To keep your commercial vinyl floor in good shape, regular deep cleaning is a must.
Mopping your vinyl flooring at the end of the day can remove dirt and germs from the surface, but it doesn’t fully penetrate the flooring and eliminate deep contaminants. Learning the best way to clean vinyl flooring, including the methods and frequency, can help you preserve your floors and promote a safer environment within your business.
Learn how to clean commercial vinyl flooring, according to experts at JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting in Atlanta.
How Often Should You Clean Vinyl Floors?
Sticking to the right schedule with your vinyl floor cleaning prevents dirt and bacteria from building up in the vinyl over time. As a result, you’ll be able to clean and sanitize the vinyl more easily and promote a safer environment overall.
The exact schedule you should follow depends on the amount of foot traffic your flooring receives. However, you should plan to perform a surface-level cleaning of your floors at least once each day, then deep clean them on a monthly or quarterly basis.
Performing regular maintenance and cleaning can help you keep your vinyl floors in the best condition, extending their lifespan.
Daily Cleaning Procedures for Commercial Vinyl Flooring
One of the many benefits of vinyl floors is that they are low maintenance compared to other commercial flooring materials. However, like any flooring, they require daily cleaning to remove dirt, mud, and other contaminants from the day. Cleaning your floors each day paints an image of professionalism and cleanliness to your customers and employees.
Plan to complete all of these cleaning tasks daily:
- Sweep or dust the floors to remove loose contaminants-
- Clean up any spills immediately to prevent staining.
- Use a damp mop with a neutral pH floor cleaner to mop the vinyl.
Allow floors to dry completely before permitting foot traffic
These floors are generally waterproof, meaning that they don’t absorb water as quickly as carpeting and laminate flooring. However, colored liquid can quickly stain vinyl floors, especially if you have light-colored vinyl.
Top Three Deep-Cleaning Methods for Commercial Vinyl Floors
The best way to clean vinyl flooring depends how dirty your floors are and the amount of foot traffic they regularly receive. Experts recommend three different deep-cleaning methods that can help you remove built-up contaminants and preserve the lifespan of your vinyl floors. Remember that the more often you deep-clean your vinyl floors, the better they will look and the longer they will last.
No Polish, No Buffing Method
If you clean your vinyl floors daily and they don’t receive too much foot traffic, you may be able to get by with the no polish, no buffing method of deep cleaning your floors. This method involves mopping the floors with a damp mop.
After sweeping any crumbs, dirt, and other loose debris off the floor, spot-clean any spills or stains with a neutral floor cleaner. Remember that this flooring can stain easily, so be sure not to use any cleaning chemicals that contain dyes.
Next, mix a commercial-grade, neutral pH floor cleaner with water according to the ratio on the package instructions. Dampen a clean mop head with the cleaning mixture and apply it to the floor in overlapping strokes. Rinse the mop after every few strokes to remove contaminants. Be sure to change the rinse water frequently.
During the mopping process, avoid over-wetting the floors. Wring the mop thoroughly before applying it to the vinyl. Should any puddles form on the floor while mopping, absorb them with a towel.
Machine Spray Buff Method
If your floors have scuffs that manual deep cleaning procedures won’t remove, the best way to clean vinyl flooring might be the machine spray buff method.
The first step in this cleaning method is to complete the steps in the no polish, no buffing method above. Once you have finished mopping the floor, use a low-speed power buffer over the entire floor to maintain the surface appearance. Only use a white scrubbing pad, as other colors indicate more abrasive surfaces that are too rough on vinyl floors.
Follow these steps to use the buffing machine on your floors:
- Spray a neutral pH floor cleaner onto an area of the floor no larger than 20 square feet. Work in small sections to ensure that the cleaner does not dry before you can get to it with the buffing machine.
- Use the low-speed buffing machine on a setting of no more than 450 RPM to buff out stains in the saturated area.
- Use parallel, overlapping motions on the floor to remove stains.
- Rinse the floor with clean water.
- Mop if necessary to remove the residue from the cleaning solution.
Be careful not to buff the floor after the cleaning solution has dried. Doing so could damage the vinyl.
Polish Maintenance Method
You may want to polish your commercial vinyl flooring if the surface has become dull or matte-looking. Polishing the floor is the best way to clean vinyl flooring that isn’t too dirty but needs help to look more attractive and prevent dirt and liquids from penetrating the surface.
Before applying the polishing solution, thoroughly clean the flooring with a neutral pH floor cleaner. You can follow the steps in the no polish, no buffing method above to remove dirt and contaminants from the flooring. Once you’ve finished cleaning the floor, rinse it thoroughly with clean water to remove the cleaning solution.
Next, allow the flooring to dry completely. Be sure not to allow any foot traffic on the flooring while it is drying. You don’t want there to be any dirt on the floors when you apply the polish, as the dirt would become stuck under the polish layer and prevent strong adhesion.
Once the floor is dry, apply at least two coats of commercial floor polish. Follow the package instructions, and allow the polish to dry completely between coats. Only use a polish that has been approved for vinyl flooring.
Expert Tips for Cleaning Vinyl Flooring
By following these methods, you should be able to keep your commercial vinyl floors in good condition for the long term. But if you want your flooring to look great and last as long as possible, check out the following tips for the best way to clean vinyl flooring.
Avoid Over-Wetting the Floor
Vinyl is a relatively waterproof material, but allowing large puddles of water to sit on the floor for extended periods could allow moisture to seep under the floor tiles. In time, this moisture can lead to rot, mold, and other forms of damage, leading you to replace your flooring prematurely.
As you’re mopping or polishing your vinyl flooring, be careful not to oversaturate the vinyl with the cleaning solution. If spills occur on your vinyl floor, mop the liquid up quickly before it has a chance to penetrate the vinyl.
Clean Up Spills Immediately
Beverages, chemicals, and other liquids can quickly stain vinyl flooring. Have the procedures in place to clean up any spills in your business immediately to prevent stains from forming. You may want to keep spray bottles with cleaning agents and paper towels in several locations throughout your premises to allow for fast clean-up.
Avoid Abrasive Scrubbing Tools
Vinyl is a relatively soft material, and it can’t withstand harsh scrubbing like cement can. If you choose to buff your vinyl flooring, be sure to use a soft buffing tool designed specifically for it. An abrasive scrubbing tool could permanently scratch the vinyl, requiring you to replace large sections of the floor.
Only Use Specialized Cleaning Products for Vinyl
You also need to ensure that you only use cleaning chemicals designed specifically for vinyl floors. Some chemicals, like undiluted chlorine bleach, are too harsh for vinyl and can stain the surface material or wear down its top coating. Any cleaning chemical that you apply to your floors should be safe for vinyl.
Hire Professional Vinyl Floor Cleaners
Cleaning vinyl floors the right way is a time-consuming task that requires a level of expertise. That’s why many businesses turn to professionals for daily vinyl floor cleaning and routine deep cleanings.
Professional commercial cleaners know the right chemicals, tools, and techniques to use on vinyl floors for exceptional sanitization and can take the full responsibility of this task off your shoulders.
Choose JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting in Atlanta for Vinyl Floor Cleaning
At JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting in Atlanta, certified franchisees provide comprehensive commercial cleaning throughout the greater Atlanta, GA, area. Whether you need help understanding the best way to clean vinyl flooring in your business or are looking for full-scale commercial cleaning services, certified franchise owners can meet your needs.
Contact JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting in Atlanta today at 770-955-9822, and we’ll connect you with a franchise owner in your area.