How to clean vinyl flooring?

Vinyl flooring has it all: from authentic looks inspired by Scandinavian nature to built-in resistance to wear and tear. It’s a great choice for your home, and it’s easy to care for, too. If you’ve ever wondered how to clean vinyl flooring, the answer is that it just takes a little regular maintenance to maintain its good looks, leaving you to focus on the fun stuff in life.

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Step-by-step guide: how to clean LVT flooring

The great thing about vinyl floors is that you never need to stress about keeping them clean. It’s easy, and doesn’t take much time – meaning you can focus on the things you really want to do, whether it’s lunch with friends, taking the children to the park or hitting the gym. Here’s what we recommend:

A weekly sweep

It’s a good idea to sweep your floor once a week. We recommend using a vacuum cleaner with soft wheels and a special parquet brush.

A monthly mop

Every month (or twice a month if your floors get especially dirty), do a more thorough clean. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Vacuum throughout.

Step 2: Fill your Pergo floor mop’s tank with water, adding 1 teaspoon of Pergo Floor Cleaner (use up to 3 teaspoons for a really deep clean). Fill a bucket with water – you’ll need this later to rinse out your mop.

Step 3: Start by pulling the lever on the mop to moisten your floor. Mop in the direction of the planks or tiles to avoid streaks.

Step 4: Rinse the mop in the clean water,wringing it out well. Finally, wipe over your floor again, then let it air dry.

Pergo branded floor and spot cleaners for vinyl flooring

Spilled coffee on vinyl floor with takeaway cup lying on its side

How to mop vinyl floors safely

When you mop a vinyl floor, it’s really important that you don’t use too much water – as it could cause damage. Always wring out the mop well so that it’s damp rather than soaked. Fortunately, all our LVT floors feature AquaSafe technology, a watertight coating that keeps water on the surface, providing extra protection during cleaning.

Removing stains from vinyl floors

However hard you try to avoid them, accidents are part of everyday life, and we know that sinking feeling when you come across a felt-tip pen scribble or a load of muddy paw prints. Don’t worry! Pergo cleaners are safe and effective, specially formulated to remove all kinds of common stains from vinyl flooring.

Grease and oil, rubber marks, nail polish, permanent marker, chewing gum and paint: spray Pergo Spot Cleaner directly on the stain and leave to soak for up to five minutes. Rub firmly with a clean cloth (we recommend one made of white cotton), moistened with lukewarm water.
Chocolate, fruit juice, wine and ketchup: remove as soon as possible using a moist cloth (ideally white cotton) and Pergo Floor Cleaner, thinned in lukewarm water (3 teaspoons per 300ml water). Tip: For deep-grain floors, use a soft brush to work the cleaner into any marks.

Find out more about removing stains from vinyl floors in our handy maintenance guide.

Download maintenance guide

Corgi puppy sitting on vinyl tile floor with spilled food, water, and a knocked-over plant

How to repair vinyl flooring

At Pergo, we believe in repairing rather than replacing – it’s all part of our focus on durable flooring. If your vinyl floor suffers minor damage, such as a scratch, scuff or dent, we’ve got your back. Our Repair Kit is designed to help you repair your LVT floor and make it look as good as new again. It contains seven blocks of coloured wax, plus a melting knife with which to apply the wax and sanding pads for a perfect finish. It’s quick, easy and effective – no need for a whole new floor! Read the full instructions here.

Find the colour combination that perfectly matches your Pergo floor in the colour chart below.

Download colour chart

How to care for vinyl flooring

They say prevention is better than cure – and we have some essential tips on how to prevent long-term damage and keep your floor looking like new. In terms of cleaning, always mop up spills straight away, clean regularly (avoiding abrasive cleaners), and try to use Pergo maintenance products, which are specially designed for vinyl floors. To avoid scratches, keep a doormat at entrances to trap dirt before it gets in, add felt pads underneath furniture, and, if you need to move furniture around, lift it rather than drag it across the floor.

Choose the right cleaning products

Once you’ve installed your vinyl floor, we won’t forget about you. We have all the tools and products you’ll need to keep it looking great for years to come. Specially designed to complement Pergo floors, our Floor Cleaner and Spot Cleaner work to gently but thoroughly clean our LVT flooring without causing damage. Our range also includes a floor mop with a refillable water tank, and a high-quality, microfibre cleaning mop that’s machine-washable at up to 60°. And for accidental damage, our Repair Kit will help you sort out scuffs, dents and scratches, making your vinyl floor look beautiful once again.