Friday, January 31, 2014

Maintaining Peel And Stick Vinyl Tiles For Best Results In Your House

By Serena Price


Having once gone out of fashion, peel and stick vinyl tiles are making a strong come back in the building trades. There are many different reasons for this, chief among them being its easy insulation and basic maintenance. It is surprising how durable and easy to clean this long lasting flooring material really is.

Generally vinyl flooring is very durable, quite long lasting and attractive even when held to the rough demands of an active home's high traffic area. Luckily, keeping them clean so they look great is basic and generally requires very little effort and materials. With the right maintenance they could easily last the life time of most active homes.

Start out by preventing any dirt, stains or abrasions before they happen to your flooring. These are the things that will break down its finish over time on any flooring. Always use a good quality doormat in front of entryways to catch debris and throw rugs to protect high traffic areas.

If you have any furniture that requires moving, put some thing on the floor to protect it. Sheets of plywood, small rugs and plastic sheeting work well. You should also use some kind of coaster under your table legs or other furniture to help stop scratches during general use.

One of the best ways to clean up your flooring is to use plain tap water with an inexpensive sponge mop. Always clean up any spills as quickly as possible so they do not set and cause stains. If you use a vacuum, wrap the wheels with a layer of duct tape to soften them so they do not mark the finish on your flooring.

For really tough stains or basic all around scrubbing, a cup of cider vinegar and a gallon of warm water is a nice mix for general all purpose cleaning. However, if you need to disinfect, add a cup of distilled white vinegar. If your flooring has a layer of wax and dirt, add a couple of drops of liquid dish soap to help break down this build layer for deep cleaning. To make it shine brightly just add a little baby oil to your mix.

There are also some things you should try not to do. Using abrasive pads and steel wool can cause scratches and dull the finish even when used lightly. Many abrasive cleaners and mop and shine products look good at first, but often leave a film that can be difficult to remove. This is true with paste wax and solvent polishes as well. High strength ammonia and cleaning products made from it can actually break down the internal structure of your flooring and create very noticeable cracks.

After cleaning any peel and stick vinyl tiles plan to mop it over again with clean water. This prevents costly build up from detergents, waxing agents and soaps. There may be times you need to be other places. If you discover yourself in a mad rush you can just dry mop your floor. They are tough and can withstand it.




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