It can be quite annoying and tiring dealing with a stain on your vinyl flooring that refuses to come off. It will be easier if you know simpler ways of how to get ground in dirt out of vinyl flooring.
Ground-in dirt is grime, dust, and dirt that, over time, gets embedded or ingrained into your carpet or floor, and this is mostly due to lack of maintenance or cleanliness. There are different flooring options, but in this article, we will be focused on Vinyl flooring and how to get ground-in dirt out of them.
Vinyl flooring is getting quite popular now, and that’s because they present a cheaper lookalike version of wood and tiles. They are waterproof and made of polymer materials. There are numerous brands available online and in hardware stores with different sizes, shapes, and colors that will suit your style. Vinyl floors are, however, of three kinds. There are:
- one is, Vinyl plank
- Vinyl sheets
- and Vinyl Tiles
Vinyl sheets are best for rooms with lots of moisture and high liquid spills, such as the bathroom and kitchen. Vinyl planks and tiles give you a cost-effective yet durable replica of wood and marble or stone tiles.
how to get ground in dirt out of vinyl flooring?
There are various methods of removing ground-in dirt from homemade solutions for DIY-ers to hiring a professional. Cleaning, sweeping, or vacuuming regularly helps guarantee the longevity of your floor, how clean your floor will be, and how much effort you’ll put into cleaning your floor.
When the dirt sticks to the floor, when they are ground-in, regular cleaning won’t efficiently do the work of removing this dirt and dust anymore. It’s time for deep cleaning.
Regular cleaning:
- First, you sweep or vacuum to loosen up dirt and dust, and it should be daily.
- Wipe over to remove scruff with a microfiber cloth.
- Next, you mop with warm water. You can use a spot remover or a cleaner. You can also make one yourself with a quarter teaspoon of washing liquid and water.
- Then, you get a dry mop and dry the floor.
- Lastly, you air dry the floor.
Deep cleaning:
Deep cleaning is best for ground-in dirt. They are stubborn to remove, but with deep cleaning, you can avoid them. This is where homemade solutions come in handy or commercial stain removal products in addition to scrubbing or mopping. You can use these homemade can be used in the following ways:
- Dishwashing soap and water. Water should not be excessively soapy.
- Vinegar and warm water. Preferably apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. Use vinegar sparingly though, it is non-toxic, but it is still acidic.
- Baking soda and warm water.
- Jojoba oil is to make floors shiny. It dries quickly, thus cannot cause slips.
- Bleach. However, it would be best if you did not use bleach on colored vinyl flooring.
You’ll wipe down the surface of the tile with warm water, then spray whatever mixture you decide to go with and leave for at least 5 minutes before scrubbing and thoroughly rinsing.
Recipe for an all-purpose floor cleaner:
- Half cup of vinegar
- Two cups of warm water
- Five to ten drops of lemon juice or any essential oil
- A quarter cup of rubbing alcohol
- A teaspoon of dishwashing soap
Third option:
If you don’t have the time, you can get a professional carpet cleaner to handle the cleaning. They have mighty machines that can do the work. However, this will cost you some money. But really, you should do some things yourself. There’s a sense of accomplishment that comes with tackling a problem, and vinyl floor cleaning DIY is no exception.
How Do You Remove Ingrained Dirt from Floor Tiles?
Tiles are popular easy to clean, durable, and cost-effective flooring materials made from clay, metal, stone, and quartz. Luxury Vinyl tiles are even better because they are cheaper. Other reasons people go for vinyl tile flooring is because it is:
- Easy to clean.
- Low maintenance.
- Non-allergenic.
- Water-resistant.
- Hard wearing.
Tiles require little effort to maintain and keep clean as long as you do it regularly. When you don’t, that’s when extra effort might be needed to get them clean. Ingrained dirt is a result of dirt and stain accumulating over time. They are usually hell to get out of tiles. They might be as a result of the following:
- Soap scum from detergent not adequately rinsed off from tile.
- Grout that remains on tiles can trap dirt on the surface of the tile.
- Spills that are left for long and can cause discoloration.
- Cracks made by high heels or cleats can also trap dirt and cause dirt accumulation.
How to clean:
Cleaning vinyl tiles is pretty much the same as how you clean general vinyl flooring, as discussed earlier. There is regular cleaning where you:
- Vacuum or sweep daily to remove loose debris and dirt.
- Mop floor.
- Use an all-purpose cleaner.
- Dry with a lint-free cloth, a clean one.
And there’s the cleaning with more effort to remove ingrained dirt where you use your homemade solutions and mop or scrub.
Note: If you’re going to be using any commercial product for cleaning, and even the one you make yourself at home, it’s always good to do a test run on a small portion of tiles or vinyl floor.
An alternative method: There is another way to get ingrained dirt off your tiles. It cost next to nothing to do, but it’s quite stressful, especially if you have a large room to clean.
- Get a clean rag and a steam iron.
- Wet that rag and squeeze out the water.
- Fill the iron with water and set it on its lowest.
- Once it has heated up, spread your wet rag on a section of your tiles and place the iron on it.
- Move the iron around the rag for 10 seconds to avoid overheating.
- The rag will soak up the dirt and grime on your tiles.
Note: This method is not full-proof. It might even require you to repeat the process if you didn’t get the desired result.
What Not to Do or Use On Your Vinyl Flooring.
- Do not use stain removal products that are not compatible with tiles.
- You should avoid using oil-based cleaners or wax products only to encourage dirt accumulation and cause slipping.
- Abrasive scrubbers, scouring powder, stiff brushes, or brushes with hard bristles should not be used.
- Steam cleaners should not be used for Vinyl wood and sheet. Moisture and direct heat are harmful to them.
- Vinegar can cause marble or stone tiles to crack, creating space for water to seep in, and as such, should not be used.
- If you’re using a vacuum for vinyl floor cleaning, do not put on the beater bar setting because it can damage your floor.
- Ammonia-based solution or ammonia should not be used too as they can also cause cracks.
How to Keep Vinyl Flooring Looking Good.
- Regular cleaning with water and sponge mop. You can add a simple solution of vinegar.
- As soon as you can, wipe up any spills.
- Sweep or vacuum regularly. Use doormats. Place them on entrances as this will help catch dirt and reduce their spread.
- Do not drag heavy objects or furniture on your vinyl floor. If you have to, place felt tips on the legs of your furniture before pushing. This will prevent scratches on the floor. These scratches are potential hiding places for dirt.
Conclusion:
It would help if you cleaned your floor regularly, at least once a week, no matter which vinyl flooring you have in your house. This will help keep dirt from embedding or grounding in the carpet. Cleaning vinyl flooring isn’t difficult, and proper maintenance will not only give your floor a clean and hygienic look but will also let it last a lifetime.