How to Clean Vinyl Plank Flooring (LVP Floors)
Get great tips for how to clean vinyl plank flooring, with mop, robot vacuum, and best cleaner recommendations. Learn the best way to keep up daily and weekly maintenance of LVP floors.
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In the fall of 2021, I was pretty much fated to be a mopping blogger. 😂
A Tik Tok I made about the results of a new mop that I had bought went viral late that year. As of this publishing date, we're at almost 17 million combined views on two versions of that video! Then, I published it on Facebook - 34 million views. It is wild that so many people want to see my dirty mop water.
Since lots of people are here looking for floor cleaning advice, I thought it might be time to update this blog post with some of the new methods I'm using to keep my Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring clean.
What is LVP flooring?
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring is, in my opinion, amazing. This is a type of flooring that's typically made to look like wood but is constructed with really durable vinyl. The pieces of vinyl come in longer rectangles (planks) that resemble pieces of traditional hardwood flooring. It's applied with a super sticky backer, usually directly to your subfloor.
The Pros of LVP Flooring
- It's significantly less expensive than installing real hardwood flooring.
- It's more durable than hardwood or even click-lock laminate flooring. We've had it for 6 years and have minimal scratching, even with kids and a dog.
- It's more resistant to standing water. We have it in our bathrooms as well and haven't had a single issue.
- It's softer under your feet than traditional hardwood flooring.
- It's so easy to clean. You're not as limited on available cleaners and can be a little less careful with it than hardwood or click-lock laminate.
The Cons of LVP Flooring
- Minor peeling and lifting around the edges can be a problem. We have a few corners coming up in the house.
- Repair can be a pain. The glue that holds the planks down is super strong and not easy to remove if you need to replace a plank.
- I have read fading can be a problem, but we haven't had this issue.
When I was choosing our vinyl flooring, I definitely didn't want something that was too glossy (impossible to keep streak-free), too dark (shows every piece of dirt), too light (shows every stain), or that was susceptible to water damage. We needed something incredibly durable and stain-resistant.
When we lived in an apartment after moving to Mississippi, we fell in love with the luxury vinyl tile flooring that was throughout the common areas. It was so durable, water-resistant, barely showed stains/dirt, and had a gorgeous matte finish that was super streak-resistant.
LVP was the obvious choice for our home, and as soon as our builder presented me with the Majestic Oak color by Artisan Mills, I fell in love. The color was deep enough to match our color scheme, but not too dark. We've lived in our house for almost 6 years now and still absolutely love our flooring. It's soft underfoot and incredibly water-resistant.
But, with kids and a dog in the house, there are constantly going to be spills/stains/shedding on the floor, so it's been really important to have a game plan for keeping our LVP clean. I've been using the following method for months now and it's worked fantastically well. Let's see what I've been doing!
Supplies Needed to Clean Vinyl Plank Flooring
- Robot vacuum
- Washable pad mop
- Water
- Hand-held vacuum
- O-Cedar Spin Mop & Bucket
- Mr. Clean (or your cleaner of choice)
Daily Luxury Vinyl Plank Maintenance
Dealing with Dust and Dirt
For the past 3 years, I have this robotic vacuum that runs every afternoon at 2 p.m. to keep the loose dirt and dust to a minimum.
I love it - it only requires emptying every few weeks, runs on a timer (so I literally don't even have to think about it), and even shows me specifically where it vacuumed each day in our home via a map in the app. It is really a low-maintenance way to reduce everyday dirt and dust.
Dealing with spills and stains
During my 10-minute clean-up sessions from my cleaning schedule template, I also spot clean inevitable spills with e-cloth's Deep Clean Mop (c/o). It's great to have around for quick clean-ups and general maintenance.
I don't really have a dedicated daily cleaning task for mopping. Instead, I just spot-clean as needed and try to hit the problem areas during my 10-minute cleanup.
I can typically go over a spot once or twice with this microfiber mop (with very little elbow grease) and remove any spots on the floor. If there's a really stubborn spot that won't quite come out with a few scrubs, I've found it effective to put my foot on top of the e-cloth cleaning pad and really press down into the stain. I haven't met a stain yet that didn't come up with that little bit of effort!
It uses water (yes, just water!) to clean germs from the floor. The company claims this removes 99% of harmful bacteria (I've always been a little skeptical of that, though). Once I'm through with mopping, I can simply throw the microfiber pad in the washer.
The name of the game for daily cleaning is maintenance. You're not looking to get it perfect each day - just attempt to maintain the cleaning you've already done.
How to Deep Clean Vinyl Plank Flooring (Weekly)
In my cleaning system, Journey to Clean, I detail the need to vacuum once a week...that's still something I do, even though my robot vacuum has almost eliminated the need to do it thoroughly each time. So, I get to skimp on that task a little.
Thorough Vacuuming
I still vacuum on Thursdays (yes, even the LVP). I like to divide my home in half, vacuuming one half one week and the other half the next. Your mileage may vary...if you need to do the whole house weekly, go for it.
This is the updated version of the vacuum I use for my weekly vacuuming. This cleaning day is probably the longest of any daily cleaning task in the week, but it's necessary. I'm not huge on sweeping, but I do sweep underneath cabinets and furniture with a broom first. With any kind of harder flooring, dust has a tendency to settle in those places.
Weekly Mopping
Once I'm through vacuuming on Thursdays, I use the O-Cedar Spin Mop on the hard surfaces in our home, including the tile in our upstairs bathrooms and the LVP that runs throughout our first floor. Unlike the spot cleaning I do throughout the week, I get everywhere possible during this run.
Best Cleaner for LVP Floors
As far as what cleaning formulas I use to clean my floor - that's where it gets a little complicated. 🙂
In 2022, I spent months researching the best mopping formulas over on Tik Tok - you can check those videos out at that link, or see the best mopping solutions I found in this one big round-up post!
But, I'll go on and put a spoiler in this post. After trying over a dozen different cleaning solutions, plain old All-Purpose Mr. Clean ended up being the best. It's one of those situations where there's no point in reinventing the wheel. If it works, it works!
What Not To Do With Vinyl Plank Flooring
- Unless recommended by the manufacturer, there's no need to wax vinyl flooring! The wax can build up and not only reduce the shine, but actually damage the flooring.
- Don't use anything too abrasive on your floors. No Soft Scrub, baking soda, abrasive brushes or steel wool - these can take the shine off of your floor permanently and ruin any wood texture you see.
- Be careful with really harsh chemicals in floor cleaners. Cleaners like undiluted bleach or ammonia can break down the glue that secures your vinyl flooring.
- Also be very careful mixing different floor cleaners. Many chemicals don't play well together and can be really dangerous. For example, mixing bleach and ammonia creates mustard gas. When in doubt, don't do it!
More LVP Floor Cleaning Tips
- Make sure to clean under area rugs and doormats once a month or so. Any harder particles (like sand) can get trapped under rugs and damage the LVP flooring over time.
- Stubborn scuffs can be removed from vinyl flooring with oil. Try using about a teaspoon of olive oil or Goo Gone to buff any scratches out of the floor. Just make sure to clean your flooring thoroughly afterward to avoid slippery spots.
- Make sure all furniture that comes in contact with your LVP flooring has soft pads or rubber casters. Dollar Tree has these floor protectors and they work wonderfully! Otherwise, moving furniture will scuff the flooring.
And that's it! It's not a super complicated method for keeping floors clean, but it's shown to be incredibly effective, especially when you stay on a schedule (hint hint: you can get a free cleaning schedule printable on the blog).
Luxury Vinyl Plank Cleaning FAQs
Any other tips or tricks for how to clean luxury vinyl plank? I'd love to hear them - leave a comment and let me know!
Leslie, I am a repeat customer and love that you have come up with a plan to help me keep on task every year! Love having a clean organized home and your printables are cheery and makes one want to keep on task! Thank you for being an awesome homemaker or domestic engineer. I did not find a place to enter the code for repeat customers and did I get my discount? I paid with PayPal.
Thank you again Carol
Hi Carol, hope you love them! I'll be glad to give you your discount - would you mind emailing me at [email protected]? Thanks!
I love the robot vacuum, and having 3 cats isn't easy! My husband and I have a cleaning lady stop by every month for deep cleaning, but I'm definitely giving that a try:) We sweep every week but it just piles up so fast, maybe that will help a bit. Thanks for sharing
Kathy K.
Hi Leslie! Thanks for the info. I just installed new LVP flooring in most of my main floor. I'm stressing about cleaning it and not wanting to hurt it! I bought a robotic vacuum but am now reading reviews about them scratching LVP. Have you had any concerns about this? Does your have the rotating brushes?
You're going to love it! I haven't had issues with my robotic vacuum scratching them, it does have a rotating brush too. I'd definitely read reviews on your particular flooring and your particular vacuum though. I have had some scratches from moving furniture and general wear that I wasn't expecting, but I'm pretty sure it isn't coming from my vacuum.
I appreciate you sharing some tips for cleaning luxury vinyl floorings such as using a clean mop o wipe off dirt and dust. You said that using an e-cloth mop can easily get rid of spots with relative ease. Plus, you can also follow this up with vacuuming the floor to suck off some of the leftover dirt that was not absorbed by the mop. If I were to clean my own vinyl floors, I would make sure to take heed of your advice. Thanks.
Wonderful article - very informative. But I have really bad ra and allergies. I was told to get vinyl planking...but the idea of running a mop around my house is a very painful one. I guess my question is do you know of a machine that can help with the cleaning process - one that I dont have to push?
I'd definitely recommend a mopping robot! Here's the mopping version of the model I use and love: https://amzn.to/2SBv5uc
Is is safe to use a steam mop on vinyl plank flooring?
The biggest problem with steam mops is the condensation they can cause between planks. If you get moisture between the planks, it can cause them to lift. I've never personally used one!
Nice post. Thank you for sharing this astounding post.
I have very hard water. Is it still ok to mop with it or should I use distilled water?
It's ok to mop with it, but depending on how hard it is, you might see some streaking on your floors.
Where can you purchase your LVP flooring.? I’m
In the market. Do you have a link?
Hi Stephanie! Just responded to your email, but I'll post a link here too for anyone that's interested: Majestic Oak by Artisan Mills
Hallmark lux vinyl flooring is beautiful and has held up well for us. 2 dogs and no children.
I was having all kinds of problems with my LVP floor looking streaky after mopping. I purchased the e-cloth Aqua Spray Deep Clean Mop after reading your post. Unfortunately, I did not have a good experience as the mop stop spraying after 3 months of use. I am very disappointed for the money. I always appreciate hearing others’ experience, and so I wanted to share mine as well.
Your floors look beautiful and I enjoyed seeing the process you use to keep your LVP clean. That was very helpful!
Definitely contact their customer service - that shouldn't happen. They're wonderful about working with customers on these issues!
I just wanted to follow up to my original comment and let you know that at your suggestion I did contact customer service. I was very pleasantly surprised when a week later a brand new mop showed up at my door! The customer service email stated: “We have had problems with the sprayer on select mops, especially if vinegar or another agent is used in the bottle. This issue should be resolved with our new inventory, and we'd be happy to send out a replacement mop.”
I am very pleased with this company for standing behind their product and making things right! And, I am enjoying using my new mop on my LVP. Thank you for suggesting I contact e-cloth!
Kelly
This is so great to hear Kelly, I appreciate you sharing your experience!
Wonderful article. I appreciate you sharing some tips for cleaning luxury vinyl floorings such as using a clean mop o wipe off dirt and dust. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for the information. I recently installed LVP. I purchased a microfiber mop that was rated 4.8 with over 4000 reviews. I chose it over the e-cloth. I started with using a vinegar solution in a spray bottle & a damp microfiber cloth. I lightly sprayed the cloth or the floor & mopped. I would see spots, such as water drips or dog drool or other. I pushed harder & even used a norwex microfiber cloth by hand & could not see much difference. Often when the floor dries I do not see them (or I choose not to look for I'm so frustrated). is this typical or what else can I do? I'd rather not use commercial cleaners. I diluted the vinegar more for in reading more info, thought it may be too strong & added a small drop or two of dish soap. Thank you for your advice.
Not sure - I haven't had that issue. It might depend on the sheen on your flooring - mine is generally not very shiny, so I don't see a lot of spots (but I have lived in homes with shiny floors, they can be a pain!).
Connie,
I too am having issues cleaning my LVP floor. I'm using a cleaner specific for LVP which worked well at first, but in the last month I've noticed the floors aren't getting clean. I tried a bit of Clorox on a conspicuous spot and was astonished at how dirty the paper towel was. Were you able to figure anything out with yours?
Can you clean LVP flooring with Mrs. Meyers Multi Surface Cleaner ?
It's not something I normally do (I prefer something like Lysol if I'm using a cleaner), but I don't see why not!
I have the Deebot Ozmo 950 as well. My question with the LVP is, do you use your doobot with the Rotating beater brush or do you put on just the suction attachment? I heard the brush works better but I don’t want to ruin my flooring.
I have the side brushes attached as well; they're really important to making sure you get all of the dust and dirt surrounding the vacuum get sucked up. I haven't noticed any damage from them on my floors!
Hi. Does your aqua mop get the floor wet? I am worried about the planks getting water in between and causing damage.
I gets wet, but I've never had a problem with any kind of damage from the water. My planks are very close together, so that really isn't an issue - it might depend on your LVP though.
You saved me!! My LVF has never looked clean to me. It has a matte finish and it always looked smudgey to me.( Hubby insists I’m nuts!) I’ve always used a microfiber mop and just water for a weekly clean, LVF cleaner with same mop monthly-ish. Bought new microfiber cloths for the mop-still smudgey. Until you recommended the ecloth mop! I CAN’T BELIEVE THE DIFFERENCE!! I’m sooo happy and I thank you for the wonderful suggestion! I’m never going back to anything but the ecloth. Thank you, thank you,thank you!
I am so glad it helped! 🙂 Isn't that mop a game-changer. I love it so much.
Love my e. cloth damp and dust mop too .
Aren't they the best?
Hi Sue
I am curious what brand of LVT floors you have? I have CoreTec LVT throughout my house. I love the color of them and they are a matte beveled finish but I Absolutely hate them they are a nightmare to keep clean. It’s just my hubby and I and one dog. We don’t wear our shoes in our house. I sweep and mop daily (Norwex pad). I have tried every professional recommend floor product, vinegar and water, dawn dish soap and water, plain sink water, distilled water, nothing has worked. My floors always look smudgy and dirty: I can mop and with in minutes just from walking on them they look smudgy showing foot prints and dog paws. I am so disappointed after spending over 10,000 for these floors I am at my wits end. I thought getting these floors would had been less maintenance but instead it lie triple the work. Any advice for the specific CoreTec floors? I have read blobs and the specific product cleaning instructions from CoreTec. They recommend Encore cleaning solution but nothing has worked.
Feeling so discouraged
LaVonna
I agree completely with your frustration LaVonna!!! (We may need to start a support group) This past December, I had to replace the flooring in almost my entire home (except for the bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen) because of a small plumbing leak that caused a couple of the boards to buckle. I have an enormous open floor plan and the builder did not put any transitions strips between areas/rooms, so the entire floor had to be replaced at a cost of $18,000. This was only 5 months ago , and I have been miserable with this floor every day since. We vaccum (iRobot) it everyday and use a similar cordless vacuum after that and then mop with a microfiber Bona cloth to clean it. But the finish is always dull, it looks dirty all the time, and it is next to impossible to get the dirt out of the crevices from the texture in the planks. It does not matter how often we mop. With my other flooring, I might mop once a week, we had dogs then, too. But it is exhausting to mop the amount of area that this flooring covers. Basically, I have become a slave to this flooring. It's only 5 months old, I should be happy with it. But I could not be more frustrated. The new flooring is MSI Luxury Vinyl Flooring Cyrus Series- Brianka -EverLife. It is textured and that is one of the worst mistakes I have ever made. We were not told or warned that every single bit of dirt gets in the crevices and it is almost impossible to get it out. We run the iRobot everyday. But the floor is just getting dingier and dingier even though we mop it almost daily as well. I'm so frustrated and I'm at wit's end. Is there any process or product that I can put on this floor to make it not so matte (dull) finish AND that might help to minimize the texture a little bit? A sealant, polyurethane coating, etc? I would be grateful for any help or suggestions. The floor was only put down in December and I am ready to rip it up and just have the concrete if I can't figure something out.
So much for the low maintenance claim. I've never had to work so hard and still have dirty looking floors. Please help.
Missy
Unfortunately, there's not much you can do about texture or finish. If it's made dull, it's going to stay dull. I'm sorry, I wish I could help!
Hi Leslie,
What solution do you use in your spray mop?
Also, have you tried the iRobot mop? Would you recommend it?
I usually add a little bit of lysol - not required, but it helps clean that much more. I don't really measure mine, just a splash or two. I don't have an iRobot, but I do have an Ecovacs that I talked about in the post. I absolutely love it!
I am having a terrible time with dog drool and paw prints. I have a brand new vinyl
Plank floor darker color matte finish.
I have tried microfiber mop, diluted vinegar and windex wipes up with a microfiber cloth.
The floor is beautiful but the smudges are driving me crazy.
I've got an update to this post coming soon - I've been using the O-Cedar Spin Mop and absolutely love it!
Phew! It's definitely a good thing to know that we don't really have to vacuum our vinyl plank floor on a regular basis thanks to its smooth surface. I've been thinking of remodeling the entirety of my house internally, probably next year. I'll certainly put this choice into consideration when I ask for an installation later.
What do you suggest to clean bamboo flooring? Especially cleaning said bamboo flooring with an aging little doggie that seems to continue to dribble (pee!) when he comes inside from his potty breaks! 🥺🙄😵
I wish I could help, but I've never had Bamboo flooring!
It works great, and you can throw it in the washer and dryer. I like to keep five pads on hand, and just dry them and put them to the side until I have a bunch to wash. Easy on and off The pad. I wet mind with this hot of water as I can get, then spray the bottom a couple of times with Clorox cleanup and off I go. You can use whatever cleaner you want, even Pet urine cleaners, Or just use plain water. We use them in the hospital, and since I come home from the hospital I use the Clorox cleanup, do I really need to say why?
I use in the kitchen, in the bathroom, etc. And if you want you can stand it in the corner on a small piece of shelf plastic, and not have to be change it all day, re-wet and go.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rubbermaid-Commercial-Products-18-in-Microfiber-Flat-Mop-Kit-FGQ101-20/202229415
That the cloth cleaner you have, Rubbermaid also makes one that you can buy at Lowe's or Home Depot, with additional pad refills to purchase, Less than $30. If you use a cleaner with it, you wouldn't need your O cedar mop. It also comes with a pad that can be used as a dust mop. They all go in the washing machine, and come out perfectly clean. Used in hospitals to clean all floor surfaces. And vinyl is never luxury.
Hello how do u clean full wood floors to bring back shine with the spin mop
Sorry, I don't have much experience with hardwood.
Just curious, in the video with the dirty mop water, it looks like you are using Palmolive dish soap and something else but I didn't see that in any of the formulas that you tried. Seems like it did a really good job cleaning.
It was really just because my floors were so dirty. 🙂 I didn't love that combo, but I did test lots of other ones - here are the results! https://lambertslately.com/best-mopping-formula-solutions
Hi Leslie, any thoughts on what cleaning product would work the best on ceramic floor tiles? My husband walks on my kitchen floors w/his outside footwear all the time.... it drives me crazy lol it also makes it difficult to keep the grout clean. My floor tiles are textured which also make it harder to keep clean. They're a greyish/blueish color. Please help lol
I use Mr. Clean on my ceramic tile (upstairs) as well - works great!
Love my O Cedar!!!! But seriously tho I found on accident that Lysol toilet bowl gel in squeeze bottle will deep clean floors and doesn’t dull!!! I dropped some on floor and cleaned it up to find that one spot was so much cleaner. Good OOPS BUT GOOD OOPS NONETHELESS!!! Check in a hidden spot for your floors. I’m a paycheck to paycheck person so I don’t have any expensive flooring but this does work!!!!
Thank you so much for your videos a n d posts on cleaning LVF. I have Narvco LVF and I absolutely love it. I really needed some info on maintaining it and you provided. What part of Mississippi do you live?
I live in Brookhaven, MS.
Thanks again!
I was told you can’t us the bissell steam mop on LVP is it because of the steam? Do you know why?
It probably has something to do with the heat of the steam. Many manufacturer's don't recommend a lot of heat on any flooring that involves glue.
Thank you for sharing your routine! I had a question - I recently had a housekeeper start and used a wood floor polish on my LVP and now it’s super sticky. I’ve tried cleaning it with a microfiber cloth and warm water - but now I’ve go spots of dull and shiny. I’m so scared it’s been ruined! Any suggestions on cleaning and getting my flooring renewed again!?
I think there's still hope for it - it's hard to ruin LVP! 🙂 I would give it a few mops with about a cup of vinegar in a couple of gallons of water. That should cut through any oil in the polish.
I particularly appreciate the inclusion of tips on addressing specific types of stains and spills, providing readers with practical solutions for common household accidents. These insights contribute to the overall effectiveness of the cleaning process.
Leslie, I have new Cortec LVP flooring. I have 2 scratches. I saw you said to use some olive oil, then buff it. What do you use to buff with?
Thank you,
Jill Deal
[email protected]
I'd use something that isn't going to give off any lint. A microfiber cloth would be perfect!
Is there any way to restore the shine on my LVP? Somebody had it steamcleaned 🤦🏼♀️. And it is now ridged. I'm sick about it.
Oh I wish I could help - I've never come across a way to restore shine that doesn't involve professional treatment. Hopefully readers can see this comment and chime in with any tips!
Hi Leslie, We have about 4200 sq ft of Provenza LVP and we are so upset about the finish. In some spots near the sink, dishwasher, and fridge the finish is actually coming off and the floor looks splotchy and dull. I have contacted the manufacturer and have not heard back. We bought this flooring because it was supposed to be so durable and maintenance free. I now wish we never would have installed it and gone with a manufactured hardwood instead. Live and learn I guess. No more LVP for this family.