Steam mops have the potential to damage vinyl plank floors.
Can you use a steam mop on vinyl floor tiles.
One of the main differences between vinyl plank flooring and other types of laminate or wood floors is the use of glue.
Laminate flooring is made up of prefinished planks and the seams between the planks are not sealed.
When you have kids and pets in the house your vinyl floor will take a lot of beating in the form of muddy foot or paw prints food droppings liquid spills and so on.
As with laminate flooring you want to minimize the amount of water you use on vinyl plank.
Steam and dripping water can seep between the planks and loosen the glue that holds them in place.
Since these tiles are embedded into a mortar and concrete board surface even older cracked tiles can be safely cleaned without risking permanent damage.
The heat from steam mops is the concern you want to be most careful about when it comes to vinyl floors.
Experts recommend that the use of a steam mop should not clean a vinyl plank floor.
You can use a microfiber mop or swifter.
This is because there is a high possibility of steam to penetrate through the material thus causing damage.
The seams can let steam reach the core of the flooring material which is highly vulnerable to moisture.
Before you take water to your floors make sure you have removed as much dust and debris as you can with a dry microfiber mop or vacuum cleaner.
That s true whether you have solid or engineered wood floors and for bamboo too.
When you use a steam mop or vinyl plank flooring always set it to the lowest heat level.
The extreme heat from the steam mop can forcibly bend the planks and wrap along edges.
Top steam mops you can use on vinyl floor.
The steam mop is a wonderful and convenient cleaning tool but how you use it makes a world of difference in cleaning efficiency.
Since you probably ditched your old mop in the move here are some tips on choosing a mop to use on your vinyl plank floors.
This is a very innovative floor mop which can save time but it does need some prep work if you want clean floors in the end.
When buying a mop to use on your vinyl plank it s imperative that you choose an option that doesn t include a built in scrub brush option.
The mop will clean the tile surfaces and the grout leaving a streak free surface that s simultaneously disinfected.
Some steam mop manufacturers such as shark and bissell may say you can use it on a sealed hardwood floor but.