Linoleum Care: Tips and Recommendations for Cleaning It

Linoleum Care Rules

The rules for caring for any type of linoleum are almost the same and consist of several mandatory points:

• Aggressive cleaning agents cannot be used when cleaning linoleum floors, as they can damage the coating;
• Caustic soda and other alkalis can corrode the linoleum base;
• Hot water can make the linoleum surface matte;
• If substances containing coloring pigments get on the floor, they must be removed immediately to avoid the absorption of pigments into the surface layer and the appearance of colored stains on the linoleum.

However, natural linoleum and material obtained using synthetic polymers have differences that must be taken into account when caring for them if you want the floors to retain their shine and attractive appearance for a long time. type:

• Natural. To ensure that this durable and long-lasting material does not lose its appearance for as long as possible, after installation it is thoroughly cleaned of construction waste using dry and wet cleaning. Then, after allowing it to dry completely, protective mastic compounds are applied and carefully polished. Depending on how “walk-through” the room is, re-treatment of the floors with mastic is carried out two to four times a year, renewing the protective coating.
• Artificial. Polymer substances, in particular polyvinyl chloride (PVC), are used in the production of linoleum as substitutes for thickened linseed oil with fillers made of natural components. This significantly reduces the cost of production and, accordingly, the product. PVC coating can be homogeneous – and then it is quite thick, and heterogeneous – with a thin upper decorative layer. The latter requires special care, since the thin layer is easily damaged and loses its appearance. Cleaning such floors with solvents (acetone, white spirit, kerosene) is prohibited.

Removing stains when cleaning linoleum

If you did not notice the contamination in time, and a stain has formed on the linoleum, it should be removed taking into account the specifics:

• Coffee, food dyes: put a few drops of kerosene or gasoline on a clean dry cloth and gently rub the stain. If the dye gets on natural linoleum, you can gently rub it with a piece of sandpaper (with the smallest grain size), then wipe with a damp cloth, let it dry and lubricate with linseed oil;
• Iodine: Iodine stains may gradually disappear on their own, but it is better to try to remove them by pouring a little baking soda onto a damp cloth and gently rubbing. After this cleaning, the linoleum must be thoroughly rinsed and rubbed with polish.
• Brilliant green: Apply a little camphor alcohol to a cotton pad and rub the stain. Change the cotton pad as it gets dirty.
• Mold, rust: linoleum can be cleaned of these stains using hydrogen peroxide diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 10. You can also use laundry bleach, also diluted in water. After this, wipe the surface well with lemon juice.
• Grease: wash off greasy stains with a solution of mild detergents, after blotting with a paper napkin.

Cleaning linoleum: materials, tools, procedure

To care for floors with linoleum covering, you will need the following materials:

• A mild detergent that does not contain acids, alkalis or abrasives;
• Warm water;
• A protective coating (polish) for finishing care.

Tools for cleaning linoleum are needed:

• Bucket;
• Floor brush,
• Floor cloth;
• Vacuum cleaner;
• Cleaning cloths.

Work order

Cleaning can be divided into three main stages. Let’s consider them one by one.

1

Cleaning from dirt

Cleaning begins with dry cleaning of linoleum, which removes debris and dust. This is done with a brush and a vacuum cleaner. After this, you need to inspect the floors for stains. If there are any, remove them using suitable products.

After this, you can start wet cleaning.

• Pour warm water into a bucket, add a mild detergent, stir;
• Wet a rag and wring it out well;
• Wipe the linoleum with a damp rag;
• After finishing wet cleaning, wipe the linoleum with a dry cloth.

Important: Do not add ammonia or soda to the water, do not use various solvents to clean stains – they can worsen the appearance and performance of the linoleum.

2

Polishing

To make linoleum shine, it is polished with special agents. Choose a polish that matches the material your flooring is made of.

3

Protection

Preventive measures are the best way to preserve your flooring for many years. Linoleum is exposed to both mechanical stress and various, often aggressive, environments. Therefore, preventive measures can also be divided into two groups:

• Mechanical: Furniture legs should be smooth so as not to scratch the linoleum. Make felt pads on them, or put on special covers. A regular hard mat near the front door, or a grid mat, will help to effectively clean shoes from street sand, which, when brought into the apartment, acts as an abrasive on linoleum, depriving it of shine and attractiveness.

• Chemical: At the final stage of cleaning linoleum, you can apply a protective layer to the floor covering. This can be a variety of polishing compounds and emulsions. They create a protective film on the treated surface, isolating the material from external influences. The protective layer will reduce the adhesive properties of linoleum, it will get dirty less and absorb dirt. This makes linoleum easier to care for, increases its resistance to abrasion and scratches, imparts water-repellent properties, and significantly extends its service life.

Advice: To extend the life of the floor covering, observe the conditions of its use. Avoid negative factors that adversely affect linoleum. These include:

• Ultraviolet (direct sunlight);
• Mold and mildew (formed when water gets into the joints of the panels);
• Temperature changes;
• Open fire;
• Prickling and cutting surfaces.