How to remove stains from luxury vinyl flooring

LVT flooring is a brilliant option when it comes to your next home renovation project; luxury vinyl flooring is highly durable, easy to clean and resistant to stains & scratching, so the perfect choice of floor for your busy home. Having said that, accidents do happen and no matter how careful you are, all floors can become stained or marked from time to time.

Whilst Harvey Maria’s range of luxury vinyl tiles are more stain-resistant than just about all other flooring surfaces, we know that stains can sometimes occur. If you do spill or drop anything on your flooring, it’s important to clean and mop up as quickly as you can to reduce the risk of longer-term staining. Use an appropriate cleaning solution to remove the spill as soon as possible, using compatible cleaning products that won’t cause damage to your floor.

Some of the items that can stain vinyl flooring if they aren’t dealt with quickly are:

• Chemicals & dyes – although LVT floors are resilient and designed for commercial use, it’s still advisable for spillages of chemicals and dyes to be cleaned away as they occur to avoid leaving stains on your LVT floor, which could cause discolouration of your tiles or even damage to the flooring itself if the substance is particularly corrosive.
• Rubber – some rubber products, when left in contact with the surface of an LVT floor over long periods, can cause more permanent staining. It’s important to choose products with non-staining rubber such as the range of rubber-backed mats for LVT floors available from Harvey Maria.
• Food stains – whilst our floors are perfect for use in a kitchen or pantry, it’s always advisable to clean up stains as they occur, to reduce the risk of more stubborn staining especially with foods such as curry powder, red wine and even tomato purée which may cause more stubborn staining if left on the surface for prolonged periods.
• Scuff marks – again, general wear and tear can be expected to appear on your LVT floor after time. Whether it’s marks from moving furniture or heel marks from wearing shoes indoors, scuff marks can be harder to remove the longer they’re left so be sure to remove them as soon as you can.
• Water – it’s important that your vinyl flooring does not take on excessive amounts of standing water; whilst our LVT flooring is waterproof, the minerals, salts and even chemicals within water can result in staining if left soaking on the surface for too long.

Spills and stains are bound to happen; it’s how you deal with them that counts. We recommend cleaning your vinyl flooring regularly throughout the week to keep it in its best condition. Applying an anti-staining surface treatment from time to time such as the Harvey Maria Protect solution will provide additional resistance to staining.

General stains should be removed quickly by using a damp cloth and a mild pH neutral cleaner, such as the one found in Harvey Maria’s FloorSpa kit, to help lift the stain. Just remember not to soak the area with too much water. General stains can occur from food droppage and cosmetic products in a bathroom or even water damage from a leaky sink.

To get stains out of vinyl flooring, you will need:

• A damp cloth
• A suitable cleaning product that is appropriate for use with luxury vinyl flooring
• Non-scratch scourer if needed

1. The first step in removing stains from your vinyl flooring is to remove the stain as quickly as possible with a damp cloth, and pH neutral cleaner if needed; the sooner you do this, the less likely it is that the stain will leave a permanent mark on your floor.
2. Once the worst of the stain has been removed, you can use the Scrub solution from our FloorSpa kit to remove any stubborn marks. Using this undiluted with the non-scratch scourer also found in the kit can help, followed by rinsing with clean water and allowing it to dry fully.

If unclean water is regularly allowed to pool and then left to dry for a long period on a luxury vinyl tile surface, then this can lead to more permanent staining and even damage; whilst our LVT floors are waterproof, it’s important not to let water continually soak onto the floor as this can lead to unsightly discolouration and potential long-term damage. 

Because our floors are recommended for high-moisture rooms in the home such as kitchens and bathrooms, it’s always advisable to ensure that you clean any water spills as soon as possible to avoid potential slip hazards and staining. 

To remove a water stain from your vinyl flooring, you will need:

• A clean, damp cloth
• A cleaning product that is suitable for use on luxury vinyl flooring
• Warm water

1. Using the Cleanse solution in the Harvey Maria FloorSpa Kit, gently clean the water stained area with your damp cloth
2. Rinse the stained area with warm water, making sure you don’t soak the floor, and allow the floor to dry fully.

Accidents happen from time to time, especially if you have young children and pets at home. Our luxury vinyl flooring is the perfect choice for a family bathroom or utility room, where we know these kinds of accidents can occur. If urine does get onto your vinyl flooring, this can lead to a stain so be sure to clean it quickly and properly to avoid damage to your LVT.

To clean urine stains from your vinyl flooring, you will need:

• A damp, clean cloth
• A suitable cleaning product that has been tested on LVT flooring, such as our Cleanse solution
• For more stubborn stains, you’ll need the scrub pad with Scrub solution

• Wipe away the excess urine as soon as possible, preferably with a damp, clean cloth
• Once this has been done, apply the Cleanse solution or similar pH neutral cleaning product to the area as per the instructions; be sure that whatever you’re using has been tested and is suitable to be used with luxury vinyl tiles.
• If the staining has occurred over a long period of time, then use the Scrub solution and scrub pad to provide a deep-clean and also help remove any odour.
• Once the urine stain has been removed rinse with clean water and allow the area to dry completely

When it comes to cleaning your luxury vinyl flooring and removing stains, you may consider using bleach in a very diluted form ratio of 1:10. It is often a go-to chemical for removing dirt, especially those more stubborn stains, however it can actually cause more damage to your flooring. 

Bleach is a very abrasive substance that can strip away the top protective layer of your vinyl flooring, making it more vulnerable to damage and wear. We therefore recommend using a milder cleaning solution when it comes to removing stains from your vinyl flooring, to ensure your floor stays looking as beautiful as it can for longer.

The beauty of luxury vinyl flooring is that it’s incredibly easy to maintain and keep clean; it doesn’t demand frequent intensive cleaning and is highly durable making it ideal for those busy spaces in your home that see lots of coming and going. To keep your LVT floor stain-free and in tip-top condition:

• From time to time mop-over your floor with an anti-staining surface treatment from such as Harvey Maria Protect solution to provide additional resistance to staining.
• Regularly clean your LVT floor with a suitable soft brush and mop to keep on top of everyday dirt and spillages 
• Always use a pH neutral cleaning solution when maintaining your floor; we recommend the Cleanse solution found in the Harvey Maria FloorSpa kit.
• Wipe up any spills as soon as they’ve happened using an appropriate cleaner and damp cloth
• Use good quality mats and rugs by doors to lessen the chance of scuffs, marks and stains, ensuring mats are designed for indoor use and any rubber-backed mats are the non-staining type