If you have recently purchased luxury vinyl flooring - or are currently in the market for it - you have to enquire around how keep it highly maintained and safeguarded whenever you plan any major renovations to the home.
With many people choosing extensions and refurbishments instead of moving home these days, keeping your floors clean and protected from damage is something that requires focus before any grand plans take effect. Although luxury vinyl planks and tiles are 100% waterproof, stain resistant and scratch protected - they can still suffer deep scratches and tarnishes on occasion.
Let's take a look on how LVT can be affected and how to avoid the problem.
Scratches can occur anywhere - from over-excited pets clawing across the floor, furniture being moved around without much care and children dragging toys. When we come indoors from outside, sharp stones stuck in our shoes can scratch the design layer by scuffing when we step. The level of scratch damage depends on the quality of the vinyl and material that you have installed. However, there are ways to prevent damage and keep your floor looking healthy.
Employ Doormats at Each Entrance
Doormats will play a big role in keeping your vinyl flooring damage-free. When you enter your home, be sure to wipe your feet or take your shoes off in the hallway.
Dust particles, sand, dirt and grit all have the potential to scratch your design layer on vinyl planks. We recommend a daily sweep of your flooring with a non-brittle brush to help keep build-up of these hazards off of the design layer. Avoid any mats that have a rubber backing, as these will also tarnish your protective layer and then the design layer over time.
Padding on Your Furniture
With any type of flooring, heavy furniture with sharp points on the feet or floor contact points will have the capacity to cause deep scratching to your floor.
As tables and sofas can easily shift across the floor, they deeply affect your design layer and leave a lasting scratch that no amount of buffing can eliminate. When you move or replace furniture, be careful not to drag them across your tiles, as this type of damage can completely ruin the overall look of your floor.
Adding felt pads to your furniture feet helps to prevent scratches and makes for a smoother removal process. Be sure that any furniture with floor contact purchased for your home has these added before planting them in the room. They help to keep furniture stable and safeguards your design layer. Avoid any rubber-soled furniture on the flooring - place felt pads over their feet also.
Daily Cleaning
Whilst LVT takes a lot of cleaning effort away from households, it still needs maintaining as little as two minutes every day. With a little light sweeping and vacuuming, you effectively remove small particles and granular objects - such as small stones and debris.
It may be hard to fathom, but the most common scratches come from these granular objects - especially when spread by daily foot traffic. After a while, the appearance of your floor starts to suffer and you are left with lasting damage to your design layer that dulls the appearance.
A quick sweep, vacuum and that is done in a few minutes with your flooring looking amazing.
Steps to Avoid
The best advice that we can give in keeping your flooring clean and healthy are simple guidelines - but ones that can easily slip your mind.
We recommend not walking on LVT with stiletto heels as they can leave indents in your flooring. We also recommend that you ensure your pets claws have been filed down and not left to grow to a level that scratches your design layer.
If you are painting the room you have vinyl installed, be sure to immaculately cover your flooring, leaving no small section uncovered. Paint will not clean out of vinyl flooring, and using paint removing chemicals will dull and fade the design on your LVT tiles or planks.
If you need further guidance on LVT care, ask the team at Galloway Flooring in Manchester for a care guide when you buy your flooring. Our team are highly experienced in LVT installation and maintenance and can give you the best advice to keep your flooring at its maximum protection level.
Drop by our Galloway Flooring Denton store today for luxury vinyl flooring retailers in Manchester with the world at your feet.
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