Can You Use A Steam Mop on Vinyl Sheet Flooring?

Vinyl flooring has become very popular and an affordable alternative to laminate or hardwood floors nowadays. It mostly looks like wood and is very durable. Maintaining and cleaning vinyl floors is easy but can you use a steam mop on vinyl sheet flooring?

The answer is- Yes, you can use a steam mop on vinyl floors but you have to maintain precautions to avoid damaging the floor.

As we know steam mop uses steam to clean and disinfect floors, the steam to some extent can damage a vinyl flooring if not used properly. If you have less or no idea about the right way to use a steam mop on vinyl floors this article is for you! I will discuss many more things related to this topic.

If you are interested and keen to know, I would highly request you to go through the whole article!

What Are The Probable Risks Of Using A Steam Mop On Vinyl Flooring?

Vinyl flooring has two types: one is vinyl sheet flooring and another is vinyl plank flooring. Vinyl sheet flooring is more like sheet and vinyl plank flooring is more like hardwood floors at a relatively lower cost. Both types are easy to maintain but you have to be a little careful with vinyl plank flooring.

Both vinyl sheet flooring and vinyl plank flooringare to some extent resistant to water and heat. However, many experts still do not recommend using a steam mop into vinyl floors. According to them the heat the steam mop creates can loosen up the glue and make the flooring come off. They also say moisture can go inside the flooring and can create internal damages.

The hot water and steam that comes off the steam mop can destroy the vinyl plank if the steam mop is not used in the right way. In terms of vinyl planks if there’s any gap in between moisture can seep inside and damage the flooring. Again, vinyl planks one of the ingredients is plastic which can melt if high heat is used to clean it.

Read: Do You Need To Sweep Before Using A Steam Mop?

Moreover, the inside of the floorings as I already said can damage due to moisture. If this happens you may not understand at first. But with time bad odor will start to come from the flooring. In extreme cases Bacteria and germs can grow in those spots and damage the whole internal part of the flooring. In that case you will not have any other option than changing the whole flooring.

Right Way To Use Steam Mop On Vinyl Floors

The right way to use a steam mop on vinyl floors is by setting the temperature to low.  We know high heat can damage the floor so if the heat is low you can ignore the damage. So, whenever you use a steam mop on a vinyl floor, set the heat level to low and then gently mop the floor.

Moreover, you also have to make sure you are not leaving any water behind after steam mopping the floor. Even though most of the vinyl floorings are water resistant it can still get damaged. The moisture can seep into the interior of the flooring so you should never leave any water in the flooring. If needed, take a dry cloth to clean the water after you are done steam mopping.

Another important thing you have to maintain is not holding the mop in one place. Holding the mop in one place can loose the glue in that particular place and discolor it. So, you have to keep mopping the floor without holding it in one place for too long.

If you follow these precautions while using a steam mop on vinyl floors it will not damage the floors. In this way it is also safe to use a steam mop regularly on vinyl floors. So, using low heat and quick cleaning is the right way to clean vinyl floors with a steam mop.

Best Way To Clean Vinyl Sheet Or Plank Flooring

One best way to clean vinyl sheet or plank flooring is by a mixture of normal water, vinegar and dish soap. You can also use warm water instead of normal water.

All you need to do is take a normal microfiber cloth or a normal mop. Then dump that mop into the mixture and let the excess water fall from the mop. After the excess water falls now gently mop the whole flooring. This casual way of cleaning is considered as one of the best methods to clean vinyl sheets of plan floors.

You will require no chemical cleaners in this way and safely clean the floors without damaging it. If you see any spot or dirt that doesn’t seem to come off , use baking soda in that place. Leave the baking soda in that spot for some time and then with the help of a brush rub that particular place in back and forth motion. It will soon come off without putting much pressure.

So, without any chemical cleaners the spot and dirt will come off very easily. That is why, this is the best way to clean when it comes to spots and dirts that doesn’t seem to come off too easily.

Cleaning Products That Are Safe For Vinyl Flooring

Besides steam mopping there are many other ways you can clean a vinyl flooring. Cleaning products safe for vinyl planksand sheets are vinegar, baking soda, apple cider vinegar etc. You can simply use these mixing with normal water or warm water. Only two or three spoons are good enough for one gallon of water. You can also mix dish soap with this mixture to make it more effective.

Using these cleaning products than using chemical cleaners give better results. Moreover, chemical cleaners have the risk of damaging floors but the products I mentioned are totally safe for vinyl floors.

Experts Opinion On Using Steam Mop On Vinyl Flooring

Some experts do not recommend using a steam mop on vinyl flooring but then again, many experts say steam mop is totally safe. Many tests have been done on vinyl floors by a steam mop. And after the tests it has been found that low heat does not damage vinyl floors. But excessive heat can damage it slowly.

Most experts recommend not to use a steam mop frequently. They say when you have to deep clean only then use a steam mop on vinyl floors. Steam mop is the best when it comes to deep cleaning in a short time. But as deep cleaning is not necessary on a regular basis, on the other days they say to ignore using a steam mop. However, some also say you can use a steam mop for cleaning on a regular basis on vinyl flooring. All you need to do is maintain the precautions to ignore damaging the floor.

Some Of The Best Steam Mops For Vinyl Floors

You will find lots of brands that sell steam mops for vinyl floorsin the marketplace. Some brands even started manufacturing steam mops that are suitable for vinyl floorings. For your help i am mentioning some of the best rated steam mops for vinyl floors,

• Vileda 157171 Steam
• Beldray BEL0698 12 in 1 Flexi Steam Cleaner Mop
• Vileda SC-1086 – Steam Mop
• PurSteam Therma Pro 211
• Shark Genius S5003D
• Bissell PowerFresh 1940

FAQs

What is the best way to clean vinyl plank flooring?

The best way to clean vinyl plank flooring is using a mixture of water, vinegar and dish soap. This is considered as one of the best ways as it deeply cleans the floors. A normal mop or a microfiber cloth is enough to take all the dirts using this mixture from vinyl floors.

Is steam mop bad for vinyl flooring?

No, steam mop is not bad for vinyl flooring but you have to maintain some precautions to avoid damaging the floors. If you do not use the steam mop in the right temperature and way in that case it can be harmful for the vinyl floors. But if you follow the precautions it is totally safe to use for cleaning purposes.

Are vinyl floors and hardwood floor the same?

No, vinyl floors and hardwood floors are not the same.

Vinyl floors look like hardwood floors but are not fully made from hardwood. Hardwood floors are very durable and expensive. On the other hand, vinyl floors are less durable and cheaper than hardwood floors.

Conclusion

Throughout the whole article I have talked about many things related to vinyl floor cleaning. I have mentioned that a steam mop is totally safe for vinyl floors if you maintain some precautions. So, if you are planning to install vinyl flooring or you already have vinyl flooring, maintain the precautions and you are good to use a steam mop for cleaning purposes. So, just follow the instructions that I mentioned in my article to clean your vinyl floors with a steam mop to ignore damaging it.