Keep Your Congoleum Vinyl Floor Looking Sharp

If you’ve recently installed a new residential Congoleum Vinyl Floor, there’s no doubt that you hope to keep it looking new for years to come. The bright and shiny “newness” can be maintained with proper care and maintenance. Let’s take a look at ways you can keep your vinyl floor looking sharp.

Following installation of your new vinyl floor it’s important not to disturb the seams. The amount of time you need to stay off the floor or limit traffic varies for the different Congoleum products and can range from 16 hours for Congoleum Resilient Sheet Vinyl to 48 hours for DuraCeramic, DuraStone and Resilient Tile Floors. Furniture and appliances should not be placed on the new floor for 24 – 48 hours. Detailed Care & Maintance for Congoleum Residential Vinyl on 1877Floorguy.com gives the cure time for all of the products in this line. This cure time allows the adhesive that seals the seams to harden and hold. Adhesive may not be completely dry before this time and moving furniture on the floor can cause the vinyl and adhesive to become compressed which could leave permanent compression marks. When you do move furniture, don’t push or pull items across the floor. Use plywood or furniture slides under heavy items to avoid scratching or tearing your new floor and carry lightweight pieces. Finally, wait a full 48 hours following installation before washing your new floor. When you do wash it, use Congoleum Bright ‘N Easy No-Rinse Cleaner as recommended by the Manufacturer.

Ongoing maintenance is critical to maintaining that “new floor” look. Your Vinyl floors should be swept and mopped regularly. How often you sweep & mop depends on how much you use the vinyl floor. The idea is the keep it free from loose dirt and debris which can scratch the surface under foot traffic, dulling the finish. Sweeping will be more frequent than mopping. When you do mop your floor, Congoleum advises you to use Congoleum Bright ‘N Easy No-Rinse Cleaner which has been specially formulated for use on Congoleum Vinyl. Following Manufacturer instructions for how to clean your floor and what to clean it with will keep it in excellent condition and will uphold your Warranty if you should have a claim. Avoid one-step “mop and polish” products, dishwashing liquids and oil-based cleaners that may leave a residue which can attract dirt and dull your floor’s finish. Avoid cleaners that contain abrasives or solvents which may permanently damage your floor.

Preventive Care will extend the life of your floor. More information can be found on 1877Floorguy.com under Congoleum Residential Floor Care & Maintenance. Here are some guidelines:

Keep furniture & appliance feet and bases covered with non-staining felt floor protectors or smooth, flat glides. Check glides periodically for grit and wear and replaced when necessary.

Place mats at outside entrances to prevent dirt, grit and soil from being tracked onto your floor. Use 100% latex- backed mats, because some rubber-backed mats or carpets may permanently stain your floor.

To help prevent staining from asphalt tracking (a frequent problem), use of a latex-based driveway sealer and remove shoes for a few weeks following the driveway sealing.

Draw drapes and blinds during peak periods of strong sunlight. Resilient floors, like other home furnishing products, may discolor or fade when overexposed to the sun.

Avoid wearing stiletto or spiked heels on your floor. These types of heels can indent or damage many types of floors.

Stains & spills should be wiped up right away. If a damp clean cloth is not enough to thoroughly cleanse the area, most stains can be removed by scrubbing the area with a small amount of concentrated Congoleum Bright ‘N Easy No-Rinse Cleaner then rinse thoroughly (because it’s undiluted). More tips are available on 1877Floorguy.com.

Vinyl floors are very durable and last a long time when they are maintained with some degree of care however time and normal use will reduce the shine on even the most well maintained floor. When you notice your floor looking dull, even if it’s only in a high traffic area, you can restore shine with the use of a Vinyl Polish. Congoleum has two polishes for you to choose from depending on the finish you desire. Before applying Polish, you’ll need to remove any ground-in dirt and excess polish buildup with Congoleum Bright ‘N Easy Polish Remover. Rinse thoroughly. Then apply Congoleum Bright ‘N Easy Floor Polish to obtain a high-gloss finish or Congoleum Bright ‘N Easy Satin-Gloss Floor Polish to obtain a satin-gloss or natural-gloss finish. If you choose high-gloss, keep in mind that, like any glossy surface, this will show all smudges and imperfections. Satin-gloss is the more popular of the two. Some Congoleum Flooring Materials require Polish immediately following installation. Check Congoleum Residential Floor Care & Maintenance on 1877Floorguy.com before applying to see when Polish is required on your vinyl floor.

Finally, keep an eye out for any compromised spots on the vinyl floor and treat them immediately. For tears or split seams cover the area immediately then contact the retail store where you purchased the floor or call a reputable flooring installer who specializes in hard-surface floors.