Lifeproof is one of the most popular brands in the world of vinyl flooring and for good reason – their floors are attractive, easy to maintain, and as the name suggests, long-lasting. But to keep these floors looking high-end and serving you well, you must take good care of them.
One way to do this is by cleaning them regularly, and fortunately, cleaning Lifeproof vinyl floors is an easy and inexpensive undertaking.
In this article, we share 6 tips to clean Lifeproof vinyl flooring properly so you can maintain its eye-catching appearance and original sparkle for many years. Let’s start!
How to Clean Lifeproof Vinyl Flooring
1. Wipe Off Spills Immediately
It’s easy to get frustrated when drinks spill on your vinyl flooring, but you really don’t have to. As long as you clean the mess right away, you should be able to retain the floor’s beautiful and majestic look.
The problem occurs when you let the spill sit for days, as by doing so, the spill becomes this pesky stuck-on stain that may require time and expensive equipment to get rid of. Sugary drinks, especially, can be more difficult to clean if left to dry on the floor.
To maintain the pristine vinyl look of your Lifeproof flooring, make sure to wipe any spills off while they are still fresh. And you can simply do this with a sponge or soft piece of cloth.
2. Use the Right Cleanser
A useful rule of thumb in picking vinyl floor cleansers is going for the mildest cleaner possible. Cleansers like vinegar, for instance, are totally harmless and will go a long way in keeping your flooring in good shape.
To make a simple vinegar solution, pour one cup of apple cider vinegar into a cleaning bucket and add about a gallon of warm water. Then mop your floor.
The apple cider vinegar has a high concentration of acid, and will gently clean your vinyl flooring without leaving a residue. This is important, as it helps increase the lifespan of your floor.
And don’t worry about the not-so-pleasant smell of vinegar lingering on the floor. As your floor dries up, the smell of the cleanser will fade away.
If you are looking for a little bit of shine, add a tablespoon of jojoba oil to the solution.
But what if you are not a vinegar person? Don’t fret! You can always buy cleaners designed for vinyl floors.
Just make sure the product contains no wax. Why? Lifeproof vinyl floorings are laminated, hence, you can only use cleansers meant for laminated floors.
Using a wax cleanser makes the surface sticky, and as a result, stains, grime, dust, and other elements build up easily. It can also increase the floor’s resistance to cleaning, meaning, you will spend more product and time to get the job done.
3. Get the Right Mop
As with cleansers, the type of mop you use on your Lifeproof vinyl floors can enhance the look of your flooring or kill it completely. That said, it’s imperative that you invest in mops that don’t contain a built-in scrub brush.
A microfiber mop would be the best option for cleaning your vinyl floor. It is soft and will protect the surface from unnecessary scrapes and abrasions.
How about steam mops, you may ask?
Well, steam mops are quite popular these days, for sure, but these are the last thing you want to use on your Lifeproof vinyl flooring if you hope to maintain the elegant appearance of your floor.
A steam mop releases too much moisture and this extra dampness can damage the floor’s lamination. Not just that. The excess heat emitted by the steam can melt the glue that adheres the vinyl to the floor underneath, making it weaker.
4. Scrub Gently
No matter how difficult it may seem to get rid of a stain or dried substances on your Lifeproof vinyl flooring, always resist the urge to scrub too hard.
Sure, you may get the job done quickly, but this much aggressiveness will only take the shine off the floor and if you do it consistently, the vinyl finish will start wearing out.
While at it, never try to remove dried materials off your vinyl floor with a knife or any sharp objects, as this will scar the flooring permanently.
Instead, soak the areas in solutions suitable for the stick-ons and try to remove them with a mop or a soft piece of cloth once the stains have saturated.
5. Rub Away Scuffs Marks
Scuff marks can be worrisome, especially if you just installed your vinyl floor. Fortunately, they are not permanent and you can easily fix them using the following:
- Tennis ball
That’s right! Just roll the ball over the scuff in a circular motion and it will erase the mark in just a few minutes.
- Rubber eraser
If the scuff doesn’t seem to feel the tennis ball vibe, try a rubber eraser. Rub the mark back and forth until it is completely invisible.
- Oil-based solution
Some scuff marks can be too stubborn for a tennis ball or rubber eraser. If that’s the case, you may want to consider an oil-based solution.
Simply wet a soft washcloth with jojoba oil and gently rub the spot until all the marks are gone. Just don’t forget to rinse the area with water and vinegar; it will help remove any residue oil.
If the scuffs will still not come out, this short video shows you more products you could use to remove these marks. Check it out.
6. Rinse Well
If you are using detergent or other vinyl floor cleansers for your cleaning, make sure to rinse properly when mopping. Have a bucket of clean water standby for rinsing the floor’s surface after mopping.
Neglecting this simple step can leave the cleanser stuck on the floor and over time, it can accumulate and start trapping dirt, which can be difficult to clean.
While at it, make sure the floor is completely dry before walking on it. You don’t want dirty footprints drying up and staining the floor after spending hours cleaning it.
How to Guard Your Lifeproof Vinyl Floor Against Dirt
While the above tips will help keep your Lifeproof vinyl floor clean, the best and easiest way to actually clean this type of flooring is to prevent dirt from getting to it in the first place. Here are a few things you could do to achieve this:
1. Use Doormats
Dirt, chemicals, and tiny gravel particles can get trapped on your shoes’ outsoles and find their way onto your vinyl flooring, which can be damaging to the floor.
Over time, these objects will not only cause yellowing of the floor but due to their abrasive nature, they may also cause the floor to get scratches.
You can solve this problem by having a doormat and wiping your shoes on it before entering your house. If you can take them off, even better; it will keep the floor clean, longer and further minimize the chances of scratching it.
2. Sweep Daily
Make a habit of cleaning up dirt as it comes, because if you leave it to accumulate on your vinyl floor, it may end up sticking onto the floor as people step on it. Sweep your floor every day to prevent elements from building up and robbing it of its sheen.
Use a vacuum, broom, or dry mop to remove everyday dirt and debris, and avoid beater bars at all costs. While beater bars are great for collecting dirt, they are not vinyl flooring-friendly as they scrub the floor too harshly. Use soft attachments only.
3. Place Throw Rugs in High Traffic Spots
Areas that have high foot traffic tend to get dirty quickly, meaning, you will need to mop them more frequently to keep them clean.
If you are like most homeowners, you certainly don’t want to spend all your weekends cleaning your vinyl floor, and this is where throw rugs come in.
Strategically placing them in areas of high foot traffic like near the sink where you stand when doing the dishes can help ensure your floor stays clean at all times. This extra padding also helps improve the durability of your floor.
4. Use Furniture Pads
Heavy furniture can cause dents and scratches on your Lifeproof vinyl floor, which is why it is always a good idea to have foam pads under the furniture feet.
It is also important that you avoid dragging furniture on the floor when moving it across the room, as this can leave scuff marks that can be difficult to clean. Simply lift the furniture or use a sheet of plywood in such instances.
The Takeaway
While Lifeproof vinyl floorings are already built to stand the test of time, regular cleaning helps them serve their purpose even better.
If you recently installed a Lifeproof vinyl floor in your home, follow these tips to keep it clean and fresh:
- Get rid of spills as soon as they occur
- Use the right mop and cleaner
- Remove scuffs
- Scrub the floor gently and rinse well
- Prevent the floor from getting dirty in the first place
Still got questions on how to clean Lifeproof vinyl flooring? Leave us a comment below.
How can I clean dry wall dust off my laminate flooring. I have tried a little mild detergent and water and you can still see it when it dries.
I would vacuum the dust using a shop vacuum and would refrain from using any liquids. Because when drywall dust gets wet, it turns into a clay-like substance that will stick and might even harden on the floors. Since you have already wet it, try using a dry tennis ball or cotton towel to loosen the residue until it returns to a dust-like state that can be vacuumed or swept up off the floor. Otherwise you are just creating a perpetual problem and that residue can become a hardened substance. If that does not work, try using some baking soda and water to gently loosen up the residue and then use a damp dry mop to scrub it all loose. Then try and vacuum or sweep the floor clean. Dry wall dust is the worst mess, it really should be swept first, and then vacuumed immediately. And it will take several passes to get it all off the floor.
What about when u find your dog peed under the bed. Its been there for over a day too
Help
Janie
Hi Janie – boy, I can relate to this problem! I have three teeny weenies, and they sometimes pee in the house, like when it rains outside. Have you tried using white or apple-cider vinegar and a tiny bit of baking soda? The enzymes need to be broken up to remove the smell to ensure the dog doesn’t form a habit of peeing in the same spot. I use a product called OdoBan No Rinse floor cleaner. When the dogs have an accident, I use a large kitchen sponge, some cotton rags, a bucket of water mixed with some OdoBan and I do a spot cleaning. I use the sponge to wash and gently scrub the area using the scouring pad on the reverse side of the sponge. Scrub only if needed to loosen the dried urine. It should not require heavy scrubbing – so don’t put too much muscle into it because you can damage your floors by scrubbing them too hard. Afterward, use the cotton clothes to rewash and rinse the spot on the floor to ensure it is completely clean and free of any urine residue. Hope this helps, and dang those pooches!
my grandson thought he was helping and mopped my new vinyl floors with bleach and detergent. Should I replace the floors or will they survive the one-time mistake?
I don’t think one mopping with bleach will ruin your floors. Aside from the fact that bleach typically evaporates, any remaining residue will be cleaned off when you mop again. But it would not hurt to go over the floors with plain water, just to give the floor a rinse to remove any residue of bleach that might be left on the floors. That way, the next time you mop, you can have a little more assurance that the bleach was removed. Hope this helps, and what a terrific grandson for mopping the floors! Wow! Who raised that young man? They deserve praise.
I just read the instructions from the box of my new Lifeproof vinyl floor. It clearly says do NOT use vinegar on your new floor, but these instructions say vinegar is good for the Lifeproof flooring. So my question is – yes, I can use vinegar, or no, I cannot use vinegar. Very confusing when those two set of instructions are contradicting! Please answer ASAP!
I read the same. So is vinegar appropriate or not?
Hi – I think this blog is suggesting that diluting the vinegar with water is a safe way to clean the floors. But to be honest, I don’t think all vinyl tiles or flooring is made the same. And I personally do not use vinegar myself. I use a product called OdoBan No Rinse. It is recommended for use on multiple surfaces, including vinyl floors. I also called the manufacturer to ensure that this product was compatible with my floor planks – and so you, I think I have the same product manufacturer as you do. I have Lifeproof’s waterproof, Rigid Core, Vinyl planks installed on my bathroom, hallway, and kitchen floors. I chose this floor cleaner simply because I have pets and wanted to ensure I used something to kill any enzymes they track in the house. Hope this helps
We had Life proof flooring installed. Looks great. We were told to avoid Throw rugs with a rubber backing. The rubber (we were told) will damage the finish on the flooring. The local home depot said it was ok, as long as the rubber backing was smooth. Obviously we don’t wand to put a throw rug down in front of the sink that would be a hazard, with no backing. Thoughts?
We do not use any rubber backing rugs on our floors. It can actually stain the floor over a period of time to a ugly yellow where the rug was. My Mom learned the hard way years ago.
I bought rug alternatives called floor mats from Amazon. I put one underneath a rug in front of my door, so we can still wipe our feet on the rug, but the rug doesn’t make contact with the floor. I use one in my bathroom near the shower to keep water from collecting on the floor and under all the sinks in the house. They work great and do not allow water to seep onto the floor. I don’t know how it works, but it does. It absorbs any water drops and keeps the floor completely dry. And I have used them for over a year, and they have not left any stain on the floor. Hope that helps!
What mop and cleaner can I use on Lifeproof flooring.
I use the O’Cedar mop and bucket set with OdoBan No Rinse floor cleaner, seems to work just fine and I have Lifeproof flooring as well. Hope that helps.
I recently had Lifeproof flooring installed in my kitchen and dining room. I was dismayed to find that the water drops that my foster dog leaves on the floor when she walks around after drinking leaves stains after they dry. It’s just plain water and yet the stains don’t come off easily with diluted vinegar. I purposely choose Lifeproof because I thought it would be perfect in a home with dogs.
Yeah, it is because when water evaporates it can leave calcium deposits or other minerals that can harden and will stain a vinyl floor. That is why they recommend using mats under dog bowls. I just posted another suggestion about preventing water drops outside of the tub using these mats, but I would imagine you could use the mats under your dogs bowls and they would absorb the water drops and possibly prevent your baby from tracking the water all over your floors. I love my dogs so much, but they can be trouble makers, kind of like kids. As for those watermarks – try using some baking soda. Make it into a paste and then rub it gently on those spots and wipe them using a soft cotton cloth dampened with water. After you clean the spots, rub a little jojoba oil over them and wipe the surface to remove any excess with a clean, dry, cotton cloth. That should help to restore the shine to the floor without leaving any oily residue. I would say depending on how old the spots on your floor are you might be able to restore the floor to its original condition. But going forward know that water spills, like all other spills should be wiped up right away to ensure they do not damage the finish on your floors. I wish you luck and hope this helps. Here is a link to the mats I was recommended for your dog bowls – these are great! They soak up any water leaks like magic!
Can I use Endust on my mop. It says “no wax” on the bottle.
Hi Carole,
If you are doing a spot cleaning, I would say Endust is probably okay. But I would not suggest using Endust on the entire floor or as an overall cleaning agent. When you use products like that which have an oily consistency, they tend to leave a residue on the floors that make it more susceptible to collecting dirt, especially in the small or fine details of the flooring. It can also make floors seem tacky or sticky over time. So it is better to use products that evaporate or leave no residue. But don’t take my word for it, call your manufacturer for support when in doubt. Best of luck and I hope this helps.
Can you use a swifter wet mop on these floors?
I would not use a swifter mop unless it states it is safe on vinyl flooring. If you know the manufacturer’s name of the flooring, it is always best to call them and ask if they consider the cleaning product safe to use on your floors. Best of luck and hope this helps.
I love my Luxury Vinyl Floors by Lifeproof but I have one issue I cant find the answer to. I want the vinyl floors to really shine and they do not naturally. shine..more of a soft gloss. WHAT can I use to add a safe but really shiny finish???
Can I use Murphy soap cleaner on the vinyl floors
I appreciate your request for patience when cleaning off the stain from a vinyl plank floor. As you said, scrubbing too hard will strip off its shine. It might be a better idea to hire professional cleaners once I do have this floor then. Because I wouldn’t have the patience to wait until the stains come off.
Can I use floor wax on my life proof water proof flooring?
We just installed LifeProof vinyl planks. I ordered memory foam mats for the kitchen. Are these ok to use on vinyl plank floors?