Bunny_Phoenix
New Member
back at it here for accountability - not new been here off and on since 2008 :)
Joined: September 2008
Posts: 69 
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Post by Bunny_Phoenix on Jul 2, 2009 15:01:51 GMT -5
Ok to start I can try and post a pic later when light is better in kitchen window if it would help... I live in a 2 bed apartment with my hubby and daughter (and soon our son who is not born yet). I have mopped and mopped and mopped our kitchen floor. I have used traditional floor cleaners like mr clean. I have used soapy hot water. I have used vinegar and water, I have used bleach and water and I have used straight windex even. It never seems to look clean. Someone told me that if I could tell if it was lineolum or vinyl that I might be able to find a way to get it clean. It just always looks nasty no matter how much we sweep and mop. I mop that floor almost every day. Please help  |
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Post by Meme on Jul 3, 2009 2:00:07 GMT -5
I did a google and found a link that talks about the difference in making the 2 floor types- www.floorideas.co.uk/VinylVSLinoleum.htmlhowever this link does not say much about cleaning the other links basically had cleaning hints that were the same. If the finish was come off- it may be stained- and also some these floors stain just from the sun- I have a dining room floor with the same problems- it never looks clean and even cleaning by hand and scrub brush did not work- I wish I could find you better news. |
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Post by limegreen on Jul 3, 2009 8:17:43 GMT -5
Linoleum has a very distinctive smell, sort of antiseptic. It's a lot more expensive than vinyl, so if you laid the floor you'd remember that. You polish linoleum to regain the shine. I would never use bleach on linoleum, only mild dish soap and if you floor is linoleum ( I hope not) you may have to strip it back and have it rewaxed.
Vinyl is less durable, and if you've been using bleach, you might well have taken the coating off it. I did that with my old bathroom vinyl. Which made it dull, and more prone to staining.
You can get vinyl really clean if you get down on your hands and knees with a scrubbing brush and use enzymatic washing powder and warm water. Wet the brush, sprinkle powder on floor and scrub, rinse off with damp cloth. The powder is slightly abrasive ( but not abrasive enough to damage the vinyl) and will lift the dirt. You can buy non-slip floor polish and apply that to prolong the clean appearance of the floor. It is, as you can see, a heck of a job to do. So you might jsut want to carry on cleaning in the usula way and accept that you can have clean but non-beautiful floors.
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Post by marigold on Jul 3, 2009 8:40:13 GMT -5
If those stains turn out to be irreparable, here are several options:
1) put a small rug over the stain, or if stains are all over, put a bigger one. Rag-rugs can be washed in a washing machine.
2) cover the old linoleu/vinyl with new one, or have it replaced by a professional
3) save up enough money to have your linoleum/vinyl replaced with ceramic tiles - they are very durable, easy to clean and look nice. When searching for floor tiles, opt for gres floor tiles which are more resistant to stains and abrasion (they are all made of one material, so there's no top glaze which can chip off when something falls on them)
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Post by howardsgirlfriend on Jul 3, 2009 10:57:31 GMT -5
Per Limegreen's comment re: enzymatic washing powder--the only product with enzymes available in the US is Biz. It's a powdered additive that you add to detergent. I use it with dish soap and warm water to loosen tough, organic stains, like food, pet mess, etc, and in the laundry for the same type of stains.
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