How to Clean Vinyl Composition Tile

Co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Last Updated: February 23, 2021 References

When your vinyl composite tile is newly installed, sweep it and remove any adhesive stickiness with mineral spirits. Add 2 coats of floor polish and your vinyl composite floor will be ready to use. Thereafter, vinyl composite tile should be cleaned daily. Start with sweeping or vacuuming the floor, then mopping it with a detergent solution. For deeper cleaning in areas where the floor is trodden upon more often, use a rotary floor machine to scrub it clean.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Conducting Routine Maintenance

1
Sweep or vacuum the floor daily. Sweep the vinyl composite tile with a broom or vacuum it daily. This will prevent grit and dirt from building up. Set your vacuum to the lowest height setting when using it on vinyl composite tile.
2
Mop the floor. Fill a mop bucket with a diluted neutral detergent solution, then use it to mop the entire surface of the vinyl composite tile floor. Dip your mop back in the detergent solution and wring it out regularly for the most effective mopping experience.
- Allow the floor to air dry, then mop it again with just water.
- Mop the floor as often as needed. Spills should be cleaned immediately.
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3
Wipe up all spills when they happen. The longer a spill or mess is left on the vinyl composite tile, the harder it will be to clean later. Therefore, use a mop and a diluted neutral detergent solution to clean the floor as soon as possible.
- Mix 1 cup (240 mL) of vinegar with 1 gallon (3.8 L) of warm water to make a neutral cleaning solution.
4
Do not use aggressive strippers. Floor strippers – including mop-on/mop-off strippers, no-scrub strippers, and no-rinse strippers could negatively impact the vinyl composite tile’s adhesive bond. Avoid using these sorts of strippers for at least 2 years after the tile is installed.^{[1]
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5
Alert passersby that the floor is wet. To prevent anyone walking through the area of vinyl composite tile you’re cleaning, put up a “wet floor” sign before you get started. Leave the sign up until the floor is dry. Do not allow people to walk over the wet vinyl composite floor.^{[2]
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6
Place area rugs or mats on your floor. Using area rugs or mats in conjunction with vinyl composite tile will minimize the wear and tear they are subjected to. Mats also keep your vinyl composite floor dry and prevent slippage.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Getting a Deeper Clean

1
Machine-scrub the floor using a rotary floor machine. A rotary floor machine is a push-able machine with a large rotating pad beneath it. To use the machine, simply turn it on and push it forward as you would a stroller or shopping cart. The machine will do the rest.^{[4]
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- These machines might be available in stores as “floor machines,” “auto scrubbers,” “floor maintainers,” “floor cleaning machines,” or some similar formulation.
- The cleaning pad you equip your machine with depends on the degree to which your floor needs to be cleaned. You’ll probably use a blue or green pad meant for deeper scrubbing.^{[5]
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2
Mop the floor with a diluted neutral detergent solution. Directions for use vary by manufacturer, but generally, you should mix a particular volume of detergent with a given volume of water, then mop the floor using this mixture. For instance, your neutral detergent might recommend combining 5 fluid ounces (30 milliliters) of detergent with one gallon (3.78 liters) of water.^{[6]
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- Wring the mop out frequently as you clean. The mop should be damp, not saturated.
- After mopping the floor with the diluted neutral detergent solution, go over it once again with clean water to remove any film that might be left behind by the detergent solution.
3
Polish the floor. Floor polish will protect your vinyl composition tile from abrasion. Specific directions for using floor polish vary depending on the product you opt to utilize. Generally, however, you can spray the vinyl composite floor with the polish, then spread it about using a damp or dry mop. Repeat this process three to five times.^{[7]
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- Consult manufacturer directions before using floor polish.
- Alternately, you could apply a sprayable buff solution to the vinyl composite tile. Spray the buff solution over the area you’re interested in polishing, then move the floor machine across the area you wish to polish.^{[8]
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4
Remove tougher stains with rubbing alcohol. Pour the alcohol or mineral spirits onto a rag and scrub the floor. Use a clean white rag when you scrub since the dyes in a colored rag may bleed.^{[9]
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- A mixture of 4 parts water and 1 part bleach can also be used. Leave a soaked rag on the stain for up to 1 hour before wiping the area with clean water.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Cleaning the Tile Immediately After Installation

1
Wait at least 4 days after installation to wet clean the floor. Using a sopping wet mop, sponge, or another water-based cleaning method on the floor too soon after it has been installed could cause excess moisture to disrupt the bonding process. Stick to brooms and try to avoid spilling anything on the vinyl composite floor during these first few days.^{[10]
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2
Sweep the floor. Using a broom and dustpan, collect any loose grit or dirt strewn across the surface of the vinyl composite floor. Alternately, you could use a vacuum to remove loose dust and debris on the floor.^{[11]
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- Set the vacuum to the appropriate (low) height setting if you choose to use it.
3
Remove dried adhesive with mineral spirits. Dampen a clean cloth with mineral spirits. Wipe the sticky area of the vinyl composite floor with the rag.^{[12]
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- Use mineral spirits in a ventilated space, as the vapors can be harmful if inhaled excessively. Open a door or window nearby before utilizing mineral spirits for cleaning the vinyl composite floor.
4
Apply floor cleaner to the floor. Apply a neutral detergent solution (with pH between 6 and 8) to the floor. Specific directions vary with the product you select. Generally, though, you can simply apply a bit of the floor cleaner to the vinyl composite tile, then use the mop to coat the entire surface of the floor with it.^{[13]
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- Consult manufacturer directions before using the floor cleaner.
5
Apply two coats of floor polish. Use a high-quality floor polish to protect your vinyl composite floor. While specific directions vary based on the particular product you select to polish your floor, you’ll generally have to apply the floor polish to the floor, then use the mop to spread it around.^{[14]
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- You may need to wait for a brief period before applying the second coat.
- Consult manufacturer directions before using.