The linoleum floor is one of the oldest flooring available on the market currently. The type of flooring first came in the market during the 1860s, around two centuries ago. A lot of homeowners still prefer it as it is environment-friendly, durable, and hypoallergenic. The flooring can be found in the home and business vastly. They are available at various color combinations and different patterns. If appropriately maintained, the linoleum floor can withstand decades of use.
The are also easy to clean when compared with the other types of flooring. You can use various kinds of cleaning techniques for these floors. In our today’s article, we will let you know how to clean the with bleach. We will also let you know some other ways of cleaning the linoleum floors.
Is it Safe to Clean with Bleach?
As we said earlier, there are multiple ways of cleaning the linoleum floors. As like other floors, most people tend to use the bleach for deep cleaning. Bleach can really cause damage to the linoleum floors. However, it only happens if you use the bleach carelessly. Bleach includes highly active acidic properties, which can cause damage to the floor. So, you will need to make a solution of bleach by mixing it with plenty of water.
If misused, bleach can destroy the protective layer of the linoleum floor. On the other hand, the color and pattern of the floor can significantly damage if the bleach can come in contact with the sunlight when applied. The UV rays of the sunlight can discolor the floor, and if it happens once, there is no way to get back the former color. So, be careful if you want to clean your linoleum floor using the bleach water solution.
How to Clean with Bleach
You will not require using the bleach to clean the unless you want a deep cleaning. Cleaning the floor using the usual way is enough to get rid of the dust, dirt, grime, sands, etc. If you there are stubborn stains, then you can use the bleach to clean the linoleum floors. Here is the procedure you will need to follow for cleaning the linoleum floor with bleach.
Things you will need:
- Bleach
- Water
- Bucket
- Mop / Sweeper
Now follow the given steps:
- At first, prepare the floor ready for the cleaning procedure. Get rid of any loose dirt, dust, etc. from the floor by sweeping with a broom or by vacuuming. Also, get rid of things on the floor like books, toys, etc. that can cause disturbance during the procedure. You can also move the furniture to make the space free for a smoother clean.
- Now take ¾ cup of bleach with one gallon of water. Mix these in a large bucket. Then use a sweeper or Mops for Linoleum floors to apply the bleach-water solution on your floor. Cover the whole flooring and let the floor soaked for around five minutes.
- After leaving the floor for 5 minutes, the floors should be adequately soaked. Now rinse the solution away using the clean water. After that, let the floor for a while again for drying. You can also open the windows and turn on the fan for quicker drying.
After cleaning the floor following the way, you can go for an extra deep clean to lift off any stubborn stain and prevent wax buildup. You can add the splash of vinegar along with the bleach-water solution for deep cleaning. Then make another solution which will contain four parts of water and one part of bleach. Apply the solution in the stains and scrub using a sponge or mop. Target a specific stain at a time.
Now clean the floor again using a vinegar and water solution to get rid of the bleach and let the floor properly. You should end up with a beautiful and fresh linoleum floor.
Alternative Procedure to Deep Clean Linoleum Floor without Bleach
Bleach can effectively clean the linoleum floor, but they arrive with the risk of damaging the floor. The steam mop cleaner can be an excellent alternative to the bleach solution for deep cleaning the linoleum floor. Here is the procedure that you need to follow for cleaning the floor using steam mop:
- Select a correct steam mop that is safe for the linoleum floor. You can either purchase one from the local store or rent one from the local shops.
- Broom or vacuum clean the floor to make it ready for deep cleaning. Also, get rid of the furniture and other things that can block you from cleaning.
- Fill the water reservoir of the steam cleaner and turn on the device after connecting it with electricity. Then set the suitable temperature and steam power for the linoleum floor.
- Start cleaning the floor from one end and cover the whole floor. Make sure that you are not holding the device idle on one spot as it can damage the floor.
General Cleaning of the Linoleum Floor
If you keep the shininess and the impressive appearance of the linoleum floor then you should clean the floor in the following way:
- Use a microfiber mop to get rid of the debris and dust from the high traffic areas regularly. The dust and debris can scratch the floor if left uncleaned for a long time.
- Use a vacuum cleaner with proper attachment or soft-bristled broom once a week to give a thorough clean to the floor for removing the dust and debris.
- Once in a month, clean the floor using the vinegar-water solution to clean the linoleum floor. You can also use the technique mentioned above for this purpose.
The linoleum floor is one of the versatile choices for flooring. You can also keep the impressive appearance of the linoleum floor amazing for a long time by properly maintaining it. Hopefully, the above-given guidance will be helpful for you to clean the linoleum floor.
