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Vinyl plank flooring is surprisingly easy to clean whether you are using basic cleaning solutions or you are using sophisticated cleaning technology like the best robot vacuum for vinyl plank floors. Vinyl plank flooring is incredibly low-maintenance which makes it a great flooring option for virtually any area of the house. The key to taking care of vinyl plank flooring is to know how you can prevent long-term damage in the first place and what the best methods are for regular maintenance. Read on to know how you can do all these especially if you want your vinyl wood plank flooring to last for many years. How to Prevent Damage for Vinyl Plank Flooring While vinyl plank floors will show signs of age and wear over time, you can push this back by ensuring that your vinyl flooring is installed in the right way. Vinyl flooring is very easy to install but you still need to make sure that installation was done according to manufacturer instructions. Otherwise, you run the risk of warping planks, uneven planks, and other defects that could lead to faster wear and tear. Start off by using the right adhesive, rolling the floor to help achieve a flat and even finish, and using protective window treatments to protect your floors from harsh sunlight. Use Proper Adhesive You can run into problems like buckling if your planks are not laid down properly. Using the right adhesive ensures that your vinyl plank flooring stays tight on the floor on all sides. It is also important to know what kind of flooring requires an adhesive. If you are working with glue-down vinyl planks or loose lay vinyl, you will need floor adhesive to secure the planks on the floor base. Adhesives for vinyl flooring are often acrylic-based which are also resin-based. These are very strong and suited for strong bonding with different types of surfaces. These adhesives are sun-resistant, and can withstand regular changes in temperature, and are not easily affected by moisture. For best results, it is best to check the manufacturer's instructions on what kind of glue is suitable for your type of vinyl plank floors. Roll the Floor One crucial element during installation is the proper rolling of the vinyl plank flooring. Use a 100-pound roller to roll the floor after laying down the flooring with adhesive. Using this rolling weight will help secure and flatten all areas of the vinyl planks and prevent buckling over time. Avoid Direct Sunlight Vinyl flooring keeps its luster and color over time but direct exposure to sunlight can accelerate the process of wear. Direct sun can also strip the floors of color and shine. You can keep your vinyl floors new and shiny by protecting them from direct sunlight. Window treatments such as blinds or curtains offer effective protection against harsh sunlight. For maximum protection, use blackout or thermal curtains especially if your interiors are exposed to lots of sunlight during the day. Another alternative is UV film or tinted windows. These can limit the amount of heat and light that can pass through the windows. How to Clean Vinyl Plank Flooring Daily Cleaning Regular cleaning is also crucial to keeping your vinyl plank floors looking as good as new. For daily cleaning, wiping and mopping will usually leave you with a clean surface. A quick run with the vacuum ensures a thorough clean that doesn't take up too much time. Use a vacuum cleaner if you don't want to spread dust around or you want to clean while you are doing other chores. Robot vacuum cleaners like the Dreame D9 can do the job in a few minutes, giving you sparkling floors in minutes without you lifting a finger. Deep Cleaning For a deeper clean, you can wipe the floor with a mop or rag moistened with water and dish soap/ detergent solution. This helps remove dirt, grime, and stains that may have hardened on the surface of your vinyl floors. You can also spray the solution on the floor, provided that you use a neutral detergent diluted in water. This is often enough to clean your floor and keep it in top condition for the coming week. If you want a more organic cleaning option, swap the dish soap with white vinegar and dilute it in water. Use this for mopping or wiping the floors to remove tough stains and dirt. This vinegar solution also leaves your floors with a clean scent and a lasting shine. If you want to make sure that you are using safe cleaning solutions, check with the manufacturer. They may have recommendations for specific cleaning solutions that will work best with your vinyl flooring. It is also important to note that you should avoid using abrasive mops and streams when cleaning your vinyl floors. Abrasive brushes can leave scratches and will thin out the protective layer of vinyl planks. Steam cleaning is also a big No-No since most vinyl plank materials are not meant to withstand steam. How to Make Your Vinyl Floors Shine How shiny your floors get depends on the kind of finish you have. If you have vinyl floors with a matte finish, your floor wax or polish can only do so much. However, if you have flooring with a glossy finish, you can achieve sparkly shine with ease. A quick and easy way to make your floors shine is to use vinegar and water spray to clean your floors. Wipe dry with a microfiber cloth to buff out mop marks. If you want to see your reflection on the floors, you can also opt for floor wax made for vinyl flooring, which you can easily get from most hardware or home stores. Just make sure to clean the surface thoroughly with a soft broom. You can also use the Dreame D9 for vinyl plank floors to remove all dust and dirt before you start polishing. Regular and careful cleaning can keep your vinyl plank floors as shiny and as scratch-free as the day you installed them. Just remember to use the right cleaning tools and to set your expectations according to the type of flooring finish that you have. With properly-installed vinyl flooring and regular cleaning, you can keep your floors shiny and clean for years.

Most people who clean their homes do regular cleaning. Professional cleaning companies do regular and deep cleaning. While you'll have to pay extra for deep cleaning, there's unmatched value for money. To understand why you should overlook DIY (Do-It-Yourself) home cleaning over professional cleaning, it's important to define the two terms. What's the Difference Between Deep Cleaning and Regular Cleaning Your Home Regular Cleaning As the name suggests, regular home cleaning involves typical home cleaning tasks done to maintain typical cleanliness. While it's possible to hire a cleaning company to do regular cleaning, it costs less than deep cleaning. Regular cleaning usually involves cleaning tasks such as sweeping floors, cleaning and mopping floors, vacuuming carpets, wiping the dust from surfaces, appliances, and fixtures, cleaning and disinfecting the bathroom, cleaning kitchen appliances, cooking pots and floors as well as cleaning doors, window frames, dusting vents, emptying the trash can, and removing cobwebs. Deep Cleaning Deep cleaning goes further than regular cleaning. The main difference is in the level of detail. Deep cleaning is more extensive. It includes all regular cleaning tasks as well as cleaning neglected and/or hard-to-reach areas of your home. Anything that can be cleaned is attended to. It also focuses on improving the living quality and overall sanitation of your home. Other notable differences include price. Deep cleaning is obviously more costly. It also takes longer. How Often Do You Need to Deep Clean Your Home As mentioned above, deep cleaning involves cleaning every cleanable place or thing in your home. While it's not possible to clean everything, there are things you must deep clean often than others. You should deep clean your microwave, shower, toilet, bathmats, bathtubs, and carpets every week. Your refrigerator can be deep cleaned monthly, while your pillows and skirting boards should be cleaned every three months. Windows and drapes should be cleaned thoroughly after 3-6 months. Your mattress, blankets, and duvets can be deep cleaned at least twice a year. Showerheads can wait for a year, while your oven should be deep cleaned when it starts emitting an unpleasant odor. This can even be weekly depending on the frequency, spills, etc. Deep Cleaning House Checklist: How to Deep Clean a House If you are looking for specifics i.e., the different places to clean in your kitchen, bedroom, etc., how to clean those places, the number of times you should clean, among other important information, here's what you should know. Kitchen Deep Cleaning When deep cleaning your kitchen, you should focus on the microwave, refrigerator, and oven, as these are the appliances that aren't cleaned properly during regular cleaning. As mentioned above, deep clean your microwave weekly to get rid of food splatters that act as breeding grounds for germs. Your refrigerator should be deep cleaned monthly to eliminate food spills and other sources of germs like rotting vegetables, which can also cause serious bacterial contamination. The process of deep cleaning a refrigerator includes but isn't limited to removing everything and wiping down all compartments using an antibacterial wash. The oven should be deep cleaned as often as possible, more so when you start to smell previously cooked food. When cleaning your oven regularly, use a damp cloth and soapy water to get rid of good spills and splashes. Other areas and appliances that should be deep cleaned in the kitchen include dishwashers, stovetops, and sinks. Living Room Deep Cleaning Your living room should be deep cleaned weekly to half-yearly, depending on what is being cleaned. Carpets cleaning should be done weekly and deep cleaned once or twice a year. However, deep cleaning can be done often if you have pets or young children that play a lot but still need a carpet that is clean throughout. Deep cleaning is also dictated by factors such as stains and dust levels in your area. Deep cleaning carpets can be a daunting task when handled traditionally. Currently, there are deep cleaning vacuums in the market today, such as the Dreame T20 for deep cleaning your sofa, carpet, and floors. Windows and drapes can be deep cleaned once every 3-6 months. While you can wipe the woodwork, you'll need a professional to help you deep clean other elements/parts i.e., to remove grime from your drapes and windows. Skirting boards should be deep cleaned quarterly. Vacuuming and wiping over skirting will remove the layer of dust and pathogens (dust mites/allergens) that accumulate over time on skirting boards. Bathroom Deep Cleaning Bathtubs and showers should be deep cleaned weekly. Deep cleaning is crucial since bathtubs and showers are perfect breeding grounds for fungus and bacteria known to cause skin infections. Cleaning should be as thorough as possible by using antibacterial agents. Toilets should be cleaned regularly on a daily basis, and deep cleaned every week. Like bathtubs and showers, cleaning should be done using antibacterial agents. It's also crucial to use bleach to keep your toilet free of ugly stains. A toilet cleaner will come in handy when removing mineral deposits. Bathmats should also be cleaned weekly since they are also breeding grounds for fungus and bacteria. Use sanitizing wash or other similar detergents to get rid of harmful bugs that thrive in bathmats. After washing, dry the mat outdoors in direct sunlight to dry. Bathroom shower heads should be deep cleaned once every year to remove minerals that build up over time and restore normal function. Deep cleaning also gets rid of dust and dirt that accumulates over time. Bedroom Deep Cleaning Bedroom pillows should be deep cleaned quarterly, while mattresses, duvets, and blankets should be deep cleaned twice a year. Pillows harbor dead skin, sweat, oil, dust mites, and other allergens. Mattresses also harbor everything found in pillows and more i.e., bed bugs. Mattresses are also prone to become smelly. Duvets and blankets also accumulate dust and allergens. All the bedroom items should be deep cleaned by professional cleaners. You can do regular cleaning; however, deep cleaning should be left to professionals for obvious reasons. While it looks costly, it's important to consider the health implications of disregarding deep cleaning requirements. It's also important to choose reputable professional deep cleaners. It may be possible to deep clean some elements/places in your home with the help of state-of-the-art appliances. Make deep cleaning fast, easy, and efficient with the Dreame T20 right now!