Linoleum is a strong, durable and low-maintenance floor covering that provides a relatively cheap way to cover your bathroom and kitchen floors. It is far easier to lay than tiles and wood flooring, yet it’s actually more hard-wearing than both.
If you have linoleum in your home (also referred to as lino), cleaning it is relatively easy, but there are still a few tips you can follow to make your job a lot easier.
WHAT IS LINOLEUM?
Linoleum is made from a range of materials under pressure and heat. Most forms of modern lino include solidified linseed oil, pine rosin, wood flour, calcium carbonate and ground cork dust. This is then mounted onto a canvas or burlap backing. Dyes are added to the compounds to create attractive floor coverings that often look just as good as individually laid tiles.
CLEANING TIPS
The great thing about lino is that cleaning it is usually a simple case of wiping it with a microfibre cloth, some dishwashing detergent and hot water. And if you’re really on the ball, wiping up spillages as they happen usually only requires a damp cloth.
DEEP CLEANING LINOLEUM FLOOR
At least once a week, you should schedule between 15 and 30 minutes (depending on the size of your linoleum covered floor) for a more thorough clean. Taking a systematic approach to cleaning is always best, so start the process by gathering the tools and cleaning agents you’ll need.
- Your Shark vacuum cleaner
- Your Shark steam mop
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Microfibre cloth
And that’s it! Linoleum is very easy to clean, so all you need is some suction power, a little baking soda and your Shark steam mop.
Start by removing all the loose debris and dust from your linoleum by vacuuming the entire area. Remove all the furniture before you start, and make use of the various attachments that are included with your Shark vacuum cleaner in order to reach awkward areas of flooring.
Now you can start looking for large accumulations of grease and food. If you find any, cover them with a paste of baking soda and vinegar. Give it 15 minutes of contact time, and then wipe the paste up with a clean cloth.
Attach a fresh Shark Steam Pocket to your steam mop with water, and switch it on. Attack the floor in sections in a systematic way. You’ll only need to apply a minimal amount of pressure, as the superheated steam will cut through grime and grease with relative ease.
Allow your floor to air dry. This won’t take long, as Shark steam mops use a minimal amount of water during the cleaning process — leaving floors virtually dry within seconds.
TOP TIPS FOR CARING FOR LINO
You can make your lino last longer by taking certain preventative measures. Most of these take a matter of seconds, but they can add years to your flooring.
Keep out dirt and bacteria with door mats
Small particles and stones have the potential to cause tiny tears in lino, so place mats at all exterior entrances in order to pick up these foreign bodies before they enter your home.
Clean little and often
As soon as you notice a spillage, wipe it up immediately.
Stick to low-impact cleaning methods
The less pressure you apply to lino, the longer it will last. This is why using a Shark steam mop is ideal
Never drench vinyl
Flooding your flooring with soapy water might deliver results, but it can lead to water finding its way into cracks and seams – undermining your lino from underneath.
Stick to baking soda and dishwashing detergent
You will NEVER need anything more than baking soda and dishwashing detergent to get your lino sparkling. Waxes and other chemicals may actually damage your floor, and they don’t offer any benefits that can’t be delivered by soap and water.
Lino is an uncomplicated, hard-wearing floor surface that is ideal for use in kitchens. Stick to regular cleaning with steam, baking soda and soap, and your lino flooring should always look fantastic.
