Vinyl & Lino Floor Cleaning & Care South London

With proper care, vinyl and linoleum flooring can last for up to twenty years before it needs replacing. We offer expert cleaning and maintenance to ensure that your floors look good and last as long as possible.

For Your Home or Business

Our range of powerful, professional floor cleaning machines means we can service larger contracts within schools, hospitals and other public or commercial buildings – but we’re always happy to work on flooring in small business premises or residential properties.

Although they are made from different materials, vinyl and lino flooring can be cleaned using the same methods. We offer a complete service for both types of this hard flooring including cleaning (scrubbing), buffing, stripping and polishing (sealing).

Cleaning / Scrubbing

We work on a small area at a time, in three steps:

1. apply a professional cleaning detergent that will break down grease and dirt;
2. use a rotary scrubbing machine at low speed (180rpm) to work the detergent into the soiling and loosen it;
3. follow with our wet vac to suck away the dirty liquid.

Once the entire floor has been scrubbed we will then mop the floor thoroughly to rinse and remove any residue. The floor should then be allowed to dry fully before it is walked on.

Sanitising & Disinfection

Where higher standards of hygiene are needed (or potentially infectious substances like vomit, blood and human or animal waste have been in contact with the floor) we can apply a BS/EN certified sanitiser / disinfectant that kills common bacteria and viruses before normal cleaning. We apply this with a mop and allow it to rest for a while before removal.

Stain removal

Problem substances like paint or glue are not often completely removed by cleaning. We have the option of using alcohol to liquify them, but alcohol will damage both vinyl and lino if left for even a short time, so this should be regarded as a last resort. With very careful application and swift removal of alcohol, we are usually able to remove the stain without damaging the floor.

Buffing / Maintenance

An already polished floor with a functional seal should be buffed regularly (weekly to quarterly, depending on how busy it is). We apply a small amount of a ‘floor maintainer’ detergent with a pleasant fragrance and use a rotary machine at high speed (300rpm) to gently buff the surface to a high shine. Buffing doesn’t just remove light soiling and surface scuffs, but it will prolong the life of the floor seal.

Stripping

Vinyl and lino flooring has usually been sealed with an acrylic polish, and once this reaches the end of its life it will start to peel and flake. This is a sign that the whole floor should be stripped and re-sealed. The process is as follows:

1. dilute stripping detergent with water and apply generously, to start melting and liquifying the old polish;
2. use a rotary machine at standard speed (240rpm) to scrub the surface and loosen and lift the softened polish;
3. use our V-Tuf wet vac to remove the liquified old polish and stripping detergent together;
4. mop the floor thoroughly to remove any remaining residues.

The floor could be left ‘bare’ at this point, but we recommend that a new coat of polish is applied to protect the surface from scuffs, add a shine, and enhance the colour of the vinyl or lino.

Polishing / Sealing

We offer vinyl and lino polishing / sealing (in a choice of gloss or matt finish) to:

• provide protection against surface scuffs;
• help prevent moisture getting between any joins;
• add a shine to the floor; and
• enhance the colour.

Polish should only be applied to flooring that already has a completely sound seal with no flaking or peeling, and is freshly cleaned (any dirt will become trapped in the polish).

Any chemical residues on the floor can cause a poor bond (meaning polish can peel away from the surface within days of application). So, if the floor has just been stripped, we apply a slightly acidic solution to neutralize the pH and ensure the polish will adhere properly to the floor’s surface.

We use a non-slip acrylic polymer-based floor polish, which is applied in two thin coats. There should be at least 30 minutes drying time between the first and second coat, and a minimum of one hour allowed after the second coat before the floor is walked on – although leaving it overnight is recommended.

Additional coats can be applied at a later date, providing the floor is completely clean and the previous polish is still sound. However we don’t really recommend this, because eventually ALL the layers of polish will need to be removed, and more layers just means more stripping detergent required and more time to scrub the old polish away. A ‘little and more often’ approach is better: we suggest annual stripping and re-application of polish in a busy commercial premises, and every 2-3 years for a residential property.

FAQs about Cleaning Vinyl, Lino – and Laminate – Flooring

How can I care for my vinyl / lino flooring?

Regularly sweep or vacuum to remove loose dirt and debris (if this is trodden in it can cause scuffs), and mop with a pH neutral detergent. Depending on the level of foot traffic and dirt build-up, weekly cleaning is advisable.

How long will it take you to clean a vinyl / lino floor?

It usually takes about 30 to 60 minutes (depending on how dirty it is) to clean 5m x 5m of vinyl or lino with one of our rotary floor machines. If we are applying polish then please allow extra time for (i) application and then (ii) around 90 minutes’ drying time. We are available weekends and evenings to make life easier if you have a very busy property and need to co-ordinate cleaning carefully, so please talk to us about your specific requirements.

Do I need to remove all furniture from the area to be cleaned?

Ideally, yes, but we do we understand that this is not always possible. If we’re cleaning, we can work around larger items and can move smaller ones – but this usually adds to the time we need to spend on the job and that will affect the price. If we are going to be either stripping or applying polish to the floor then the room/area should be completely empty: we cannot do a proper job otherwise. If in doubt, please do consult with us, and we’ll be pleased to work out a proper plan of action beforehand so that we all know what to expect on the day.

Do vinyl or lino floors get slick and dangerous to walk on when they are polished or buffed?

No. All our polishes and the detergent we use for buffing are formulated to be reliable underfoot.

Our Work

Our Prices

Do you clean laminate flooring?

First, be sure that you’re not confusing laminate flooring with engineered flooring (which is made from a hardwood such as oak pressed onto a plywood base). We offer a range of cleaning and restoration services for engineered flooring, but we do not work with laminate flooring at all.

Laminate flooring cannot be sanded, stripped, wet-cleaned or refinished. The surface of the laminate is basically only a sealed print, and the ‘planks’ or ’tiles’ are compressed wood fibre that has been chemically bonded. Cleaning detergents are very likely to damage the surface seal and/or interfere with the bonding, causing the floor to take on liquid that will make it swell and warp.

A laminate floor could, in theory, be varnished or sealed (in addition to the factory seal) – but only once. When the seal gets worn or scuffed and starts to flake away, stripping chemicals cannot be used without risk of permanent and irreparable damage to the laminate. Sanding will only remove the wood or stone effect print from the surface, exposing the actual material used to construct the boards.

How do I care for my laminate flooring?

Regular sweeping / vacuuming should be carried out to remove anything that could lead to scratching. To clean the surface, make up a solution of a very mild cleaning detergent, then wet and wring out a cloth or mop so that it is damp to loosen and remove dirt and stains, before drying. The floor should never be allowed to remain wet, or even damp.

WE COVER CENTRAL & SOUTH LONDON WITHIN THE M25 AREA, INCLUDING: