How to Make Vinyl Plank Floors Shine: Discover the Best Practices

Here's the good news: with only 7 simple steps, you can make your floor look brand new again. The better news? You can follow this tutorial at home without any help from a professional. Pretty neat, right?

Picture this: Your once-gleaming vinyl floor now looks cloudy and worn. You've mopped it countless times, but nothing works. Sound familiar? Here's what's really going on, along with a permanent solution.

Vinyl plank floors can be polished without expert assistance

Here's what we'll cover in this post:

An easy 7-step tutorial on how to make vinyl plank floors shine that you can do at home. Recommended mops to keep your vinyl floor in great condition. A Q&A section to satisfy all your curiosity about polishing vinyl plank flooring. Let's get started!

What You'll Need to Make Your Vinyl Floor Shine Again

Here's what you need to prepare:

A soft-bristled brush Clean cotton or sponge mops Scrubber Baking soda Apple cider vinegar Floor stripper solution (a product that removes old wax or finish layers) Mineral oil or baby oil Clean water Any kind of dish soap

Find these at home or your local supermarket. Grab them all and let's get your vinyl plank flooring looking its best.

➜ RELATED: How to Shine Laminate Floors: The Best Practical Way

How to Make Vinyl Plank Floors Shine in 7 Simple Steps

Cleaning vinyl plank floors is easy, and so is polishing them. Here's a step-by-step tutorial on how to shine vinyl plank flooring:

Step 1: Choose the Appropriate Polishing Solution

Even though vinyl plank floors are resilient, you need to choose a suitable polish solution if you don't want to damage them. Harsh chemicals can strip away your vinyl floor's protective layer and make it more vulnerable to stains and scratches.

The wrong polishing solution can damage your floor or leave stubborn residue on the surface afterward. To prevent this, check what your floor manufacturer recommends—they know your floor best.

Selecting the right polishing solution is a crucial step

Step 2: Remove the Old Finish (Optional)

You only need this step if you have a wax or commercial finish layer on your vinyl floor. Move on to step 3 if this is your first time polishing your LVP floors.

For those who stay, start by cleaning the floor first. Use a vacuum or a dry mop to collect all debris from the floor surface. You don't have to wet-clean the floor because we'll be applying liquid later. This step will help you avoid scratches down the line.

Once the floor is clean, apply the floor stripper solution with a dry cotton mop. Keep the layer thin and spread it evenly across the floor, then let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. After that, use a scrubber to remove the old layer and clean up the leftover residue with a damp mop. Rinse the mop and let the floor dry completely before moving to the next step.

Step 3: Clean the Floor

If you skipped step 2, it's time to clean the floor. Vacuum and dry mop the floor to remove all debris. Don't forget the corners and areas under furniture as well. Moving everything out makes the polishing process much easier.

Mix one cup of apple cider vinegar with 1.5 gallons of hot water to mop the floor. Dish soap can be added to the mixture for regions that are unclean. In the second round, use only the original mixture.

A few drops of mineral oil or baby oil in the second mop can make the floor sparkle, so feel free to add some. But that's not the main step for how to make vinyl floors shine, so let's move on.

Step 4: Prepare the Polish Solution

There are two options here: using a store-bought polishing solution or mixing a homemade one. With the store-bought polishing solution, follow the product instructions and you should be good to go. But if you want something mild and safe for your vinyl plank floor, here are three DIY floor polishing solutions you can whip up at home.

Each solution tackles different needs. Baking soda works best when you need deep cleaning power to tackle built-up grime and stubborn residue. Vinegar is your go-to for quick shine with a fresh scent, perfect for regular weekly maintenance. Alcohol dries the fastest and works well for light touch-ups between deeper cleans. If you're dealing with heavy foot traffic or pet messes, reach for the baking soda. Planning a last-minute gathering? The alcohol solution gives you walk-ready floors in minutes. Pick the one that matches what your floor needs right now.

Step 5: The Baking Soda Solution

Here's how you can make your vinyl floor shine with a homemade baking soda solution:

• Mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda with a gallon of warm water.
• Stir the mixture until the baking soda dissolves.
• Use a damp mop to spread the mixture across the floor and let it sit for around 10 minutes.
• Use a clean damp mop to rinse the floor. Do this several times until you don't see any whitish residue left on the surface.
• Let the floor air-dry before walking on it.

Your vinyl plank floor can be polished using baking soda

Step 6: The Vinegar Solution

How do you make vinyl floors shiny with vinegar and dish soap from your kitchen? Follow these simple steps:

• Add half a cup of vinegar, a tablespoon of dish soap, and some mineral oil or baby oil to a gallon of water.
• Stir or shake the mixture to combine the ingredients.
• Use a mop to apply the solution to the floor.
• Rinse the floor with a clean mop using plain water.
• Allow the floor to air-dry.

Got kids or pets? Use the vinegar solution weekly for extra protection against spills and paw prints. One busy parent shared that this simple weekly routine saved her floors from sticky juice spills and muddy dog tracks—no expensive cleaners needed.

Step 7: The Household Alcohol Solution

Using household alcohol is another effective way to make vinyl plank floors shine. Here's how to do it:

• Mix 4 tablespoons of household alcohol into a small bucket of lukewarm water.
• Dip a clean mop in the solution, then wring out the excess water.
• Mop your floor as you normally would.
• Let the floor dry—it should be ready in about 15 minutes.

Now that you know how to make vinyl plank floors shine and polish them properly, don't you think it's easy to do? That's why you shouldn't skip this step if you want to keep your vinyl plank floor shiny and spotless. Speaking of spotless, we have some mop recommendations to help you clean your vinyl floor in the next section. Don't forget to check them out!

The Best Mops for Your Vinyl Plank Floor

You can keep your vinyl plank floor glossy and clean by mopping it every day

We'd like to introduce two options: one manual mop and one electric mop. Let's start with the one that everyone can easily use.

Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop Kit

For a manual mop, the Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop offers many useful features that make cleaning vinyl floors easier than ever. You don't have to lug around a water bucket when using this mop, thanks to the spray mechanism attached to the mop's handle.

You control water flow with the manual trigger on top. Spray more liquid on stained spots while keeping it light for cleaner areas. The 22-ounce water bottle is enough for a regular cleaning session, and you can refill it anytime.

The Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop Kit comes with up to 3 machine-washable cleaning pads. You save money on replacements and skip the hand-washing hassle.

When it comes to scrubbing, just flip the mop to the side to use the non-scratch scrubber attached to the mop head. The Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop doesn't require you to install this attachment, which saves you extra time. You can use it right away when you spot a stubborn stain on your cleaning path.

If you're a busy parent juggling work and kids, this mop is a lifesaver. Quick spray, quick clean, done. In short, the Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop Kit is the best mop for cleaning vinyl floors in the manual category.

BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop

If you want to keep your floor sanitized without using chemical solutions frequently, then the BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop is the right choice. The steam's heat kills 99.9% of germs on your floor, ensuring it's bacteria-free after every cleaning session.

You can choose different steam levels based on your needs. For example, you can crank up the level a bit higher than usual to cut through stubborn stains. Combine that with the flip-down scrubber equipped near the mop head, and stains won't stand a chance on your vinyl plank floor.

Maneuvering this mop is also a breeze, thanks to the swivel head. You can glide the BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop into tight corners and under furniture with ease. Despite being an electric mop, customers say this model is lightweight enough to carry up and down the stairs without breaking a sweat.

Moreover, the 23-foot power cord lets you roam free while cleaning with no worry about tripping over or tangling the wire. The last bonus is that it comes with Spring Breeze Fragrance Discs to freshen up your room after each cleaning session.

Pet owners especially love this steam mop—it tackles paw prints and accidents without harsh chemicals that might irritate furry friends. With all those perks, we're sure you can tell that the BISSELL PowerFresh Steam Mop is the best steam mop for vinyl floors.

Ready to Bring Back the Shine?

We hope this post was helpful in teaching you how to make vinyl plank floors shine. Keep using these simple steps to restore shine and impress your guests when they step into your house with floors that look freshly installed no matter how long you've had them.

Remember: your floor tells the story of your home. A little care goes a long way in keeping that story beautiful.