CoreTec floors provide a high-end look for a budget price.
Because they use different materials, you need to know how to clean CoreTec flooring properly.
Key Takeaways
Here are the basic points we cover below:
- Carefully and regularly sweep with a broom and dustpan, or run a dry mop with microfiber.
- Mop wet gently, too, with a microfiber cloth, and use pH-neutral cleaning product, diluted.
- You can vacuum if your cleaner doesn’t have wheels or wet-clean.
- You can polish once per year with two coats, as the manufacturer advises, then ventilate.
- Avoid scratches by going shoe-free or using felt pads for furniture.
- Use water and light detergent to remove stains – avoid abrasive cleaners – but you can rub in rubbing alcohol, too.
Easy Steps for Cleaning CoreTec Floors
CoreTec vinyl flooring products come as planks.
The planks often have beveled edges, so they look like hardwood floors.
However, because they are vinyl, you use different cleaning methods on CoreTec flooring.
You can sweep, wipe, mop, and polish these floors, provided you use the right cleaning agents and equipment.
Here is what you need to know to effectively clean CoreTec flooring.
How to Sweep CoreTec Flooring
CoreTec floors are vinyl, so they are relatively durable and easy to clean
.
That said, you should maintain the surface by removing dirt and dust regularly.
This routine maintenance cleaning will keep particles from getting ground into the floor, and it can extend the amount of time between wet cleanings.
You can perform this kind of dry cleaning with a broom. You sweep the entire floor and pick up the particles and dirt that you collect with a dustpan. Another option is to use a dry mop.
You can use either a mop with a disposable pad or one with a built-in pad. You will need to clean a permanent pad after use.
What Do I Need to Know about Mopping my CoreTech Flooring?
Sweeping every few days can be helpful, but for deeper clean, you need to mop your CoreTec floor. You will want to find a mop that does not cause scratches on the floor.
CoreTec floors are durable, but you can scratch them if you use an abrasive mop.
You can choose a mop with microfiber, which will provide a gentler clean.
You should also opt for a gentle floor cleaning liquid that does not have an overpowering scent or coloring. You can find a product that is pH neutral, and then dilute it in water using the ratio recommended by the manufacturer.
Pro Tip: From my own experience, remember to consistently use a pH-neutral cleaner on your CoreTec floors. This type of flooring can easily get damaged with strong acidic or alkaline cleaners, so make sure your cleaner specifies it’s pH-neutral. This way, you’ll keep your floor look brand new for a longer time.
CoreTec says that floor owners should avoid “mop and shine” products, which leave a substance on the floor to create a shiny appearance.
How to Clean Your CoreTec Flooring with a Vacuum
CoreTec advises against using vacuums that have rotating bearing bars because these may scratch the floor.
Pro Tip: When vacuuming, I highly suggest you to avoid using a brush roll or beater bar attachment. They can be a bit harsh and could potentially scratch your CoreTec flooring. Instead, opt for a soft brush attachment specially designed for hard surfaces. It’s proven to be much more gentle on my floors.
You can use a standard vacuum as long as the wheels do not damage the surface of your flooring.
You should also avoid using vacuums that have a wet-cleaning feature, and you should never use steam cleaners when cleaning a CoreTec floor. Steam mops can heat the adhesive that holds the planks in place.
Should You Polish your CoreTec Floor?
You can polish your CoreTec floor using at least two coats of a floor polishing product.
The surface of CoreTec flooring will eventually lose its shine in areas that see a lot of foot traffic. Other parts of the room may remain shiny, but you should use polish on the entire room so that it has a uniform color and shine.
CoreTec recommends polishing once per year in high traffic areas if needed.
Before polishing, you need to make sure the surface is as clean as possible.
You then apply two or more coats, as directed by the manufacturer. You usually need to stay off the floor for one day after the polish application.
You also need to ventilate the room by opening windows or running exhaust fans.
How to Avoid Scratches on your CoreTec Flooring
You should occasionally sweep, vacuum, and mop under furniture. When performing this type of cleaning, you do not want the sofa, tables, and chairs to scratch your floor as you move them.
You can get non-abrasive adhesive pads to stick to the bottom of the furniture legs. These pads are felt or felt-like composites.
These products make it possible to slide furniture without scratching. There are also other scratch-protection products on the market if you do not want to use adhesive padding.
You should also keep shoes off your CoreTec flooring.
Shoes with marking soles can leave marks on the floor that can be difficult to remove.
You can institute a no-shoe policy at home and request that visitors also remove their shoes.
Pro Tip: While the article mentions removing shoes to prevent scratches, I’ve found it also helps to maintain your flooring’s finish. Walking around in your outdoor shoes can bring in tiny particles like dirt or grit that can dull the finish over time. By making it a habit to take off your shoes, your floor will not only be scratch-free but will continue to shine!
How to Handle Stains and Spills on your CoreTec Floor?
It is vital to deal with spills and marks quickly. If you leave a spill for too long, it may soak into the flooring or get between the cracks in the planks.
For liquid spills, you can use a cloth or paper towel to soak up the liquid with a blotting motion. You do not want to scrub the liquid because this may rub it further into the flooring.
You can use warm water and light detergent, such as dish soap, to remove stains from juice or other substances that could leave a sticky residue.
You need to make sure that you rinse with clean water afterward to remove any soap residue.
CoreTec suggests that floor owners avoid abrasive cleaners, strong detergents, or spray cleaners since these can leave a dull residue behind.
If you need to deal with a problematic spill or stain, you can use rubbing alcohol. You put the substance, also known as isopropyl alcohol, directly on the stain and rub it with a clean cloth.
CoreTec also recommends a cleaning product called Encore Care for Luxury Vinyl Flooring.
How to Keep your CoreTec Flooring from Fading
One final step is to limit the direct sunlight in rooms with CoreTec flooring. Exposure to sunlight can cause the color of the flooring to fade over time.
You can limit exposure to direct sunlight by hanging shades or curtains and keeping them closed during the daytime when the room is not in use.
Some shades and curtains block direct sunlight while still letting natural light into the room. You can also get window treatments, which block UV rays while still allowing light to enter the room.
With regular maintenance, careful cleaning, and a plan to deal with marks and spills, you can maintain your CoreTec flooring in pristine condition for its entire lifespan.