So you have just had a lovely new floor fitted or maybe you have lived with it for a few years and it is starting to look a bit tired. Karndean is brilliant stuff because it is tough and looks like the real deal but you cannot just treat it like a lino floor from the 90s. If you want it to last a lifetime you need to know how to clean karndean flooring without accidentally stripping away that protective top layer. At Stansbie flooring we have seen plenty of beautiful installs and we want yours to stay looking top notch.
You do not need to be scrubbing on your hands and knees every morning. The main thing is keeping the grit off. Think about it like sandpaper; every time someone walks across a dusty floor they are basically sanding down the finish.
Start with a soft broom or a vacuum. If you use a vacuum make sure it is on the hard floor setting so the beater bar does not spin and scratch the tiles and that is basically the most important bit of maintenance you can do. Doing this a few times a week keeps the dirt from getting ground in.
For the actual mopping part do not go reaching for the bleach or the flashy supermarket cleaners. Most of them are too harsh or they leave a nasty film that makes the floor look smeary. It is best to use karndean clean because it is ph neutral and made specifically for this product. Just mix a bit with a bucket of warm water, do not use boiling water as too much heat can actually mess with the adhesive underneath the planks.
Once you have swept up just follow these bits of advice:
If you have got a stubborn scuff mark from a pair of shoes, a damp cloth usually does the trick. Some people say a tennis ball works well to rub them out and it actually does. But if you have got a proper stain you might need something a bit stronger like the karndean remove solution.
We cannot stress this enough but do not use a steam mop. We know they are popular because they feel hygienic but the heat is a nightmare for LVT. It can cause the edges of the planks to curl up or even melt the glue. Once that happens it is a massive job to fix it and you will be searching for how to clean karndean flooring properly to undo the damage.
Also stay away from anything with wax or furniture polish in it. Karndean has a factory seal called k-guard+ so it does not need polishing like an old wood floor. If you put wax on it you just end up with a slippery mess that attracts more dirt.
At Stansbie flooring we always tell our customers to put felt pads under furniture legs too. It is a simple thing but it stops those nasty deep scratches when you move a chair and if you can get a decent doormat at the entrance that will catch half the dirt before it even hits your floor.
Every year or so your floor might look a bit dull. This is when you do a deep clean. You can get a floor care kit that has ‘remove’ and ‘refresh’ bottles in it. Basically you use the remove liquid to strip off any old grime then apply the refresh to put a new protective coat on. It makes the floor look brand new again.
If you are managing properties or just want to stay organised it is worth keeping a simple log of when these deep cleans were last done. Keeping on top of it means you won’t have to replace the floor for decades.
If you need more advice on Karndean flooring or you are thinking of getting a new room fitted feel free to check out our Karndean services or get in touch with your team today. We have been doing this for over 40 years so we know a thing or two about keeping floors in good nick. Just keep it simple and avoid the harsh chemicals and your floor will look great for years.
