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*Overview of the best according to the editors of Healthy Food Near Me. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
Linoleum is a multilayer material, and its top coating is made of a transparent polymer. Despite its high mechanical strength, it can be scratched, and dust gets into the texture. Then it becomes matte.
In this article, we will talk about what products can be used to wash linoleum to restore its shine.
Special linoleum cleaners that restore shine
In household chemical stores, you can buy special products for washing linoleum that can restore shine to this flooring. They can be used for regular cleaning, and just for preventive purposes – 1-2 times a month.
Use the products as directed on the package. Usually they are simply added to water in a certain proportion. However, mopping the floors with these products requires some preparation:
Thoroughly sweep or vacuum the floor before washing. You can even do this several times. The slightest grains of sand and traces of dirt during washing will begin to leave stains that will be very noticeable on shiny linoleum;
If there are stubborn or hard-to-remove dirt on the floor, pre-wash. It is possible only in those places where stains are visible. This will help achieve a uniform cleanliness and shine of linoleum;
When cleaning linoleum in the kitchen, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of ammonia to the water. This will help get rid of greasy contaminants. After washing with ammonia, leave the room to ventilate for several hours to get rid of the pungent smell of the solvent;
You can also clean the linoleum with a steam mop or steam cleaner. And it is even necessary if the floor is covered with ribbed or porous linoleum;
During the wash itself, change the water as often as possible. But you should not do this fanatically, refilling the bucket after every square meter. Focus on the cleanliness of the floor.
Use floor cleaners that are specifically designed for linoleum or laminate flooring. The surfactants contained in these formulations effectively penetrate into small depressions-textures on the floor covering and have a mild polishing effect. Do not overdo it with the product – add it to the water exactly as much as the manufacturer recommends.
Folk remedies for washing linoleum to make it shine
There are two folk remedies that can also help restore shine to linoleum. But they must be used with caution so as not to leave stains or a sticky coating on the surface:
Potato decoction. Cool the water left after cooking the tubers, and then wash the floors with it. If necessary (if the potatoes were not cooked in a 10-liter saucepan, but just for dinner), it is allowed to dilute it simply with cold water. You can do without cooking, just dissolve 2-3 tablespoons of starch in a bucket. After washing the floors, check if they shine. If not, wash again, just with clean cold water to remove traces of the “remedy”;
Cow’s milk. Mix it with cold water in a ratio of 1:1. Wash the floors with the resulting mixture. And then, without waiting for drying, wash again, only with plain water. The method is quite effective, but it is worth considering that in some cases, in order to achieve the maximum effect, it is necessary to repeat the procedure several times, constantly changing water and milk.
In many cases, repeated washing is required. This is normal, especially if the linoleum is cheap or has been in operation for a long time. Substances found in potato broth and cow’s milk “replace” gaps in the texture of the top layer of the floor covering, restoring its shine. However, it can pass quite quickly. Therefore, washing the floor with potato broth or diluted milk is required at least 1-2 times a week.
Is it possible to rub linoleum to a shine with oil or drying oil
It is absolutely impossible to rub linoleum with drying oil, linseed, sunflower or any other oil! Yes, it’s a quick and easy way to bring back the shine to your flooring. However, the floor becomes very slippery and traumatic.
Moreover, vegetable oils, when dried, as well as under the influence of sunlight, change their texture. They become very sticky. This will not only cause the floor to become dull, dark and matte, but also any small dirt will stick to it. Even repeated washing will not work to remove it.
Drying oil, linseed, sunflower and some other vegetable oils may be suitable for absorbent flooring such as parquet, clapboard or just solid wood. But even in this case, it is recommended to use special substances to extend the life of materials.
Attention! This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.