What is the best floor cleaner for linoleum?

**Angelseyes28** · 10-09-2002, 10:34 AM

My kitchen and dining room both have OLD linoleum.....im talking over 20 yrs old...and this stuff is HECK to clean!! Is there anything I can use on it to make it easier to clean? TIA

**Advertisement** · 10-09-2002 10:34 AM

**kelblend** · 10-09-2002, 10:38 AM

oh puhleassse answer her as I have the same problem and there are darker spots on mine that even that power scrub junk wouldn't get off. It's sooooo yucky!! hey i'm beggin in your post angeleyes28, but it's for the good of both of us. please forgive my disgusting linoleum begging.

**lisahiser** · 10-09-2002, 10:38 AM

Found this at www.howtocleananything.com hope this helps some......
its kind of vague on what to use though.
Linoleum Floors
General Information :
Linoleum floors were once very common but until very recently were little used in residential flooring. Lately more linoleum is being laid due to its environmentally friendly nature. A pressed type floor traditionally made from natural ingredients, linoleum is very tough. Newer linoleum floors have a tight surface, which is very water, and stain resistant. However, as it ages and wears down it becomes very porous. This, in turn, creates the need for finish to protect the floor.

Tools & Technique :
We recommend sealing a linoleum floor even when it is new so any wear occurs with the finish and not on the floor. Once a linoleum floor becomes porous it is almost impossible to finish it properly. The porous surface will absorb almost any liquid put on it.
Also it is very important not to use any alkaline products on linoleum. These will yellow the floor. Use mild detergent to clean and a very light coat of finish to seal. Stripping should be avoided. To prepare the floor for new finish scrub it with a brush and detergent. Rinse with clean water and let dry completely before applying finish.

**Angelseyes28** · 10-09-2002, 10:49 AM

Originally posted by kelblend
oh puhleassse answer her as I have the same problem and there are darker spots on mine that even that power scrub junk wouldn't get off. It's sooooo yucky!! hey i'm beggin in your post angeleyes28, but it's for the good of both of us. please forgive my disgusting linoleum begging.

ROTF kel you are too funny

Girl beg away if it will get us some answers!! I am so sick of this linoleum i could scream!! I have washed down my walls, cleaned my ceiling fans and ficus sp? tree, but its all in vain b/c my floor looks HORRIBLE!!!

Thanks for the post lisa, too bad they didn't say a whole lot

**lisahiser** · 10-09-2002, 10:49 AM

Ok I found something better!

New Life for Old and Yellowed Linoleum
Linoleum, or 'sheet flooring', is made by pressing various fillers, such as ground-up cork and wood dust, along with pigments, into a binding material, usually linseed oil and resins. This composition is applied to a canvas or felt backing. Unknown to most homeowners, linoleum is easily affected or damaged by hot water and strong alkaline cleaners, especially ammoniated ones in addition to the obvious factors like solvents and oils. According to experts, linoleum must be protected with a water-based sealer/finish.

Please follow these easy steps to upkeep a linoleum floor:

Strip floor with a mild solution of a non-ammoniated stripper diluted in lukewarm water according to directions. Test any chosen stripper in a corner of the room to make certain that it doesn't affect the floor in any way before using.
Rinse and neutralize with a new, clean mop and a white vinegar rinse (1 cup vinegar into 1 gallon of cool water)
Rinse again with a clean mop and just plain cool water.
Allow floor to dry.
Using fresh, clean rayon mop, apply MEDIUM coat of sealer/floor finish. Do not allow puddling or dripping of floor product onto floor.
Allow floor to thoroughly dry.
(Optional) Only if necessary, apply a second, THIN coat of sealer/finish. Allow floor to thoroughly dry.
Sweep the floor daily.
Damp mop weekly with a "neutral" floor cleaner diluted according to direction.
CAUTION: "HOT" water and/or any harsh ammoniated ( like "Mr.Clean ) or solvent-based ( like "Lestoil" ) will turn the linoleum "yellow" (or create "yellow spots") and degrade the bonding oils. If yours has yellowed it must be either lightened or removed through a bleaching action. You must "bleach" the floor, perhaps, back over several times. Dilute 1 part chlorine bleach with 3 parts cool water. Apply liberally and evenly onto floor and allow to stay for 30-45 minutes. If stain appears to be lightening, repeat process. If not, wet floor with bleach solution again and sprinkle scouring powder containing "chlorine bleach" onto it. Then scour floor. Immediately, rinse floor thoroughly with cool water. Neutralize floor with a vinegar rinse (1 cup of vinegar to 1 gallon of water). Then damp mop rinse with water one last time. You may have to repeat this process several times before a visible change is noticed. If nothing happens, you may have to get use to looking at yellowed linoleum. BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS SUGGESTION ON ENTIRE FLOOR TEST AN INCONSPICUOUS YELLOWED AREA WITH SAME PROCEDURE. IF SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT HARMING FLOOR, THEN PROCEED ONTO REST OF FLOORING.

YIKERS! that is alot of work! still seaching though maybe I can find something easier-lol

**kelblend** · 10-09-2002, 10:54 AM

Mine is green (yeeeeuck). Hey it was here when we bought and we MUST MUST replace it, buttttttt it seems bleach is the only thing that helps somewhat. That's true though that if anything puddles, it leaves a big light spot (hey 3 kids who don't tell if they spill something well you get it

). Mine is soooo porous it's a wonder it doesn't suck our feet in like quicksand!!

Thx lisaheiser--i might give that second one a shot before I get sucked into the quicksand I call my kitchen floor

HHEEE

llll

PPPPPP

MMM.......lol

**Angelseyes28** · 10-09-2002, 11:04 AM

Ok I will try bleaching this puppy then......i have done the bleach solution thing but not putting it on the floor and leaving it....never thought of that. Man that does sound like alot of work but at this point I am willing to try anything....i have a bday party sat for my son and i want my house to LOOK clean

**lisahiser** · 10-09-2002, 11:08 AM

Clorox suggests that you can use their wipes on it..... I don't see that one working to well. I think you would need a case!- lol

Good luck on getting it clean!

I am sooo glad we got rid of ours! we only had it in the bathroom but mannnn.. If I stood still too long I couldn't move it was so "sticky like" and I used Mr. Clean on it and alot of these sites say not to use it.....oops... oh well all gone now, now I have pretty tile.

**win20000** · 10-10-2002, 09:19 AM

I get the Armstrong floor cleaner at Walmart. It is $4.00 a bottle. The first time I used it, it was full strength applied directly to the floor. I then took a plastic scrub brush and scrubbed every inch of the floor. I then wiped the area with a bucket of water that had two capfuls of cleaner in it. The following week I mopped the floor with warm water and a generous amount of cleaner. Now I mop every other week and the floor shines. It is the lovely 1970s no wax linolem that was waxed on a weekly basis.

**moocher** · 10-10-2002, 05:32 PM

I don't know if this will work for you or not, but I have found that SOS Pads works wonders on everything!!! So does AJAX and a scrub brush!! I always scrub my floors instead of mop-just makes me feel better LOL. I had old linolium and the king with the little indentations in it that always turn black because the dirt doesn't come out-drove me nutz!! Whip out the old SOS pad and you don't even have to put much elbow grease into it at all! I us them for everything-even scrubing the tub-bf works in the garage alot and gets the tub all greasey. Ajax is the same way-dump some of it on the floor-run a scrub brush over it and wipe it up!! My best friend moved into an apartment with an ancient, terrible floor-I scrubbed it for her and it looked like someone had put in a new floor!

Good Luck!

Thread: What is the best floor cleaner for linoleum?

Thread Tools

Display