Keeping your Stone Polymer Composite (SPC) flooring looking as clean and pristine as the day it was installed is actually much easier than you might think. With just a few simple steps and a couple of top tips you can maintain the beauty and durability of your SPC flooring for years to come. Here are our top tips for effectively keeping your floor clean, as well as a couple of pointers on what to avoid.
Tips for Keeping Your Floor Clean
Everyday life can take its toll on your flooring, but it doesn’t have to be that way. With a bit of simple care and regular upkeep your SPC flooring can continue to look fresh day after day.
- Daily Sweeping: A daily sweep does wonders for keeping your SPC flooring looking pristine as well as keeping your home tidy. It only takes a few minutes and is the easiest way to keep dirt at bay. Just remember to use a soft bristle brush to avoid any scratches or abrasion on the surface.
- Vacuum Weekly: Your cleaning routine is your own, but when it comes to SPC flooring we’d recommend vacuuming at least once a week. A vacuum can pick up those smaller particles that the brushing might miss. Providing a full vacuum clean once a week can really help to keep your SPC floor healthy and happy.
- Wear Slippers Indoors: Try to avoid bringing dirt and debris into the house and into contact with your flooring by using slippers. Even such a small and simple change can significantly reduce the risk of scratches or damage to your flooring.
- Add Mats and Rugs: Door mats and rugs are a great addition to spruce up the style of any room but can also serve a secondary purpose of providing protection to your flooring from heavy furniture, or high traffic areas like the entrance way.
- Protective Pads: Protective pads that attach to the feet of your furniture are a simple and cheap method of protecting your floor from being scuffed by sliding furniture. Just a little addition like this can help to improve the longevity of your SPC flooring for years to come.
How To Clean SPC Flooring
Maintain the cleanliness of your SPC floor with a few simple steps:
- Daily Sweeping and Weekly Vacuuming: As we mentioned before doing a dry clean with a brush once a day and a vacuum once a week will prevent dirt and debris from accumulating and significantly reduce the risk of scratches appearing on the surface of your flooring.
- Mopping: For a deeper cleaner and to lift away any stains or dried on dirt it is essential to mop your SPC flooring to return it to its pristine self. We recommend a regular clean with a damp mop and a mild soapy solution. Avoid using too much water or letting it sit on the surface for too long as this can cause damage over time.
- Avoid Harsh Cleaners: SPC Flooring can be cleaned effectively with mild pH-neutral cleaners. Avoid anything abrasive or containing strong chemicals.
Cleaners You Can Use with SPC Flooring
pH-neutral cleaners are recommended for use with SPC flooring. Their built-in wear layer and robust composition ensure that your flooring stays stylish and functional for years to come. To protect the design layers and the integrity of the material it is important to only use mild cleaners as harsher cleaners can breakdown the stone polymer make up of SPC flooring.
So to keep your SPC flooring in top condition, it’s important to use only the following recommended cleaners:
- pH-Neutral Cleaners: These are gentle on your flooring and other surfaces whilst effectively removing dirt, stains, and grime. There are many brands who provide pH-Neutral cleaners, feel free to choose your favourite, as long as it is truly a pH-neutral cleaning agent it will clean effectively without damaging your SPC flooring.
- Mild Soapy Water: A simple mix of dish soap and warm water will do the trick with SPC flooring, so if you don’t have any fancy pH-neutral cleaners then fear not!
- Vinyl Floor Cleaners: Designed specifically for vinyl, LVT and SPC flooring, vinyl floor cleaners are also perfectly suited to the job.
Cleaners to Avoid
Many common household cleaners, including bathroom and kitchen cleaners, are too abrasive or corrosive to be used on SPC flooring. The chemicals can react with the limestone or the PVC in the core and cause the planks to weaken, alternatively they can react with the coating and vinyl design and compromise the quality and aesthetics of your SPC flooring.
To avoid any of these issues it is important to stay clear of the following:
- Abrasive Cleaners: These are cleaners with particulates designed to scratch away embedded dirt, rust, and grime. This can also apply to abrasive cleaning tools like steel wool and pan scourers. The abrasive materials will damage and mar the surface of your SPC flooring. A soft mop or cloth with a mild cleaner is all that is required.
- Bleach and Ammonia Based Cleaners: Bleach and ammonia both have a high pH rating making them alkaline based cleaners. These will be too reactive and can be harsh on surfaces, and so is not recommended for use with SPC flooring.
- Steam Mops: Whilst steam mops can provide excellent cleaning power without the use of chemicals their high heat output can put SPC flooring at the risk of warping or weakening so it is not recommended for use as a cleaner.
Conclusion
Maintaining beautiful flooring is a point of pride for most households and with the wonderful range of aesthetic choices SPC flooring provides it’s important to know the best care tips to keep enjoying your flooring in style. By following our tips for regular upkeep and selecting the right cleaners your luxury flooring is going to look good as new for years to come. Remember to avoid harsh chemicals and excessive moisture and your SPC floor will remain a stunning feature of your home.
For more detailed cleaning instruction or to explore our range of SPC flooring, visit Nutile’s Product Range today.
