I’ve recently taken over looking after an old flat in Prague and I think overall, we’ve been lucky, that the flat is structurally sound and most of the work that needs to be done is considered ‘cosmetic’.
We are on a very tight budget, so we are always thinking about how to keep stuff first before replacing it. One big issue is the kitchen linoleum floor. It’s been put down back in the 1960s and considering that it has been there for nearly 60 years, it’s not even scratched, and nothing is peeling off! The only problem is that it’s discoloured as it hasn’t been deep cleaned regularly. You can clearly see where the main traffic through the kitchen was and the difference in colour is huge!
But since the actual condition of the lino is very good, I’ve decided to have a go at cleaning it first, before I decide about replacing it.
So, here are my top tips on how to deep clean a linoleum floor
Ideally, this should be done once or twice a year, but since my kitchen linoleum floor hasn’t been cleaned for some time, I had to repeat the process several times.
- First, sweep or vacuum the floor making sure that any dust, crumbles or other dirt particles are removed.
- The next step is to sprinkle baking soda on the floor, especially in the places where you see a build-up of discolouration (dirt)
- After that mix about 4 l of hot water, one large cup of vinegar, and a few drops of washing up liquid
- Mop the floor with the water solution, using the scrub brush to remove stubborn dirt, or in high traffic areas.
- After you’ve cleaned the whole floor with the special water solution, mop once more using clean hot water to remove any traces of baking soda or washing up liquid residue.
Extra tip for cleaning old linoleum floor
If your floor is very discoloured like mine, you have no option, then to get down on your knees and use a soft brush to really get rid of the build-up dirt. Apart from the water mixture mentioned above, I’ve also used cream cleaner which has a sand consistency and the combination of hot water, brush bristles and some old-fashioned elbow grease have helped to lift the dirt from the linoleum.
After any deep cleaning, you need to carry on looking after your floor to make sure you don’t get a build-up of dirt again.
General Cleaning for linoleum floor
Use a damp microfiber mop to remove dust on a daily basis
Once a week, use a soft-bristled broom or vacuum cleaner to remove any debris and dust
When needed, mop the floor using a solution of hot water, vinegar, and a few drops of washing up liquid. You can also use a specialist linoleum cleaning product, but a homemade cleaning solution works as well as anything from the shelves at your local supermarket. Make sure that you don’t flood the floor with a lot of water, linoleum is still a porous material and you don’t want the water to get under the linoleum flooring.