Cleaning and maintenance of resilient floors: everything you need to know

Resilient floors are a popular choice for both domestic and commercial environments, due to their durability, comfort and ease of maintenance. But what exactly are resilient floors and why are they chosen so frequently?

Resilient floors: meaning and features

Resilient flooring is a category of floor coverings that includes materials such as PVC, linoleum, laminate and rubber. These materials are defined as “resilient” for their ability to resist wear, impacts and stains, while maintaining a certain elasticity. Thanks to these features, resilient floors are ideal for high traffic areas and areas where easy and periodic cleaning is required. These floors are known to be resilient warm floors, which means that they offer a feeling of warmth and comfort to the touch, unlike other more rigid materials such as porcelain tiles or stone. In addition, the maintenance of resilient floors is relatively simple and this makes them a practical solution for multiple contexts.

However, there are different types, each with different characteristics, that require maintenance and personalized care: let’s see them together.

PVC (polyvinyl chloride)

PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is a versatile and durable synthetic plastic material, obtained by the polymerization of vinyl chloride. Used in numerous applications, from electrical cable pipes and coatings to floors, PVC is valued for its durability, water resistance and ease of maintenance. In flooring, PVC offers a wide variety of designs, including wood or stone, making it a convenient choice for both home and commercial environments. It is waterproof and easy to clean, features that make it ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. We receive many questions about how to clean a wood-effect PVC floor or about the best products for cleaning PVC floors. We will see later the best solutions for cleaning and maintenance of this type of surface.

Linoleum

Linoleum is a natural material, made mainly with linseed oil, wood or cork flour, natural resins and pigments. Known for its ecological sustainability, linoleum is antibacterial and durable, ideal for high-traffic environments such as schools, hospitals and offices. Available in a wide range of colors and designs, it offers an aesthetic and practical solution for those looking for a functional and environmentally friendly floor. It is particularly appreciated in health and school contexts.

How to clean linoleum? Linoleum is a natural material that requires special care, especially if it is very dirty or stained. Cleaning stained linoleum requires the use of specific products, because with aggressive or non-specific products you would risk damaging the material. For routine cleaning it is always recommended to use a neutral detergent diluted in warm water, to apply the solution with a well-wrung microfiber mop and avoid using too much water, since excessive moisture can damage the linoleum.

Laminate

Flooring laminate is a versatile and convenient material, consisting of multiple layers compressed together to form a robust and durable surface. Its structure generally includes a core of high density wood fiber, a decorative layer that reproduces the appearance of wood or stone, and a transparent protective layer resistant to scratches and stains. Among the main advantages of laminate are the ease of installation, often possible thanks to click-in systems, and its resistance to daily wear, which makes it ideal for high traffic environments. We often receive questions about how to clean the laminate and whether there is any special attention to have when cleaning the wood effect laminate. Actually the laminate is a fairly easy type of surface to clean and maintain over time, like the other resilient materials we have seen. It requires regular cleaning with non-abrasive products and a deeper occasional cleaning.

Gomma

Floor rubber is a versatile and durable material, appreciated for its characteristics of durability, comfort and safety. Made from natural or synthetic materials, the rubber offers high elasticity and cushioning and this makes it particularly suitable for spaces such as gyms, play areas, hospitals and offices where comfort under the feet is important. The non-slip surface of the rubber reduces the risk of falls, improving safety in high traffic environments. In addition, the rubber is resistant to impact, wear and stains, and can withstand heavy loads without deformation. However, in the long run it can get dirty and dull due to continuous trampling.
So, do you want to know how to clean and polish rubber floors? We will give you useful tips, even to clean the rubberized gym floor. 

Good habits for the maintenance of resilient floors

The cleaning and regular maintenance of resilient floors are essential to preserve their beauty and ensure their durability. Below, you will find some generic tips that apply to all types of resilient flooring, including PVC, linoleum, laminate and rubber.

• Sweep and vacuum regularly: Remove dust, dirt and surface debris daily with a soft bristle broom or a vacuum cleaner with a brush suitable for hard floors. This prevents the accumulation of abrasive particles that could scratch the floor surface.
• Wash with a neutral detergent: Use a mild and specific detergent for resilient floors diluted in warm water. Avoid harsh chemicals, such as ammonia or bleach, which may damage the protective floor covering. Wipe the well-wrung mop or damp cloth over the floor, taking care not to use too much water when cleaning laminate floors, as excess moisture may seep into the joints and cause swelling or damage. Other types of resilient surfaces are much more water resistant.
• Avoid using abrasive objects: Do not use abrasive sponges or metal scouring pads that may scratch the floor surface. Opt for soft cloths or microfiber mops for safe and effective cleaning.

Regular cleaning of resilient floors not only contributes to maintaining a pleasant aesthetic appearance, but is also essential for their longevity. Constant maintenance prevents surface damage, maintains hygiene, preserves the aesthetics of the floor and prolongs its life. Following these general cleaning tips will help keep your floors resilient in top condition, ensuring they continue to offer comfort and beauty for many years to come.

We now discover the products that meet all our needs. All your doubts about how to clean the wood effect laminate , or about which is the best PVC floor cleaner are about to be answered!

Marbec products for cleaning and maintaining resilient floors

STRIP RESIL: for deep but not aggressive cleaning of resilient floors

The product STRIP RESIL is a universal dewaxing floor cleaning agent. Ideal for deep and non-aggressive cleaning of resilient surfaces such as linoleum, rubber, pvc and laminate. It is a fast-acting product, specific to remove old layers of metallic wax and various polymers on resilient materials, without damaging the material. Even at low concentrations it has an effective exhausting action that can be easily graduated with dilution in water. In addition, STRIP RESIL is a low foaming product and does not release unpleasant odors during use and in environments.

For washes where a normal de-waxing action is necessary, it will be sufficient to dissolve 250ml of product in 1 liter of water. The product is spread by wetting the surface and letting it act for 10-15 minutes. After this time it is advisable to rub with a RED BUFFER or with a RED DISC for single-brush machine. Afterwards, just remove the residue and go with a mop or a clean microfiber cloth, you do not need to rinse. It is recommended not to let the old layers of wax dissolved by the wax remover dry on the surface.

POLIFIN: The ideal product for polishing resilient floors

POLIFIN is a glossy metallic wax ideal for protecting and enhancing stone materials placed inside, such as cotto, natural absorbing stone and terrazzo. In addition, it is also suitable for resilient materials such as PVC, linoleum and resin floors. Thanks to its formulation, POLIFIN offers effective protection against the wear of time and preserves the bottom treatment, while facilitating the cleaning of surfaces. Wax creates a barrier that makes surfaces easier and faster to clean, while maintaining good vapor permeability of the material.

The application of POLIFIN is simple: after shaking the product, it is applied in small quantities on the surface using a soft cloth or a spreading fleece, distributing it evenly. When drying it is important not to step on the product. Once the first coat is dry, you can apply a second coat for optimal protection. To increase the gloss or remove any trampling marks, the treated surface can be rubbed with a wool cloth, a polisher with felt, a RED BUFFER or a single brush with RED DISC.

UNIPUL: For the daily cleaning of resilient floors

For the ordinary cleaning of resilient floors such as PVC, rubber, linoleum and laminate, the most effective and least aggressive product on materials is UNIPUL. This multi-purpose concentrate cleaner is suitable for both floors and coatings, ensuring a deep cleaning without deteriorating the bottom treatment of already treated surfaces. One of the distinctive features of UNIPUL is that it does not leave halos on the surfaces and releases a pleasant scent in the rooms.

For ordinary surface cleaning, it is sufficient to dilute 10-40 cc of UNIPUL in a liter of water and apply it as a normal detergent using a microfiber cloth. This dilution is also compatible with the use of scrubbing machines, making the cleaning process even more efficient and easy.

Preventing problems in resilient floors, is better than curing 

As we have seen above, floors such as rubber, PVC and linoleum are very resistant to trampling and are very difficult to stain. For these reasons, they are widely used in public construction, for example in schools, hospitals or airports. However, there are substances that could ruin or degrade them. Especially when cleaning linoleum, which is a material based on linseed oil and wood and cork chipboard, special care should be taken not to use alkaline detergents, bleach or alcohol. The use of these substances could dissolve the material and create abrasions or stains, which would then be impossible to remove. So, beware of these detergents that are too aggressive and risk damaging the linoleum and other types of resilient floor. For the rest, there are no other particular precautions to observe… In the end, strength and durability are the main features of these materials!