Karndean vinyl plank flooring is not as pricey as hardwood, but that doesn’t mean it’s cheap. This luxury flooring is a big project for most consumers, and you understandably want to take good care of it.
Cleaning Karndean is much easier than their website would make it seem, which tries to sell expensive proprietary cleaners without explaining how they are special.
Instead of blindly buying the Karndean cleaners, consider what these cleaners are made of.
To clean Karndean floors, you need should:
- Regularly sweep (or vacuum with hard floor settings) to prevent dirt buildup.
- For mopping, use a concentrated, water-soluble, and PH-neutral cleaner.
- Use an alkaline floor polish remover followed by a non-soluble polish every 6 to 12 months.
Choose gentle products designed for use on vinyl to have the best results.
First, I will briefly explain what Karnedean floors are and what they say about cleaning their floors.
Then, I will explain how you should clean Karndean vinyl plank flooring while avoiding the confusing use of brand-specific terms on Karndean’s website.
What Is Karndean Vinyl Plank Flooring?
Karndean vinyl plank flooring is a type of luxury vinyl flooring made by leading flooring manufacturer Karndean. Their vinyl plank comes in individual boards rather than the larger sheets many other brands offer.
Their floors are vinyl and made primarily from limestone. Inspired by wood, Karndean floors look similar to hardwood but require different cleaning techniques.
What Karndean Says About Cleaning Their Floors
Disappointingly, they have very little advice on cleaning their floors that does not read like a sales pitch for their cleaning products.
They try to make it seem like you can’t maintain your floor without their special “Floor Care Kit,” but this isn’t true.
What Are Karndean’s Cleaning Products?
The three main products in the Floor Care Kit are:
- Karndean Clean
- Karndean Remove
- Karndean Refresh
1. Karndean Clean
Their everyday cleaner, Karndean Clean, is a concentrated, water-soluble, PH-neutral cleaner. This sounds very technical, and it is, but most on-the-market floor cleaners fit these criteria.
When choosing your everyday cleaner, look for these characteristics and cleaners that advertise themselves for use on vinyl.
2. Karndean Remove
Karndean Remove is the first product in their two-part restoration set. It is meant to strip films off the floor without damaging it and preps the floor for a coat of “Karndean Restore” (a.k.a. floor polish).
Karndean Remove is an alkaline floor cleaner that removes protein-based layers like oil and fat without harming the laminate. Many industrial cleaners like Ecolabs’ restaurant floor cleaners are similar.
3. Karndean Restore
The last product on the list is Karndean Restore, which is meant to be applied to the floor every six months after using Karndean Remove. This product is a non-soluble floor polish, meaning that it is a light, thin layer of oil that you apply to the floor.
This layer makes the floor more water-resistant and protects it from stains. It will also make the floor look shiny and new.
To substitute for this product, choose any floor polish suitable for vinyl, such as those sold by Rejuvenate, Quick Shine, or Bona.
2 Ways To Clean Karndean Vinyl Plank Flooring
These two methods will maintain your floor for many years to come. Use method 1 for everyday cleaning, and use method two every 6-12 months for deeper cleaning.
1. Simple Cleaning
A simple clean should be done anywhere from once a day to once a week, depending on your lifestyle. It consists of either sweeping or vacuuming away loose dirt and then mopping.
Supplies
- A broom or vacuum
- A mop
- A bucket
- A concentrated, water-soluble, and PH-neutral floor cleaner.
Method
- Start by tidying away the loose object from the floor until it is clear.
- If using a vacuum cleaner, set it to the hardwood floor setting.
- Begin sweeping or vacuuming the floor, taking care to go under and behind furniture.
- Turn off and put away the broom or vacuum.
- Measure out the manufacturer-recommended amount of cleaner into the bucket (usually about one capful).
- Fill the rest of the bucket with warm water.
- Use the mop and bucket to mop the floor.
When mopping vinyl flooring, remember that vinyl should never have standing water on it. Wring the mop thoroughly before using it to prevent excess water on the floor.
The floor should be dry ten minutes after mopping. If necessary, wipe up excess water with a towel.
2. A Full Restore
The goal of the full restoration is to remove the old polish (with it all stubborn dirt and stains) before applying a new coat. This will brighten the appearance of the floor and make it shine.
Redoing the polish layer every 6-12 months prevents it from wearing thin, which would expose the material underneath to irreversible staining.
Supplies
- A gentle alkaline floor cleaner.
- A vinyl-approved floor polish.
- A bucket.
- A mop.
- A new mop(head) which you will dispose of.
Method
- Remove all furniture or standing objects from the room.
- Before beginning, complete a simple clean as described in method 1.
- While waiting for the floor to dry after the simple clean, wash out the bucket and mop.
- Fill the bucket with alkaline cleaner according to manufacturer directions (check to see if it needs diluting, etc.)
- Mop the floor with the alkaline cleaner, squeezing the mop well to avoid standing water.
- Allow the floor to dry while cleaning out the bucket and drying.
- Pour floor polish into the bucket.
- Attach the new mop head to your stick.
- Mop the floor gently with the floor polish (use sparingly to avoid uneven distribution).
- Toss the mop head and clean the bucket with an alkaline cleaner.
- Replace furniture after 3-4 hours and resume normal traffic.
Are Karndean Cleaning Products Worth It?
If you look for cleaning instructions on the manufacturer’s website, you’ll notice that they only explain how to use their proprietary cleaners.
Not only is this frustrating, but are these products worth the money? I think these products only have the advantage of convenience, and you will pay for this with a brand markup.
Many other products on the market are suitable for cleaning Karndean floors at a lower price point. You will need to take the time to figure out which ones.
Summary
Karndean vinyl plank flooring should be swept/vacuumed and mopped regularly. After mopping, ensure the floor is dry in less than ten minutes.
To preserve the floor’s shine, you can use an alkaline cleaner and a vinyl-safe floor polish every 6 to 12 months.
Karndean sells a comprehensive system for maintaining their floors, but I find them too expensive compared to competitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Scrub Karndean’s Vinyl Plank Flooring?
No, it would be best if you weren’t scrubbing or using abrasive cleaners on vinyl. This will cause scratches to the flooring and will dull the finish.
If you notice staining or dinginess, remove the old floor polish and apply a new layer instead.
Can I Use Pine Sol on Vinyl Flooring?
Sometimes you can use Pin Sol on vinyl, depending on the product. For example, pine sol makes products specifically for vinyl but avoids using its wax-based products on vinyl floors.
