How to Clean Linoleum Floors

Co-authored by Alicia Sokolowski

Last Updated: February 22, 2024 Approved

Linoleum floors are sturdy and durable, but they still need to be cleaned occasionally. When linoleum floors are properly cleaned and taken care of, they can last nearly 50 years. Keep your linoleum floors in their best condition by following these easy cleaning and maintenance steps.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Cleaning Your Linoleum Floors

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1
Clean up excess bits of dirt. Sweep, dust mop or vacuum your linoleum floor to remove excess dirt on the floor’s surface. ^{[1]
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Expert Source

Alicia Sokolowski
Green Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.} Focus on collecting dirt from areas underneath cabinets, cupboards, and appliances. ^{[2]
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- If you vacuum your linoleum floor, be sure to change the vacuum settings to clean hard surfaces rather than carpet. ^{[3]
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2
Try mixing a natural cleaning solution. Fill up a large bucket about ¼ - ½ of the way with lukewarm water. Mix in equal parts of white vinegar. The exact measurements on the water to vinegar ratios are rather loose, because most linoleum floors do not need an entire bucket’s worth of cleaning solution to clean the floor surface.
- Besides, standing water can damage linoleum, so you never want to use more water than necessary. ^{[4]
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  Research source} ^{[5]
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EXPERT TIP

Filip Boksa
House Cleaning Professional
Filip Boksa is a House Cleaning Professional and the CEO and Founder of King of Maids, a company based in Chicago, Illinois. With over 10 years of professional experience, Filip and his team at King Maids specialize in providing home cleaning and organization services to their clients. They are dedicated to delivering high-quality and reliable service to ensure customer satisfaction.

Filip Boksa
House Cleaning Professional

Our Expert Agrees: Use one gallon of hot water, one cup of vinegar, and a couple of drops of dish soap. Apply the mixture to your floors with a microfiber mop to gently lift dirt and grime.

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3
Try mixing a chemical cleaning solution. Use a cleaning product specifically intended for cleaning linoleum floors. Linoleum-specific cleaning products can be found in most flooring and home department stores. Most linoleum floor cleaners need to be diluted with water, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions by mixing in the appropriate amount of cleaning detergent in a large bucket filled with the correct measurements of water. ^{[6]
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Research source} If using a chemical cleaner, make sure that your cleaning area is well ventilated.
- Alternatively, you could mix about 6-7 drops of a mild detergent (such as dish soap) with approximately one gallon of warm water as your cleaning solution. ^{[7]
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- Bear in mind that this solution will clean and disinfect your floors, but a linoleum-specific cleaner might remove dirt a little better.
- Chemicals that have high pH levels can be extremely damaging to linoleum flooring, so stay away from cleaning products like ammonia when cleaning your linoleum floors.
4
Mop the floor. ^{[8]
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Expert Source

Alicia Sokolowski
Green Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.} Dip a mop into your cleaning solution, and thoroughly wring out excess solution. Your mop should be damp, rather than dripping wet. ^{[9]
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Research source} Mop the floor in sections, working in about 4-6 square foot areas for each dip of the mop. ^{[10]
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- If you want to clean you floors more thoroughly, you can use a soft bristled scrub brush instead of a mop. ^{[12]
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  Research source} This method would most likely require you to work on your hands and knees.
- If you are cleaning your floor with a vinegar and water solution, you don’t need to rinse off your floor. Vinegar is a natural disinfectant, and the vinegar and water will evaporate along with the vinegar smell.
5
Rinse the floor. ^{[13]
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Expert Source

Alicia Sokolowski
Green Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.} After you have mopped the whole floor, dump out the bucket of cleaning solution and water, and thoroughly rinse out the mop with clean water. Refill the bucket of water with cool, clean water. ^{[14]
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Research source} Dip the clean mop into the clean water, wring out any excess water, and rinse the cleaning solution from the floor. ^{[15]
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Research source} Again, work in areas approximately 4-6 square foot areas for each time you dip the mop into the water. When you are finished rinsing the floor, dump out the bucket of water.
- If chemical cleaning solutions are not rinsed from the floor, they will attract tiny particles of dust and dirt, that will be harder to remove later. ^{[16]
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Wipe down the entire floor with a towel, cleaning cloth, or a microfiber mop head for extra shine. ^{[17]
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Expert Source

Alicia Sokolowski
Green Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.} Allow the floor to completely dry being moving back furniture or allow traffic on the floor surface.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Polishing Your Linoleum Floor

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1
Wash your floor. Before you polish your floor, it has to be thoroughly cleaned. Vacuum and wash your floor as you normally would, using the basic cleaning method. ^{[18]
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Research source} Make sure that the floor is completely dry before proceeding to add polish.
- Be sure to rinse the floor thoroughly after washing. Any leftover cleaning residue could negatively affect the polish. ^{[19]
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Do not pour the polish directly on the floor. Instead, use a clean bucket to contain the polish. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instruction on the back of the polish to know how much you should be using.
3
Add the polish to the floor. Apply linoleum polish to the floor, using a clean, damp mop. Apply 1-3 coats of polish in approximately 3-4 square foot areas. Allow each coat to thoroughly dry by wait approximately 30 minutes in between coats. Let the final coat of polish dry for approximately an hour before moving back furniture and walking on the floor surface.
- Try to restrict the number of times you drag your mop over a given area. Moving your mop over an area more than once or twice runs the risk of leaving streaks in the polish. ^{[20]
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Expert Q&A

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How do I make my linoleum floors shine?

Alicia Sokolowski
Green Cleaning Specialist
Alicia Sokolowski is a Green Cleaning Specialist and the President and co-CEO of AspenClean, a green cleaning company in Vancouver, British Columbia. With over 2 decades of experience, Alicia specializes in creating a healthier, green alternative to chemical-based cleaning products and services. AspenClean develops and manufactures its own line of 100% Natural, EcoCert® certified, and EWG verified™ cleaning products. AspenClean’s glass cleaner was voted Parent’s Green Pick 2020 by readers of the Parents’ magazine. Alicia holds a CPA designation and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Finance from the University of Toronto.

Alicia Sokolowski

Green Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

Once you're done mopping, dry the linoleum with a dry microfiber mop head.

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How do I get rid of rust on linoleum floors?

Community Answer

I would recommend using brake cleaner. Just let it sit for a few minutes and then wipe it off gently.

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How do I get pen marks off the floor?

Community Answer

Your best bet is to buy a Magic Eraser by Mr.Clean. Or, if it was a water based ink, soap and water should do it.

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Use colorfast pads on the bottom of chairs and furniture legs. Colorfast pads will prevent stains from the floor and scratches from the furniture.

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Using the vinegar not only cleans your linoleum, but it will help extend the life of your carpeting. Most floor cleaners leave a residue that can track onto your carpet.

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The more loose dirt you remove before beginning, the more efficiently the rest of the cleaning job will go.

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Warnings

Do not use ammonia to clean your linoleum floors. Ammonia has a high pH level that will damage the linoleum surface. Any chemicals that have high pH content should be avoided.

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Do not place rubber or latex backed mats on linoleum. The chemicals in the backing will create a stain on the linoleum.

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It’s better to avoid 2-in-1 cleaning and waxing solutions. Normally, these combined mixtures never work as well as the individual products.

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How to Clean Linoleum Floors

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Cleaning Your Linoleum Floors

Polishing Your Linoleum Floor

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