How to deep clean a linoleum floor?

Question

I just bought a house. The kitchen floor is lineleum, about 15 years old. The problem is that it was once beige, now it's stained (a medium shade of brown), and scuffed, and looks terrible. You can litterally see where the table was, and the usual traffic pattern. The privious owner was, how do I say nicely, less than interested in cleaning. Her idea of cleaning the floor involved walking around in socks. So, I'm wondering how to I clean this thing up without causing more damage to the small holes and pits that are in the floor? Is it possible to make it all one color again? I have always had tile, so this is new to me. I plan to replace the floor in a few years, but, right now, money is a bit tight. Can I just use an SOS pad, or bleach and water? Any ideas?

Answer 1

They make good strippers ........but it's hand's and knees as you know and a scrub brush. And after that you might try a little light bleach......hope it works out......nite. We use to buff them in the military........but you got 50 guys to help you also.

Answer 2

I always used bleach and water and an SOS pad, but be gentle with the SOS pad. If you rub too hard you do more damage than cleaning. I also used one of those scouring pads like you do dishes with. Took off black heel marks and stains. Good luck

Answer 3

Sounds to me like a lot of wear and tear, and loads of wax build up. Strip the wax with hot water and ammonia.  Then just buy a high quality linoleum wax.  Armstrong has a great line.

Chances are it woun't look "new", but a darn sight better than it does now.

Another option would be to paint.  Sand down the rough spots and paint with a high quality latex semi-gloss or eggshell  paint.

Answer 4

strip the floor with a commercial wax stripper. You can try hot water mixed with ammonia. Mop it on and let it sit for a few minutes then mop it up with clean water.

Answer 5

I would clean it the best you could with the previous ideas and perhaps you could purchase an inexpensive area carpet/rug to go under the table and chairs until you can afford to redo the flooring.

Answer 6

The stain sounds permanant. Can you imagine trying to scrub it and making the color uniform? I would go to Lowes and buy those stick on vinyl tiles. They have really nice ones with beveled edges and are about $20 for 20 tiles (I think they are each 1 square foot). You can put those right over the old linoleum at an affordable price. They look nice and dont shrink or peel up either. I think my kitchen cost less than $100 to do and I was able to do most of the floor during my sons naptime.

Answer 7

You can rent those electric floor buffers/scrubbers.  Sounds like it needs a good going over with one of those!  You start out with a slightly abrasive pad and work your way to polishing.

One thing I've found that helped my kitchen floor with commercial linoleum in it is a steam cleaner.  The steam type mops or a canister model with the floor attachment.  They really get down in and pull the stuff out.  Might take a couple of cleanings with one but you will see a difference shortly!  

I've tried bleach, vinegar, baking soda, hands and knees scrubbing, the works and the steam cleaner is by far the easiest solution with a good result!

I got mine at Lowe's and it's a Shark canister model steamer.  It's got all kinds of tools with it and works for a LOT of different jobs!  Cleaning the gas grill, counters, stoves, cupboards, walls, windows and even golf clubs!  Mine was about $100 but it was well worth the investment.  No more harsh, stinky chemicals that don't really work.  Much easier on you AND the environment!

Answer 8

How big is the kitchen? That's going to decide a LOT.

If it's small(ish), try making a paste from bake soda, water and bleach. Work it around the areas and try to get the grit off. Next, put a LITTLE bleach and a LITTLE vingear in a bucket of water and clean the floor.

If it's larger, I would consider just buying new linoleum. It sounds like the floor has honestly met it's end, and if you have the finances, I suggest investing in some new flooring.

Most likely you will never see the original color again though, especially if the old owners didn't really care for it.

Answer 9

vinegar and water, or muratic acid and water, or bleach and water... DO NOT MIX BLEACH AND MURATIC ACID TOGETHER!!!! you'll have mustard gas, and it will kill you. any of these will work just fine...