How to update linoleum in 2 hours - a quick way to transform the floor

Linoleum is a time-tested and quite practical floor covering that can successfully withstand most external factors: mechanical abrasion, exposure to ultraviolet radiation and chemical reagents contained in detergents.
However, with all the development of modern technologies, eternal materials have not yet been invented. Over time, the most expensive and high-quality linoleum loses its original appearance, becomes dull and crumbles, so many people often have the question of how to update linoleum with their own hands.

Selecting a detergent

Important! The simplest and most affordable detergent for linoleum is water with soap or dishwashing detergent, floor detergent, or just liquid soap.

The simplest and most affordable detergent for linoleum is liquid soap.

But it is not always possible to achieve the desired result with the help of water.

If you just want to quickly wipe the floor and refresh its color, then plain water will be enough without adding any powders, gels, etc.

If you just want to quickly wipe the floor and refresh its color, then plain water will be enough

But if the dirt is deeply ingrained into the surface, then washing the floor with water so that the linoleum shines will be very difficult, if not completely impossible.

In such a situation, only specially created means for combating complex pollution will be effective.

You can find a huge selection of floor cleaning products on store shelves. Ideally, you need to choose one that is designed specifically for cleaning linoleum. This product does not contain solid particles that can damage the surface. If you wash linoleum with a detergent not intended for this coating, then there is a high risk of damage, and it will no longer be possible to return the previous appearance.

Detergents differ according to the method of application:

• for regular cleaning;
• with dirt-repellent and protective properties;
• universal.

Each type of product has its own unique composition, so you should never mix them. This will not increase efficiency, quite the contrary. You should not choose gels and powders that contain chlorine, alkali or soda.

You can find a huge selection of floor cleaning products on store shelves.

Some housewives solve the problem of how to wash linoleum to make it shine very simply: they wash the linoleum with powder or laundry soap. In fact, such “supplements” do not give the desired result. After the surface dries, the desired shine does not appear; on the contrary, white stripes are visible on the floor, and it has to be washed.

Fat removal

Grease stains often appear on linoleum, especially when laid in the kitchen. To eliminate them, various methods are used, ranging from improvised means to professional ones.

Home Remedies

Large and small grease stains can be dealt with using products that can be found in the kitchen, medicine cabinet, workshop, and even in the garden.

Alcohol

Alcohol can be used to clean linoleum even from complex grease stains. To do this, rub the problem area with a cotton pad or cloth soaked in alcohol, then rinse with a damp sponge.

Elder

Elderberry berries are mashed into a paste, you can do this with a blender, apply to the stain and leave to act. After some time, the pulp is removed and the surface is wiped.

Turpentine

Turpentine is a remedy that is left as a last resort if others have not helped. They should act very carefully, wiping the stain with a small amount applied to a cotton pad. Then thoroughly wash the floor with a damp cloth.

Special means

Blot the fresh stain with a napkin, trying to erase it completely. If the dirt is old, you can use dishwashing liquid or use a product specially designed for linoleum. The product is distributed over the grease stain, rubbed in a circular motion with a soft sponge, then washed with a damp cloth. Such products as Mellerud, Loba, Longlife have proven their effectiveness in the fight against fat.

How to properly wash linoleum?

To make linoleum shine, it is necessary not only to choose products, but also to properly care for the surface.

Before you start wet cleaning, you should remove all small debris from the surface.

Before you start wet cleaning, you should remove all small debris from the surface using a vacuum cleaner, brush or regular broom. In the first 3-4 weeks after flooring, this cleaning method remains the main one, since washing linoleum is not recommended. It needs to “rest” for a bit, and excess moisture can cause waves.

It is equally important to wash linoleum to make it shine. Wet cleaning can be done manually or using a mop, but in any case you need to choose the right material for the rag. The floor covering will retain its appearance for a long time if washed with a soft cloth or a soft bristle brush.

Important! This material does not tolerate high temperatures well, as do abrasives.

Therefore, after washing the floor, you need to immediately wipe it dry with a piece of flannel. This method is suitable if you plan to remove dust regularly. This will help simplify tidying - all you need to do is wipe the floor with a damp cloth.

More complex contaminants can be effectively removed using gasoline

If there are stains on the surface, dry cleaning is also carried out first. Then a cleaning solution (gel, soap, etc.) is applied to the stain. The contaminated area is carefully treated.

Regular dishwashing detergent works well for greasy stains. More complex stains (traces of dyes, coffee, iodine, shoe polish, etc.) are effectively removed using gasoline or kerosene. If the area of ​​contamination is small, then you can get by with an ammonia solution or nail polish remover. Tile detergent helps against limescale stains. Lemon juice helps remove mold or rust.

Important! To keep linoleum shiny, it is important not to leave stain removal until later, but to try to remove it immediately. Otherwise, contamination can become deeply embedded in the material and ruin its appearance.

Lemon juice helps remove mold or rust from linoleum

Another common problem is color loss. The protective layer of linoleum is made up of wax and a polymer base. It has sufficient strength, but under the influence of certain factors it can be damaged. Discoloration of the coating occurs due to direct sunlight and exposure to chemicals.

Scratches can be “camouflaged” with wax

It’s easy to protect linoleum from sunlight - just close the curtains. And to remove dirt from the floor, you should not use products with a bleaching effect. They will only lead to the coating losing its shine, and it will be impossible to restore the appearance.

Another common coating problem is small scratches that occur due to small pebbles that can be “carried” on the soles of shoes. Scratches cannot be removed, but they can be “camouflaged”: you need to wipe the damaged area with wax.

Damage Prevention

It is much easier to prevent damage to the flooring material than to spend time and money restoring linoleum, so special attention should be paid to preserving the linoleum covering.

Natural linoleum coating is distinguished not only by its high cost, but also by a longer service life, averaging from 15 to 25 years. This is due to the fact that its coloring is done in an array. Despite all its excellent properties, natural flooring also requires regular maintenance.

The main factor leading to coating failure is sand and dirt. Due to their abrasive effect, the surface of the coating wears out much more, and it quickly becomes unusable.

It is enough to dry clean the floors daily with a broom or vacuum cleaner to extend the life of your linoleum. This also applies to artificial linoleum, which is even more susceptible to abrasion.

Other factors leading to damage to both natural and artificial turf include:

When placing furniture in a room, soft pads made of thick fabric or soft linoleum should be installed or glued under its legs.

This will help minimize damage from regular movement of light furniture (chairs, armchairs) or from the pressure of massive objects.

Cleaning products for linoleum

You can find many different cleaning and shine products on store shelves. Therefore, you need to know how to wash linoleum to make it shine.

MELLERUD is a good choice for frequent cleaning.

MELLERUD is a good choice for frequent cleaning. It allows you to create a protective layer on the surface and return the material to its former shine. It contains active substances from natural ingredients. For cleaning, it is important to dilute the product in lukewarm water. Before cleaning, sweep the floor and then apply the prepared solution in the usual way.

Wa-Lin is a universal product for regular cleaning by hand or with floor washing equipment. Wa-Lin can be used to clean all types of linoleum, but it is a good idea to test the reaction of the coating on a sample or in an area where possible damage will not be noticeable before application. You only need to dilute the product before washing the floor. It is important to protect your hands from exposure to alkali. For this purpose, special rubber gloves that are resistant to chemical attack are suitable.

Since some detergents are quite aggressive, the question arises of how to wash linoleum so that it shines, but at the same time not damage the skin on your hands during cleaning. In such cases, San Klin is recommended. It is suitable for cleaning linoleum, as well as other materials (wood, tiles). The prepared solution is applied to the surface and left for a few minutes (for light contamination). Then it should be washed off with clean water.

The HG product, designed for cleaning linoleum and vinyl flooring, can effectively clean the floor from dirt and make it shine. To remove dirt, simply wipe the floor with a solution. There is no need to rinse it off or dry it. When the floor begins to dry, you can polish it a little to add shine.

Complex contamination cases

From time to time you have to clean the floor from difficult stains, especially if there are small children in the house. But even if chewing gum is dropped on the linoleum or candle wax is dropped, the coating can be cleaned, giving it its original appearance. What tools will help cope with this task?

Chewing gum

To remove chewing gum from the coating, you need to freeze it. You can do this by placing an ice cube on it for about 10 minutes, then gently scrape it off with a non-sharp object, such as the blunt side of a knife.

See also

20 best ways to quickly clean grease from your kitchen hood

Wax

Wax can be removed in several ways. Firstly, the dirt is scraped off with a non-sharp spatula, and the residue is washed off with gasoline, then the surface is washed with a soap solution. Secondly, the wax can be heated for easier removal. It is best to do this with a hair dryer, cover the stain with a napkin, and remove the melted wax with the same napkin. If you heat with an iron, there is a risk of damaging the surface of the coating. To prevent this from happening, the floor is covered with a thick layer of napkins, which will absorb the melted wax.

If the wax is colored, then after removing the stain, marks may remain on the linoleum, especially light-colored ones. To remove them, dilute “Whiteness” in water in a ratio of 1 to 10 and wipe the problem area.

Felt pen

You can remove marker marks from linoleum using turpentine or gasoline. To do this, soak a cotton pad with the product and wipe off the dirt, then wash it first with soap and then with a clean cloth.

Rust, mold

You can remove rust and mold from linoleum with lemon juice. The juice is applied to the stain and rubbed with a sponge, then the product is washed off with water.

Ink

The ink is removed with soaked sulfur match heads, rubbing the dirt well with them. Another way is to use fine-grained sandpaper, which you rub very gently on the stain so as not to damage the surface too much. The treated area is rubbed with linseed oil, which does not need to be washed off.

How to restore shine to linoleum?

The appearance is lost not only from the influence of various harmful factors, such as aggressive chemical exposure, sunlight, etc. In many ways, how soon linoleum begins to lose its shine is influenced by its quality. If linoleum is cheap or of poor quality, then it is unlikely to please with its beautiful appearance for a very long time. Higher quality material, on the contrary, retains its original appearance and shine longer.

Potato broth will help restore shine to linoleum

But in any case, sooner or later the question arises of what to rub the linoleum with to make it shine. Folk remedies will come to the rescue with this. They include components that can be found in any apartment.

Regular potatoes will help restore the shine to linoleum. More precisely, not the tubers themselves, but a decoction of them. When it is ready, it needs to be added to the water intended for washing the floor and mixed well. Before doing this, the floor must be swept or vacuumed well. Then you can apply the decoction.

If you don’t have potatoes in the house or don’t want to use them, you can use potato starch, which is no less effective. Then 2-3 tablespoons of starch are added to the water and applied to the surface in the same way.

Cow's milk gives linoleum shine

An equally popular and accessible folk remedy is cow's milk. This method is widely known and has been used for several generations. This is what is often recommended on websites and forums when people ask what to do to make linoleum shine.

Milk needs to be diluted in the same amount of water, mixed and washed. Immediately after this, the floor must be wiped without waiting for it to dry. This method does not always give the desired result from the first use. You should be prepared for the fact that the procedure will have to be repeated several times to make the linoleum shine.

Regular vegetable oil helps restore shine to linoleum. The floor must first be swept and thoroughly rinsed with water and oil. After this, polish the surface with a woolen cloth or dish sponge. This treatment immediately produces results. The disadvantage is that it is not suitable for all types of linoleum. Thus, such treatment is not suitable for cheap linoleum, since oil can only damage the coating.

Elimination of minor floor defects

To begin with, before the surface of the flooring is restored, it is worth carefully inspecting it for defects, in this case - scratches, dents, cracks, cuts, stains, holes and other things. And if the linoleum is well preserved, you can try to update it. When it becomes very worn out during operation, it is best to completely replace it.

Important! Before using any of the recommended products, you should first apply it to an inconspicuous area. And if the material does not deteriorate, you can try to remove stains with it. This unwritten rule should be used always and everywhere during repair work.

Important! In order for your linoleum to last for a long time, maintaining its original appearance, you should pay special attention to its cleaning. It is recommended to do wet cleaning at least twice a week with specialized household chemicals added to the water for this floor covering.

Linoleum polishing products

Polishing varnish will create a new protective layer and add shine.

It is worth knowing when choosing what to wash linoleum with to make it shine, folk remedies are effective, but the result of their use is usually temporary. The shine after treatment with potato broth or milk quickly disappears, which makes it necessary to polish the floor again.

Modern products can help in adding shine, of which there are now many from a variety of manufacturers. They will be more effective on the old coating, since instead of an erased protective layer, they essentially create a new one, due to which the desired appearance and shine is achieved.

Previously, special floor mastic was used for the same purpose. It can be used now, but this is not the best option: over time, the top layer created using such mastic begins to crack and become cloudy. When treating with mastic, it is important not to overdo it, since some types of this product for making linoleum shine make the floor too smooth and slippery, which is simply dangerous.

Varnishes help maintain the strength and elasticity of the coating for a long time

More modern means are varnishes and polishing waxes, which create a new protective layer. If mastic was previously used to restore shine, this layer must be removed. Only then can you proceed to processing.

First of all, the floor needs to be washed with warm water with the addition of a regular detergent; even one intended for washing dishes will do. Then you need to wipe the floor surface with a dry cloth. Apply the varnish evenly to the surface and rub in with a dry cloth. Repeat the procedure after the floor has completely dried, that is, after about 10 hours.

Modern varnishes for adding shine to linoleum contain polymer-based additives, which help maintain the strength and elasticity of the coating for a long time.

In addition to application, you need to know how to care for linoleum so that it shines, maintaining its normal appearance for as long as possible. It is not necessary to reapply varnish to restore the protective layer so often - about once every six months or a little more often, depending on the intensity of use of the room. In addition, every week you need to renew the coating using a special polish. To facilitate the procedure, polish can be added to water for wet cleaning.

Which colors to choose

The choice of paint for linoleum depends on the required drying speed, the degree of wear of the coating and the required durability.

Alkyd paints

Alkyd resin paints and pigment additives are an improved type of old oil-based coatings and enamel. They have gained popularity due to their brightness and color stability, high adhesion and durability. Disadvantages include the appearance of yellowness over time and a pungent odor when performing work. There are several types of alkyd compounds. For linoleum it is better:

• Classic enamel - dries in 3-5 hours, completely fills the pores, forming a durable film, does not wear off or deteriorate for a long time.
• Chlorinated rubber – resistant to alkali, alcohol and acids. Rubber does not allow moisture to pass through, therefore preventing the formation of mold and mildew. The coating will dry in 2 hours. The surface withstands scratches and impacts.
• Pentaphthalic is the most budget option. It doesn't take long to wash, but it will take about a day to dry. It grips strongly, does not crack and does not lose color.

The layer must be applied to a previously prepared surface. Durable enamel can be used to cover stairs, supporting structures, fences and other decorative elements.

Acrylic paint compositions

Acrylic is a synthetic compound, otherwise known as plexiglass. Such options are much more expensive than alkyd ones, but they do not emit a toxic odor, and the uncured composition can be easily washed off with water. Acrylic dries quickly and has high adhesion to PVC surfaces, so it is immediately absorbed. The material does not turn yellow over the years and withstands scratches, impacts and other threats of abrasion.

Oil paints

In austerity mode, linoleum can be painted with oil-based compounds. They are inexpensive, have high adhesion to floor surfaces and create a glossy shine. After application, the materials are not covered with streaks and remain in a uniform and thin layer. Oil-based paints dry quickly, have a strong toxic odor and quickly wear out under mechanical stress.

Description of the process and main types of work

In this section, I will talk about the two main steps that are most often required when updating the coating. And if the first of them is carried out only if necessary after inspecting the surface, then the second is mandatory in any case.

Removing stains and dirt

First of all, you need to carefully examine the surface in order to assess its condition. Sometimes the material is so worn out that it is still better to replace it, but if the coating is still more or less normal, then you can try to transform it. To begin with, I want to give some general recommendations: