Swiffer is a trendy cleaning brand that has everything ranging from stick mops to floor cleaning solutions. Anything essential to floor cleaning, Swiffer has made it. Every one of their products is easy to use, but here’s the real question; are Swiffers safe for vinyl plank flooring?
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Is SWIFFER safe on vinyl?
The answer is yes. It is safe on anything vinyl. Any product of Swiffer works really well on the vinyl plank floors. Vinyl floors are mostly waterproof.
Safe on LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring)?
Swiffers are safe on luxury vinyl planks, yes. This includes the Swiffer wetjet, which is perfect for removing stains and grease from luxury vinyl plank flooring. If you need to test out any Swiffer product, it has to be on vinyl plank floors.
Why Swiffer on Vinyl Planks?
Well, Swiffer is a leading brand when it comes to cleaning the floor, especially related to vinyl plank flooring. It is a trusted and well-reputed brand. One of the main reasons you should pick Swiffer is that it got lots of positive feedback.
Swiffer has different products related to different areas of cleaning, if we speak dusting, there’s the sweeper starter kit, and if we speak spot-cleaning, there are the wet pads.
Swiffer dry sweeper works wonders for dust/grime on vinyl planks. No need to worry about it. I’m using them for the last 3-4 years.
However, anything larger than dust doesn’t get caught by the SWIFFER. The bigger particles move around the vinyl floor along with Swiffer.
Additionally, the Swiffer wet-sweeping is not as good as it advertises. I’d suggest you go for the Bona kit as it puts out less water than Swiffer.
Variety of Products
Swiffer offers various products, and we’re going to shortlist the best products for vinyl planks.
Swiffer Sweeper 2-in-1
It’s both – a mop and a sweeper. It has a mop head and a handle. What makes this product unique is the pads that you use on the mop head. These pads are special because dirt and dust stick to them; they’re like a dirt magnet.
Compared to a simple broom or cleaning product, the pads are three times as effective. It is safe to use on many flooring surfaces, including vinyl planks.
Due to its build, you can reach vinyl floor under furniture or any other corner without moving the furniture due to its 360-degree design. Its pads are also disposable.
If you are not a fan of disposable pads, you can also get a Swiffer reusable pad. Besides being affordable, the mop comes with everything you need to clean the vinyl.
The handle is so light that your kids can sweep the vinyl flooring. Moreover, it’s portable, lightweight, and easily stowed. Perhaps, the lightweight design makes it easier to use regularly.
There are two different ways to use this product;
Dry Pads
The dry pads that come with the product are really good at picking up dirt. It is straightforward to use the product. Instead of dusting the vinyl plank flooring, as usual, try putting on a dry pad and using it as a normal mop.
Your hands will remain clean till the end, all the dirt and dust will stick to the pads, and you can dispose of the pad when you’re done – the only downside.
You can use it to remove dust, dirt, and hairs. The good thing is, you don’t need a dustpan. But, as I said above, it doesn’t work well for bigger particles.
Wet Pads
Wet pads are for spot-cleaning. These wet pads are dampened in a Swiffer cleaning solution. It is quite easy to use and execute. Put the wet pads on the mop handle and start mopping the stained areas or have stubborn dirt.
These wet pads will loosen up the dirt and stains so easily you’d be content with its use. They’re like a dirt magnet. Additionally, they are good at catching food spills and tough stains.
While using wet pads, gently move the sweeper on the grime. Let the sticky dirt disintegrated by the Swiffer solution(Inside wet pads) and finally cleaned by the Swiffer from the vinyl plank flooring.
Because the SWIFFER is a dirt magnet, dirt won’t fall back to the floor as you wipe back and forth. Finally, NEVER scuff Swiffer strongly on the vinyl floor. Any rough dust particles can scratch the vinyl floor and create scuff marks.
In short, use dry pads for non-stubborn dirt like dust, hairs and use wet pads for sticky dirt like spilled food, grease, and grime.
Swiffer Wetjet Starter Kit
Swiffer wetjet, a non-abrasive spray mop (Not wet mop), is another product that is safe to use on vinyl planks.
Swiffer wetjet on luxury vinyl plank floor?
This works well on LVP (luxury vinyl flooring) as well. It is a floor mop that traps dirt and stains deep inside the pads when used. It is effortless to use Swiffer wetjet on vinyl floors and can be used as a normal mop, except it works drastically better.
Water is the enemy of vinyl plank floors. Wet mopping leaves a lot of water on the vinyl surface, which is dangerous. But, Swiffer Wet-Jet dampens vinyl surfaces by spraying water directly on them, leaving no residual water after sweeping.
The starter kit of this product entails.
- A strong multi-surface cleaning solution – 500ml
- Power pad refills
- Mopping pad refills
To put this product in simple words; it’s a mop that sprays a cleaning solution as you clean the floor; on top of it, it locks the dirt on the pads with its cleaning power.
You get a spray trigger and dual nozzles on the bottom of the mop. Pushing the trigger causes the cleaning solution to disperse from the nozzles. The mop is also designed not to overuse the solution, so you won’t have to worry about it going to waste.
The solution breaks all stain, dirt, grease, and other dusty particles that you left unattended or uncleaned. The pads will trap and lock all of the dirt, grease, and other particles inside; your hands stay practically clean the whole while. Perhaps, the perfume from the cleaner freshens the room.
One downside is, you’ve to change the pads as soon as it gets dirty.
How to use SWIFFER Wetjet Starter Kit
- For better results, sweep the floor using the handle and a dry mop and dispose of it.
- Install the cleaning solution into the swiffer wetjet.
- Attach the wet pads.
- Press the spray trigger to dispense the cleaning solution onto the vinyl flooring surface.
- Mop as usual, due to the textured pads, all the grease dirt and stains will hold onto the wet pads and get locked on it.
- Dispose of the wet pads and you’re done.
Several websites claim the pads are so soft they won’t scratch your vinyl. However, this is only a half-truth. Most of the scratches are caused by dirt stuck in the pad—the dirt and pad friction against the floor when you sweep it up. Even though the pads are soft, the dirt isn’t and can cause scratches. Therefore, do not use a Swiffer wetjet strongly on the vinyl plank flooring.
If you’re not a fan of disposable wet pads, you can purchase the multi-surface cleaner by Swiffer and a reusable pad as well. Just dump it in the solution and stick the pad on the mophead.
Precautions While using the Swiffer on Vinyl Planks
Here are some things to consider when purchasing one for your vinyl floors.
- Ensure following the manufacturers instructions on the product package to avoid causing damage to your vinyl plank floors.
- Do not apply too much swiffer solution as it could dampen the shine of your vinyl floor.
- Avoid scrubbing too hard with the swiffer pads, it may scratch the vinyl flooring surface.
If you’re worried about using Swiffer on vinyl plank flooring, here are some alternatives.
Alternative to using Swiffer on Vinyl Plank
A Normal Dust Mop
While we know that the Swiffer mop and pads are superior to a normal dust mop, let’s not underestimate it. A normal dust mop gets the work done, and that’s all that matters.
A Bona Mop
Bona is well known for its products as well, and their products are safe for delicate vinyl plank flooring. You can purchase a similar bona microfiber mop.
Roomba
A robotic circle thing going around your house cleaning it for you, doesn’t that sound great? Roomba is a good cleaning robot in general.
Conclusion
Overall, It’s safe to use both Swiffer 2-in-1 and Swiffer wetjet on luxury vinyl plank floor and classic vinyl plank floor, provided you follow the precautions. If you do so, your vinyl plank floors will be the cleanest they’ve been. With the wet pads, dry pads, and the unique cleaning solution nozzle system, Swiffer, in general, is worth it.
If you choose not to use Swiffer on vinyl flooring, there are great alternatives out there that are safe for your vinyl plank flooring. However, don’t use any steam mops on vinyl floors.
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