How to Clean Karndean Flooring

Co-authored by Kadi Dulude

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 References

Karndean flooring is a particular brand of vinyl flooring that has a lovely glossy sheen. You can clean it regularly by sweeping and mopping, using water and Karndean-brand cleaning solution, or using water mixed with apple cider vinegar. Once a year, you can restore your floor’s glossy finish by using Karndean Remove and Refresh products, or WD-40.

Things You Should Know

Use a soft-bristled brush to sweep Karndean floors. Hard bristles could scratch them.
It's recommended to use Karndean brand cleaning solution, but you can also make a DIY cleaner with apple cider vinegar and water.
Remove stubborn scuffs and stains with Karndean Remove cleaner or WD-40.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Maintaining Your Floor with Regular Cleaning

1
Sweep the floor with a soft brush at least once a week. Sweeping is a great first step to remove dirt and particles from the floor before you mop.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Kadi Dulude
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 22 September 2019.} Sweep the grime into a pile and then sweep the pile into a dustpan to throw out.^{[2]
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- A soft sweeping brush will be gentler on the floor than a hard-bristled one.
- You may need to sweep more often than once a week if you have some messy spillers in the house.
2
Mix Karndean Clean with water in a bucket. In a bucket big enough to fit your mop, mix 50 millilitres (1.7 fl oz) of Karndean-brand cleaning solution with 10 litres (340 fl oz) of water. The mixture may not be very sudsy, but it will still do a great cleaning job.^{[3]
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- You can purchase Karndean Clean online or in the cleaning aisle of some retail stores.
- Although it’s possible to use other cleaning solutions, it’s safest to use Karndean to avoid accidentally damaging your floor.
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3
Make a homemade cleaner from apple cider vinegar if you prefer. If you don’t have Karndean clean, you can make your own cleaner for vinyl floors by mixing together 1 cup (240 mL) of apple cider vinegar with 1 gallon (3,800 ml) of water. Mix them in the bucket you intend to use for mopping.^{[4]
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- Scale up the measurements if you need more solution.
- Add 3 drops of baby oil to the solution if you’d like to add some shine to your floor.
4
Mop your floor with the cleaning solution. Dip your mop into the bucket with the cleaning solution you’ve prepared. Start mopping at the part of your room that’s farthest from the door, so that you don’t back yourself into a corner.
- You can let your floor air dry, dry it with rags, or go over it with a dry mop.^{[5]
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  Expert Source
  
  Kadi Dulude
  House Cleaning Professional
  Expert Interview. 22 September 2019.}

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Restoring Your Floor Once a Year

1
Refresh your Karndean floor about once a year. Your floor will stay clean if you maintain it regularly through sweeping and mopping. However, over many months, scuffs and stains can start to build up, so you can restore your floor to its original glossy look by using Karndean cleaning products.^{[6]
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- Refreshing your floor will make it look spotless and shiny new.
2
Remove scuff marks and stains with Karndean Remove or WD-40. If you have the Karndean-brand “Remove” cleaner, you can use it to get rid of scuff marks and stains on your floor. Simply pour a thin drizzle of Remove onto the entire surface of your floor and then wipe it up with a mop. Let the floor dry for at least 5 minutes before moving on. If you don’t have the Karndean brand products, some WD-40 lubricant will do the trick. Just pour some WD-40 onto a towel and use it to scrub the scuff mark.^{[7]
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- If you have a big floor, you might need to use the whole bottle of Remove. If you have a smaller floor, you’ll need less.
- Make sure to mop after you apply the WD-40 so that it doesn’t stay on the floor.^{[8]
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3
Use Karndean Refresh to restore the floor’s satin finish. If you have Karndean Refresh, use it to make your floor look extra glossy and protect it from future scuffs and spills. Drizzle a layer of Karndean Refresh onto your floor. You should use up about half a bottle, though it depends on the size of your floor. Mop the floor in one direction, and then wait 30 minutes for the floor to dry. Then pour the rest of the bottle of Karndean Refresh onto your floor and mop the floor in the other direction. Let your floor dry for 6 hours before walking on it.^{[9]
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- Mopping in both directions will make sure that the floor gets completely coated and glossy.
- It might be easiest to refresh your floor right before night-time, so that nobody walks on it for 6 hours.