social

Removing Stains on Vinyl and Linoleum Flooring

Bathroom with vinyl flooring.
Vinyl and linoleum are both types of resilient flooring. Because they are very different in their composition, you will want to determine your flooring type before attempting to remove stains. This is a page about removing stains on vinyl or linoleum flooring.
Advertisement

43 Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

September 28, 2018

I've just moved a round bin from the kitchen floor to discover a circle underneath which has faded from dog wee! It's really obvious as it's a faded circle. Can anyone help please?


Thank you.

Answers


Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
September 28, 20181 found this helpful
Best Answer

If it is linoleum and not vinyl, you can try sprinkling a layer of baking soda over the stain and spraying it with warm water until it is like a paste.

Advertisement

Leave it sit for an hour and then wipe off. Sometimes that works. Sometimes not. If it doesn't work, you can try a second time using a spray of plain white vinegar instead of the water (so the baking soda and vinegar will foam up). Same thing...leave it sit for an hour and wipe up.

If it is vinyl, then you can do the same thing, but after wiping up area, do a final wash down with a white rag soaked with plain 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (I can get a bottle for a dollar or less at our Dollar General). If you get higher % content where you live, add a little water to dilute...as that may be too strong for the floor--we only ever use 70% in our house.

This is a tough sell either way so depending on the age of your floor, the length of time the stain set, and the concentration of the urine, it may or may not ever come out. Hopefully yours will be a success!

 
Answer this Question

October 17, 2016

My son has thrush and low and behold I got the purple dye gentian violet on the darn kitchen floor. It is linoleum, very light in color, so of course it is completely noticeable. I live in an apartment and rent, so I would like to get this stain off asap! Especially before a landlord notices, or well, even my husband for that matter.

Please help me, I have tried everything, dish soap, nail polish remover, rubbing alcohol, weird stain cleaners under my sink that I figured would at least do something, soap and water, a mild green pad, etc., etc. Nothing worked. Please help me!

Read More Answers

October 18, 2017

I've split nail polish remover on the linoleum tile floor of my rental unit. The result is a milky-white stain that seams to have eaten away the gloss of the linoleum. I tried vinegar, but that did nothing. Does anyone know how to get this discolouration out?

Answers


Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
October 20, 20170 found this helpful
Best Answer

Here are a few facts you should know about your floor to help you out.

  1. Did the nail polish remover you used have acetone?
  2. The acetone will eat through the finish of your floor.
  3. Advertisement

  4. Also, it is important to know if your floor is really linoleum or is it one of the newer types of plastic floors with a shine to it?
  5. This is important to know this one. Because if the floor is really linoleum you can actually sand the spot on your floor and apply a new coat of wax to the area.
  6. Most linoleum floor is kept waxed and hopefully it is only the wax that has turned yellow.
  7. In this case a lightweight sand paper can remove the coat of wax that has turned white and you can apply another coat of wax to your floor.
  8. However, if this is one of the new plastic tile floor that is shinny you have ruined the shine on the floor and eaten through the flooring with the nail polish remover.
  9. I am so sorry there isn't much you can do with this now. You will need to replace the tile on the floor to fix this problem.
  10. Before attempting this you have nothing to loose to try sanding this down a bit to remove the wax and waxing it again to see if it helps.
  11. Advertisement

  12. If it doesn't work, then the tile itself needs to be replaced.
 
Answer this Question

August 9, 2016

I live by myself. One morning I got up and noticed that there are black spots in different areas of my vinyl floor. I don't know how they got there.

Nothing was dropped on it and it seems to be under the first layer of the vinyl floor. I don't understand. It is not cleanable.

Answers

September 9, 20160 found this helpful

Toilet bowl cleaner spilled on my linoleum, what can I do to remove it? Thanks

 
Answer this Question

August 27, 2004

We bought the trailer that we live in from a couple that we know and I did not notice this before we bought it. There is a yellowish stain around the vents on the linoleum floor (kitchen and bathrooms). I have tried everything that I know of to try and get this up. As far as I know there are no leaks or anything because my husband and my father-in-law made checked before we moved in.

I am wondering what this is? Did it happen when we moved the trailer to another location? And PLEASE how do I get it up? I need some major help, I hate it on my floors. If you have any suggestions please post it or email it to me at eescott182002 (at) yahoo (dot) com . Thank you very much and I sure hope somebody has some ideas!
Advertisement



Erricka

Answers

August 30, 20040 found this helpful

Could it be wax build-up? That's what I get around my heating vents. I use a scraper and scrape it off.
Every so often, I strip my floor and re-wax.

 
February 23, 20050 found this helpful

An easy way to see if it is wax buildup is to just take a little amonia mixed with water, just in a small paper cup, about half and half. Dab some on the yellowed area and wait a couple of minutes. It it turns sticky and comes up, then it is wax. If nothing happens,it could be heat damage and you will save scraping it and possibly damaging already brittle tile.

Advertisement

If you are lucky and it is wax, you can use amonia/water, about 1 pt ammonia to 3 pt water to strip just the small area and save yourself a ton of work.

 
By Christa (Guest Post)
April 23, 20060 found this helpful

I got oven cleaner on my linoluem HELP it won't come out!!!

 
By Christa (Guest Post)
April 23, 20060 found this helpful

I got oven cleaner on my linoluem HELP it won't come out!!!

 
By AB (Guest Post)
January 8, 20071 found this helpful

Linoleum that has been covered will "amber". Expose it to light and it will recover with no problem.

 
By Carol (Guest Post)
July 2, 20070 found this helpful

What a rotten thing to remove. Tried absolutely everything in the cleaning closet. At last a solution. Mix oxyclean powder into a thick paste to scrub away the oven cleaner. It takes a lot of elbow grease but does remove it.

 
Read More Answers

July 31, 2005

I am desperately trying to remove a stain from my kitchen linoleum floor. I had a supermarket plastic bag containing nectarines (that were mouldy and waiting to be taken back) on the floor and when I picked it up a couple of days later, the words and colour from the carrier bag had imprinted onto the floor, I think as a result of the juice from the nectarines that had leaked into the bag. I've scrubbed, bleached, erased and used methylated spirit and nothing works! Please help!



Fiona from Bristol

Answers


Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 139 Feedbacks
July 31, 20050 found this helpful

Have you tried the Mr Clean Magic Eraser? www.homemadesimple.com/.../eraser.shtml

 
By Kristen (Guest Post)
August 2, 20050 found this helpful

I don't know if this is the same, but when I got my puppy the same thing happened with the newspapers he was using. I thought it was never going to come out but after washing the floor several times (with regular cleaners, I think I use polmolive or something) over the course of a month or so it eventually came out (or wore off) on its own.

 

Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 174 Feedbacks
December 19, 20050 found this helpful

i don't know if methlylated spirit is the same, but acetone-containing nail polish remover can do it.

 
By Andrea (Guest Post)
September 30, 20070 found this helpful

This happened to me with a toy's R us bag. I had to use sandpaper and a brillo pad. It worked and only took about 15 minutes to remove. Use my advice, before this I tried a razor blade and it took hours!!

 
Read More Answers

February 12, 2007

How do you clean old stains from the mat in the bathtub?

Answers

February 12, 20070 found this helpful

try a mr. clean magic eraser, scrub well, might help

 
By Jean (Guest Post)
February 13, 20070 found this helpful

I assume you're talking about one of those rubber mats to keep from slipping.
If so, put it in the washing machine with a couple of old towels, detergent, and a cup of bleach.

 
February 13, 20070 found this helpful

Thanks, but I mean stains on the bottom of the bathtub, not the mat

 
February 13, 20070 found this helpful

WOW How wierd that I was going to ask a question like this when I opened this email. I bought a cheap off white bath mat a couple of weeks ago and now have yellow stains resembling that darned mat that I just cannot get out. I have used bleach,comet.baking soda.tilex, Mr clean and whatever else I had around here.

Good luck if you find something and please please post if you do~

 
By crazypete (Guest Post)
February 15, 20070 found this helpful

Years ago, my 1st husband threw a toilet bowl cleaner that had jammed in the reservoir into the tub instead of the (nearer to him!) trash. I tried everything I could think of for over a year and only saw it fade a little. While I was packing to move out, I cleaned the coffee pot with vinegar and water and poured the steaming hot mixture over the stain out of habit not expecting results because I'd seen no real results before. But it took it right off and since then, it's been my 1st choice for any bad stain.

 
Read More Answers

March 17, 2015

I have a dark stain on my kitchen floor that starts under my fridge and winds its way to the edge of my living room. We've checked under the fridge and found nothing. We've not spilled, dropped or splashed anything on the floor. It just appeared over night.

By Mary S

Read More Answers

August 8, 2011

I have some "rust" colored spots that are on my vinyl that I can't mop, scrub, or bleach out. They almost look like burn spots, but they are not. So my floor never looks clean. My husband says it may be something coming through from the subfloor. My vinyl is white with a light blue pattern. It's in great shape other than that. Any suggestions to get these spots out?

By Denise from GA

Read More Answers

June 27, 2008

I can't get a stain off linoleum floor from Heinz 57, it left a yellow stain. I tried cleaning with all purpose cleaner with bleach and it did not work.



Annettemace from Waxahachie, TX

Read More Answers

January 5, 2011

I recently got new molding in my kitchen. However, peeking out from this molding is a darker wood stain. I stained the previous molding and this new molding does not cover the stain that seeped onto the vinyl floor. I have tried Comet and Ajax but do not want to ruin my new molding. Any ideas to remove old wood stain from a vinyl floor?

By fiona from Bridgewater, NJ

Read More Answers

August 9, 2009

I have a linoleum floor that has a pink stain on it. It looks like something drained out of the dishwasher onto the floor, Kool-Aid? Not sure. I think it's been there for a long time. I've tried Mr. Clean eraser, bleach, and ammonia, all separately, nothing works.

By Lynn Valverde from Surprise, AZ

Read More Answers

August 6, 2018

It's been 4 months since a hail storm knocked out my front windows. The rain came in and the dye from the curtains stained my linoleum floors. I tried rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, CLR, baking soda, Magic Eraser, and several other bathroom cleaning products.

Nothing has worked. Please help me save my floor.

Read More Answers

August 5, 2017

How do I get stains of oxidation out of my linoleum around my floor vents and also get stains of yellowing off floor left by rubber back throw rugs?


Read More Answers

March 2, 2017

Large pink stains have suddenly appeared on my mum's kitchen lino. I have checked underneath and all looks fine, no staining at all, and no damp.

She says nothing has been spilt. We have tried cleaning with bleach with no luck. Any ideas?

Read More Answers

March 12, 2008

How do I get oil spots off linoleum caused by casters?

Doreen from Cranbrook, BC, Canada

Answers


Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 213 Posts
March 12, 20080 found this helpful

Is it REALLY linoleum flooring (made from linseed oil) like back in the 1930's. or is it VINYL flooring, like the newer flooring. This makes a difference in cleaning etc. (most people use these terms interchangeably). Also, what are the casters made from that made the "oil" mark?

 
Read More Answers

November 20, 2007

My husband broke a bubble nightlight on the vinyl flooring. Now we have a red patch that so many people think is blood. Any suggestions? Thank you



Ann from Defiance, OH

Answers


Silver Feedback Medal for All Time! 290 Feedbacks
November 20, 20070 found this helpful

Why don't you try cleaning the spot with a solution of water and bleach?

 
By laramay (Guest Post)
November 20, 20070 found this helpful

Try hydrogen peroxide and water, or if you can't clean it off, try painting over it with acrylic paint in the same color.

 
By (Guest Post)
November 22, 20070 found this helpful

Sorry to say this, but I had a yellow one break while on the tree and leak onto my linoleum flooring...I could never get it off. We remodeled this past year and of course, now it is finally gone!

 
Answer this Question

May 9, 2016

I rent an apartment, and I recently put an offer in on a house, but I'd like to clean my apartment very well to cut down on the costs of moving out. In my bathroom I have vinyl or linoleum flooring, in the kitchen also. In the bathroom next to the tub my flooring is kind of stained. Water must have gotten to it even though I tried hard not to let water out of the tub. Its like a yellowish stain.

Is there something that may get this out? Or are they gonna have to redo the floors? The trim near those areas is kind of worn too. I am not sure how to tell if it is mold or if it's cleanable. If it is mold, can it be cleaned? I know it says somewhere just to use water to clean the floors, but that's what I've done the whole time I've been there and it doesn't work. Any suggestions are great, or if you have any additional questions for me I'd be happy to answer them for you. Thanks.

Read More Answers

April 13, 2015

How do I clean a white plastic floor in the kitchen and bath area, it's not smooth area.
It is a pure white and over a year changed to a dirty floor.


Shall I use bleach? I used it once in a small area and it was brilliant.

By K. Ismail

Read More Answers

January 23, 2015

I spilled a 64oz bottle of diet Coke on my small kitchen red rug. In the process of cleaning up the mess, the rug dye bled onto the white vinyl floor and stained it. I have tried bleach, a Magic Eraser, and Comet. Any suggestions to remove it?

By Toni S. from Beverly Hills, CA

Read More Answers

December 30, 2014

My vinyl floor covering is white with slight metallic grey pattern on. It has got nicotine patches on it. Please what is the best to remove the yellow nicotine stains?

By Sue K.

Read More Answers

November 21, 2007

The heat from our refrigerator has caused a brown stain on on my no-wax linoleum floor. I have tried Oxi-clean, Clorox, etc. with very little success. I would appreciate any suggestions.



Margaret from West Nyack, NY

Answers


Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 107 Feedbacks
November 26, 20070 found this helpful

If the heat discolored it, it may not come out.. in a way
the heat may have cooked it a little.. so to speak. At first
I was going to say try *Whink* its in the laundry dept.. it
will take rust out of carpet and furniture etc... but they say you need to rince it afterward. Good luck.

 
By Meg (Guest Post)
November 29, 20070 found this helpful

Try a Magic Eraser. I have found that when all else fails, this little "sponge" will do the trick. They make store brands now, and they are very inexpensive. Good luck!

 
Answer this Question

August 16, 2007

While using clorox cleaner on a vinyl floor, I got a call and had to leave for a while, forgetting the cleaner on the floor. Now it's got brownish stains on it. Is there any way to clean this type of stain? Thanks for any help!



Bill

Answers

By Sharon (Guest Post)
August 18, 20070 found this helpful

You might try saturating the brown spots with hydrogen peroxide. Let the peroxide sit for quite a while, perhaps renewing it, if it dries up. When/if the spots disappear, wash the area well, with soap and water.

 
Read More Answers

July 25, 2006

How do I remove pen ink (biro) from my linoleum floor?

Tracey from Queensland, Australia

Read More Answers

June 18, 2016

How to remove printers ink from a vinyl floor, the ink is used in printing daily newspapers.


Answer this Question
Load More
Categories
Home and Garden Cleaning FloorsMay 12, 2014
Pages
More
🌻
Gardening
👒
Mother's Day Ideas!
🐰
Easter Ideas!
Facebook
Pinterest
YouTube
Instagram
Categories
Better LivingBudget & FinanceBusiness and LegalComputersConsumer AdviceCoronavirusCraftsEducationEntertainmentFood and RecipesHealth & BeautyHolidays and PartiesHome and GardenMake Your OwnOrganizingParentingPetsPhotosTravel and RecreationWeddings
Published by ThriftyFun.
Desktop Page | View Mobile
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Contact Us
Generated 2024-03-19 07:20:06 in 4 secs. ⛅️️
© 1997-2024 by Cumuli, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
https://www.thriftyfun.com/Removing-Stains-on-Vinyl-and-Linoleum-Flooring.html