Floor Types · LVT & LVP

LVT & Luxury Vinyl Floor Care

Luxury vinyl is everywhere in offices, retail, and hospitality, and it is not VCT. Treating it like VCT is a costly mistake. We care for LVT and LVP the way they're meant to be cared for: cleaned and protected, never stripped and waxed.

Quick answerLVT and LVP have a no-wax factory wear layer. We clean and protect them with manufacturer-safe methods, correct haze and scuffs, and can safely remove improper coatings, never strip-and-wax and never high-speed burnish. A light maintenance program keeps the wear layer looking new. New to it? See LVT vs. LVP.

How we care for LVT and LVP

What we don't do, and why

The factory wear layer is the finished surface. We never strip-and-wax luxury vinyl or run a high-speed burnisher over it, because the added layer and the heat can haze the surface, cause adhesion problems, and void the warranty. Protecting the wear layer is the whole job.

DoDon't
Dust mop and pH-neutral cleanWax or strip-and-wax
Manufacturer-approved productsHarsh solvents, abrasives, or stripper
Felt pads and walk-off matsHigh-speed burnishing
Approved finish only where allowedRubber-backed mats that can stain vinyl

When luxury vinyl needs us

Deep scratches that reach the printed design layer can't be polished out; those planks are replaced, an advantage of the tile-and-plank format. More on construction and durability is in LVT vs. LVP.

Keeping luxury vinyl on a program

Because LVT and LVP are no-wax, maintenance is about protecting the wear layer with the right chemistry and equipment, which is most of the battle. A light-touch maintenance program keeps it looking new.

Keep reading

Related: LVT vs. LVP (what is luxury vinyl), what is VCT, sealing vs. waxing, and maintenance programs.

Questions

Can you wax LVT or LVP?

Usually you shouldn't. Luxury vinyl has a no-wax factory wear layer; waxing isn't needed and can void the warranty. We clean and protect it with manufacturer-safe methods instead.

How do you clean luxury vinyl floors?

Sweep or dust mop to remove grit, then damp mop or auto-scrub with a pH-neutral, manufacturer-approved cleaner. No harsh strippers, solvents, or high-speed burnishing.

Someone waxed our LVT and now it's hazy. Can you fix it?

Yes. An improperly applied wax or finish can usually be removed with a manufacturer-safe method, then the floor is cleaned and protected the right way.

How do you make LVT shine without wax?

Proper deep cleaning restores the factory sheen. Where extra gloss or durability is wanted and the manufacturer allows it, a compatible finish can be applied.

Do you service LVP planks as well as LVT tiles?

Yes. LVT and LVP are the same product in different shapes and are cared for the same way.

Is luxury vinyl really no-wax?

Yes. The clear wear layer is the protective surface, so it's cleaned and protected, not stripped and waxed.

What wear-layer thickness should commercial LVT have?

As a rule, 20 mil and up for general commercial and 28 to 40 mil for heavy traffic. More detail is in our LVT vs. LVP guide.

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