Sweep and vacuum on a regular basis before dirt gets ground into the vinyl’s surface.
If dirt won’t come up with a vacuum, dampen a mop with lukewarm water, wring out well, and gently rub the dirty spot.
When you clean the floor with a detergent-type solution (Mr. Clean, Pine Sol, etc.) be sure to follow the package directions regarding the ratio of water to cleaner. Even if the product label says there’s no rinsing required, it’s a good idea to rinse with a mop dipped in clean water. Some detergent products, no matter how well they seem to rinse, will leave a slightly sticky film on the floor. This film attracts dirt and grime, which over time gets ground in and causes scratches that will dull the surface and make it hard to clean.
Never use abrasive cleaners or solvents on your vinyl floor.
Ivory soap is a great cleaner for vinyl floors: it’s gentle and rinses clean, leaving no sticky residue behind.
No-wax vinyl floors are treated with a surface coating of polyurethane, so the shine can be maintained without waxing. However, even no-wax surfaces will accumulate many tiny scratches over time. Try washing the floor well to renew the shine. If this doesn’t do the trick, you can apply a water-based self-polishing wax or a specially formulated vinyl finish.
Remove old wax once a year by soaking and scrubbing your floor with a detergent or wax remover. Use a squeegee and strip the old wax away. There are squeegees specifically made for floors; make sure you purchase one of these and not one made for windows. Scoop the stripped wax into a dustpan and throw it away immediately. When you’ve finished stripping the floor, damp-mop it with plain water and allow to dry before reapplying wax.