Making Linoleum Floors Shine

Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to really get linoleum floors to shine? For whatever reason, linoleum floors, though durable, can be one of the biggest pains in the backside when it comes to polishing. For some reason, linoleum simply doesn't seem to hold a shine for very long. That beings said, making linoleum floors shine is possible, if you take some time to do it right.

• Sweep. Initially, when trying to get a real shine on you linoleum floors, you need to make sure that your floor is swept properly. This may sound rather silly, but it is an integral part of being able to properly polish your linoleum floor. Start at one side of your floor, and slowly work to the other side. If necessary, go over your floor more than one time to ensure that you get as much dirt and grime up as possible. After sweeping your floor, properly dispose of all the dirt and debris in the garbage.
• Mop. After you have swept your floor, take time to mop it. This should be done as soon as possible after you have swept it, to ensure that you do not get any dirt and debris tracked over your freshly swept linoleum. After mopping your floor, take a little time to go back over it and dry up all the excess water. By avoiding any air drying, you will help to prevent any film from developing on the tile allowing for a better shine later on.
• Add a little something extra. A great trick of the trade that you can use to really make your linoleum shine, is to add a little bit of fabric softener to the rinse water. There is simply something about the fabric softener that helps to make linoleum shine.
• If all else fails, buff it. If all else fails, there is still one option that you can use to get your linoleum floor shining again. That option would be to use a floor buffer. It may sound like more work or trouble than it is worth, but you won't believe how well it works. Simply follow the directions that come with the unit, and you will be able to get a wonderfully shined floor. Keep in mind though that a floor buffer is usually pretty heavy, and will require some muscle power on your part. Be prepared to have some sore muscles after you are finished.