Cleaning Discolored Linoleum

There is just something about linoleum that makes it age in weird ways. Over time, and usually due to rubber backing on rugs, or excessive changes in heat found around floor registers, linoleum will begin to change colors over time. Usually this will men that the linoleum becomes yellowed, and looks frankly pretty disgusting. Cleaning discolored linoleum like this can often present unique challenges, primarily in the fact that it can be pretty difficult to tell if the linoleum is actually clean or not. However, there are ways that you can go about getting your linoleum clean, and even possibly restoring the original look to your floors again. It may require that you do a little bit of work on your part, but it is entirely possible.

• Do a little bit of research. If at all possible, contact the manufacturer of your linoleum floor and see if you can learn what materials will work best on getting it clean. Usually you can do this by doing a simple search on the internet, but if you cannot find the information that way, you can always contact the company directly. As much as possible, try to stick to only using the cleaning agents that the manufacturer suggests, if only to avoid potentially damaging the linoleum any more.
• Bleach the linoleum. Bleach can often do wonders at cleaning discolored linoleum. Simply scrub away at the discolored area with a mixture of bleach and water. Start with a lower concentration of bleach in your mixture at first, ideally one part bleach for every four parts water, and only work your way up if it doesn't work right away. Another method that you can use bleach for to get your discoloration taken care of is to soak a lint free cloth in some bleach water mixture, and place it onto the discolored area. Allow it to remain there for an hour, and then scrub the area clean.
• Use a steam cleaner. Harness the power of a steam cleaner, and use it on the discolored areas. There are plenty of hand held models that you can use to get your floors, drapes, and other items clean. Add a little bit of vinegar to the water in the steam cleaner, and apply the steam directly to the linoleum. Alternate with the heat of the steam, and scrubbing the area until the stain is removed.
• Replace the linoleum. If all else fails, your final option is to replace either that section of the linoleum, or your entire floor. While this will definitely remove the discolored linoleum, it is a drastic measure that can also be fairly expensive. This method should only be used as a last resort.