The kitchen flooring in my rental has linoleum. Linoleum is long lasting and durable over time, and also cheap, making it the best floor covering, especially for rentals. To keep linoleum looking fresh and clean, it requires good maintenance. Otherwise, it will yellow.
Why is linoleum turning yellow over time?
Linseed oil is one of the raw materials used in the manufacture of this floor covering. In the absence of sunlight, this oil oxidizes and its color changes. Linoleum flooring can turn yellow if improper cleaning agents are used. Occasionally, waxing the linoleum may trap dirt particles and dust, resulting in an unattractive finish.
🛒 Needed Supplies:
▪ 1 gallon of cold water
▪ Bleach
▪ White vinegar
▪ Rubber gloves
▪ Bucket
▪ Measuring cup
▪ Cloths
▪ Mop
🧽 How to proceed:
▶ In a bucket, mix 1 gallon of cold water with 1 quart of bleach and put on the rubber gloves.
▶ Soak a cotton cloth in this solution.
▶ Start washing the linoleum flooring with the cotton cloth, and continue to saturate the cloth while carrying on with this process.
▶ Let the solution soak for at least 30 minutes to an hour. Keep an eye on the stain and allow the solution to sit for a longer period of time if necessary.
▶ Soak up the solution with another cotton cloth and rinse the floor with clean and cold water.
▶ Rinse out your bucket and pour in a 1/2 gallon of white vinegar. Add 1/2 gallon of cool water.
▶ Soak the mop in this solution and start wiping the linoleum flooring, then rinse it with clean and cold water.
💡 Tip: If there are any stubborn yellowish stains left on the linoleum flooring, prepare a paste of baking soda and vinegar and apply it over the yellowish stains. Let it act for 10 minutes. As soon as the time is up, start rubbing the stain with a scouring pad until it disappears.
