Material

Luxury vinyl tile

A printed vinyl plank under a clear wear layer that cannot be refinished, with joints that warp if moisture gets into them.

SurfaceNon porous
WashingSpot only
Colour run riskLow
Reviewed7 September 2026

What luxury vinyl tile can and cannot take

Heat Avoid
Water and soaking Use with care
Acids, including vinegar Use with care
Strong alkalis Use with care
Solvents Avoid
Chlorine bleach Use with care
Abrasives Avoid

Always test on a hidden area first and let it dry before you treat the visible mark.

General rules for luxury vinyl tile

The face is genuinely easy and the joints are not, which is the same story as every hard floor here.

Wipe a spill up immediately, clean with a well wrung mop, and dry the floor. Retailers warn that steam forces moisture into the joints and lower layers and causes warping, so steam mops are excluded.

Avoid anything abrasive. The clear wear layer is what makes LVT durable, and once it is scratched through, that plank cannot be refinished and has to be replaced.

Check the label

LVT is a printed vinyl plank with a clear wear layer on top, and UK retailers warn that the wear layer cannot be refinished the way engineered wood can. They exclude steam cleaners, overly wet mops, abrasives and cleaners containing harsh chemicals, ammonia or wax.

Stains on luxury vinyl tile

Luxury vinyl tile is a printed design layer under a transparent wear layer, on a vinyl or composite core.

The wear layer is finite

UK retailers make the point directly: unlike engineered wood, LVT cannot be sanded and refinished. Scratch through the wear layer and the printed design is exposed and the plank is finished.

The joints warp

Steam and standing water get into the click joints and the layers below, and the plank edges lift or cup. That is why steam mops are excluded by every LVT supplier.

Ammonia and wax are both excluded

Ammonia degrades the wear layer, and wax based cleaners leave a film that dulls it and attracts dirt.

Planks are replaceable

On a click floor a damaged plank can often be lifted and swapped, which is the equivalent of refinishing on a wood floor.

Sources

What we checked and when. Where a manufacturer instruction disagrees with anything here, follow the manufacturer.

Luxury vinyl tile care guide, Tapi retailer
UK flooring retailer guidance to avoid steam cleaners and overly wet mops on smooth flooring because steam forces moisture into the joints and lower layers and causes warping, to avoid cleaners containing harsh chemicals, ammonia or wax and abrasive materials because they permanently damage the surface, to spot test any new cleaner, and that the wear layer on LVT cannot be refinished the way engineered wood can.

Checked 7 September 2026
Marmoleum floor care guide, Forbo manufacturer
Linoleum manufacturer guidance not to over wet the floor when cleaning, that all cleaning solutions must be pH neutral between 7 and 8 because highly alkaline or acidic solutions are harmful to the floor, never to use abrasive liquids, powder cleaners or scouring pads, and to avoid steam cleaning equipment, undiluted solutions, strong solvents such as acetone and soap based products.

Checked 7 September 2026
How to care for engineered wood flooring, Havwoods manufacturer
UK wood flooring supplier guidance to use a damp cloth rather than a soaking wet mop because excess moisture causes swelling, to wipe up spills immediately to avoid water damage, that steam cleaning does more harm than good by forcing moisture into the wood, and to avoid harsh chemicals such as bleach and ammonia and vinegar based cleaners, which dull the floor.

Checked 7 September 2026