Lino/Vinyl Floor - how do I clean?

[Queen]

I think this is something to do with the older styles of lino which seemed to be more porous. I have vivid memories of my mother "polishing" the kitchen floor with a big machine with 3 big rotating brushy wheels on it...maybe this is what is needed...application of some sort of polish/sealer and then rub it in hard?

I think I might just tell DH to "bump" the tiling of our house up on the reno's list

[Curly]

Detergent residue left on the lino is probably attracting more dirt to the floor, which is what you are seeing on your DD's clothes.

You might want to consider getting the floor professionally cleaned - there must be companies out there that do this, just like there is for carpet and tile grouting, and then they'd be recommending how to maintain it. But I'd be cleaning with something that doesn't leave a soapy residue, like metho or vinegar...or maybe sugar soap?

Piping hot tap water and 2 caps of metho should cut through any grease...I know you said you tried metho but maybe you need to get rid of the detergent residue, but then again if the lino is old and porous you might be fighting a lost cause.

Maybe get the floor professionally cleaned as a stopgap while you are picking out new tiles?