Lino/Vinyl Floor - how do I clean?

[Queen]

Hey All you domestic goddess's, I am hoping you guys can help me!!

Before we brought this house, there was a rather yucko dude living here, anyhoo before we moved in we scrubbed (on hands and knees) the floor with a scourer and bleach the entire floor, since then I clean my floor every other day, at max every 3rd day.
At the moment this involves mopping with videlco mop (new) with domestos, then steam mopping.
I have tried metho, detergant, vinegar, bleach, and handy andy, but after all this my floor is STILL gross. DD2 commando crawls and after 10mins she is black!

Now how do I get my floor clean? Can I? Or do I have to wait tiles??

Please help!!!!!!!!

[Astrid]

Sounds like it needs to be sealed in someway after cleaning. Many years ago I had a flat with black and white vinyl in the bathroom. The white tiles would just absorb dirt. I found a floor cleaner that both cleaned and polished (I think). First I did a good scrub, then wiped with the polish. Seemed to stop the tiles from absorbing any more dirt. Just wish I could remember what the product was and if they still produce it.

[STARRYSKY]

I have this exact same problem! the vinyl/lino floor in our kitchen is disgusting! not even domestos seems to get it clean! I will be paying close attention to this thread!

[AnyDream]

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?

[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?