How to Restore Old Linoleum Flooring

If you love your 1950s linoleum flooring, like me, you know that it is very hard make it look clean. I could mop every day and my floor would still look dingy and dirty. It never looked clean and I hated mopping. I asked a few of my friends for suggestions and these three easy steps changed my life! My floors finally look clean!

Step 1: Clean your linoleum floors thoroughly, as usual. This is important, because you do not want to polish over any dirt at the end.

Step 2: Use Armstrong Floor Cleaner and Stripper and follow the directions on the bottle. It says to pour the product on a 3X3 foot area on the floor and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, scrub with a brush and watch the magic begin. I had no idea my linoleum tiles were so white! You may need to let the product sit longer or scrub harder if it has been a while since your floor has been stripped. Lastly, rinse the floor thoroughly and dry with clean towel or sponge. On a side note, be careful to use gloves and a mat for your hands and knees. Also, open some windows or turn on a fan or two because the smell is very strong. Repeat with another section of flooring.

Step 3: This step is optional, but I followed with this step to give my floor that extra shine. Finish your floor with any brand of floor polish or sealer and follow the directions on the bottle. Just pour the polish, spread it evenly with a sponge, and let dry. You can use your favorite mopping product for subsequent cleanings, but my favorite is Once and Done.

After stripping and polishing my floor, I saw that the old smudges, stains, hard water stains, small scratches, and grime were gone. It doesn’t look brand new and still has an antique look (which I love anyway). Some very deep scratches did not come up, but for the most part, it cleaned up nicely! It is recommended that you use the cleaner and stripped every few months or so, to keep your floors clean!