Care and maintenance guide
Your Floorbit flooring is designed to deliver years of superior performance, especially when cared for properly.
General care
Cleaning and maintaining your Floorbit flooring is quick and easy. If you take good care of it, your flooring will continue to look great for years to come.
First cleaning. Newly installed Floorbit flooring must be cleaned after the completion of construction work and before first use to remove any dirt or glue residue which has arisen during the installation.
Dry cleaning. For daily cleaning, we recommend you use a soft brush, vacuum cleaner, dry dust mop or microfibre mop.
Wet cleaning. We recommend using a well-wrung-out cloth and lukewarm water. Avoid using too much water.
Remove liquid spills as soon as possible. Coffee, water, soda and tea are easy to remove from your Floorbit flooring. You’ll need a cloth, a paper towel or an absorbent sponge. Use the cloth, towel or sponge to absorb the spilt liquid. Just give it a wipe or two. Coffee and soft drinks can make your floor sticky, so it’s best to clean with a moist floor cloth or mop after absorbing the fluids with your paper towel or sponge. Be sure not to use too much water. Use a damp cloth to blot up spills as soon as they happen. Never allow liquids to stand on your floor.
Doormat. Place a suitable doormat at your entrance(s) to absorb dirt and moisture. Sand and dirt can have the effect of sandpaper and may cause premature wear and tear or scratches. Entry mats will help collect dirt, sand, grit and other substances such as oil, asphalt or driveway sealer that might otherwise be tracked onto your floor.
Felt pads. Place felt pads under the legs of chairs and tables to avoid scratches. Equip other furniture and heavy objects with felt pads for safe moving.
Clear plastic mat. We recommend using clear plastic mats under office chairs with wheels. Another option is to use soft rubber castors on chairs.
Stubborn stains. For stains such as coffee, tea, lemonade, fruit juice or milk, lukewarm water mixed with a conventional household vinegar cleaner, if needed, will be sufficient. Paint, lipstick, ink, tar, etc., can easily be removed using an absorbent cloth and regular household cleaner or stain remover.
Important: Neutralise the affected surface with a cloth wetted with water.
Heavy objects. Built-in kitchens and built-in cupboards should be assembled before flooring installation, and Floorbit flooring should be placed only until under the base. Floorbit flooring is designed for floating installation, allowing it to follow its natural movement pattern. Movement should not be blocked or restricted by heavy objects. In the unlikely event that, after placing heavy furniture, household appliances, and other heavy items, the floor covering bulges, it is recommended that the object be placed elsewhere.
Candle wax and chewing gum. Leave to harden, then gently scrape off.
Pet nails. Keep your pets' nails trimmed to prevent them from scratching your floor.
Usage and safety instructions
- Water spills should be wiped off immediately. The floor has reduced slip resistance when wet (more slippery).
- Do not use steam cleaners on Floorbit floors.
- Do not use highly concentrated soap solutions on the floor.
- Do not use organic detergents because they will leave a thin film of grease on the surface, resulting in visible footprints. Only synthetic detergents are recommended.
- Do not wax, varnish or polish the floor.
- Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or strong ammoniated or chlorinated-type cleaners on Floorbit flooring.
- Do not use scouring powders, sanitary cleaners, acids or strong solvents because they can cause damage to the flooring surface or furnishings.
- Do not drag furniture over the floor, but lift them.
- Do not use impregnated disposable cloths. These often contain oily products that attract dust and may leave stains on the floor.
- If accidental damage occurs to one of the planks, minor scratches or dents can be repaired using the colour-fill materials found at local home centres. These filler materials will need to be colour-coordinated with your floor. When matched properly, the repaired area is often invisible.
- In case of a leak or a flood causing the flooring to be soaked for a long time (days), the flooring will probably be considered a total loss. Otherwise, for a shorter time of exposure, no visible damage is expected after drying. If the water comes under the floor covering, it is necessary to uninstall the planks and let them dry. The subfloor will probably be wet and should be given the time to come to its equilibrium moisture content before reinstallation of the dry planks.
Optimal protection for Floorbit flooring
- In commercial applications where the Floorbit flooring area leads directly outside, an appropriately sized clean-off zone must be built into the floor structure.
- Use the brush attachment when vacuum cleaning. Rotating beater bars must be deactivated or removed.
- Do not use any grinding, scouring or polishing machines, scrubbing brushes, high-pressure cleaners or similar products on Floorbit flooring.
- Full-surface surface sealing is not necessary and must not be carried out.
- Cleaning Floorbit flooring with steam cleaners is not permitted.
- When installing and using Floorbit flooring in hair salons, beauty parlours or similar spaces, please note that the surface areas under and around the stools or similar areas must be covered/equipped with a sufficiently large protective mat. This is because hair dye and other coloured substances used in hair salons, for example, may lead to irreversible discolouring or changes to the floor surface depending on the concentration, ingredients and length of application. Nevertheless, if hair dye, bleaching agents or other colouring substances come into contact with the flooring surface, they must be removed immediately and the affected area neutralised with a damp cloth.
- If you are unsure when using chemicals, hair dyes, or bleaching agents, as well as other colouring substances, a sensitivity test should be performed on a sample board before installation.
Failure to comply with the cleaning and maintenance instructions listed on this page will invalidate all guarantee and warranty claims.
Laminate flooring
Glueless laminate flooring is designed to stand up to the toughest household conditions. However, to keep it looking its best, follow these simple instructions for protection and care.
Waterblock Pro 12.6mm Herringbone, Waterblock Pro 8.6mm, Waterblock 6mm, Ultraboden 8.5mm, Synchrowood 12mm and Synchrowood 8mm
Routine maintenance
- Use a damp cloth to blot up spills as soon as they happen. Never allow liquids to stand on your floor.
- Use acetone/nail polish remover on a clean white cloth to clean tough spots such as oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink or tar. Wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue.
- For spots such as candle wax or chewing gum, apply a gel solvent or isopropyl alcohol and let dwell for a few minutes. Gently scrape with a plastic scraper, such as a credit card. Be careful not to scratch the flooring. Always clean with a neutral cleaner or rinse with water to remove residue.
- For general cleaning, use a broom, dust mop or vacuum with the correct hard surface attachment (not the beater bar) of your vacuum cleaner to prevent accumulation of dirt and grit that can scratch or dull the floor finish.
- For heavier cleaning, occasionally wet mop with water only, using a well-wrung-out mop. Mop your planks lengthwise to avoid drying streaks. DO NOT pour liquid directly on floor or use an excessively wet mop that will puddle or leave moisture standing on the floor.
- If needed, use a solution of 1 cup of vinegar per gallon of water OR 1 ⁄3 cup non-sudsing ammonia per gallon of water.
- DO NOT wash or wet mop the floor with soap, water, oil-soap detergent, or any other liquid cleaning material. This could cause swelling, warping, delamination and joint-line separation.
- DO NOT use natural soap detergents. They will leave a sticky film on the surface which will collect dust and dirt that will be difficult to remove.
- DO NOT use impregnated disposable cloths. These often contain oily products that attract dust and may stain your floor.
- DO NOT use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or strong ammoniated or chlorinated type cleaners.
- DO NOT use any type of buffing or polishing machine.
- DO NOT use waxes or polishes. There is never a need to wax or refinish your Floorbit floor.
- DO NOT use rotating beater bars, floor scrubbers, steam mops, jet mops, buffers or similar products.
- A more frequent dust-mopping or vacuuming schedule may be required in very sandy areas such as a beach home.
Environmental protection
- Entry mats will help collect dirt, sand, grit, and other substances such as oil, asphalt, or driveway sealer that might otherwise be tracked onto your floor. To protect your floor from surface scratches, place walk-off area rugs or mats inside any exterior doorway to collect small bits of gravel that may track in on shoes.
- Make sure your rugs have a solid backing, so soil doesn't sift through the rug to come in contact with the floor.
- Use floor protectors and wide, load-bearing leg bases/rollers to minimise the chance of indentations and scratches from heavy objects. As a rule, the heavier the object, the wider the floor protector.
- Do not use tape to secure floor protection during construction or renovation. Use plastic sheet or similar to protect the floor.
- Use floor protectors or felt covers on the legs of chairs, sofas, TV stands, tables and other easily movable furniture so you don't scratch the floors.
- Replace plastic casters on chairs with rubber wheels and lift rather than slide heavy objects across the floor.
Stain removal
Candle wax or chewing gum. Remove candle wax or chewing gum with a blunt plastic scraper after the material has hardened.
Food or liquid spills. Remove stains as fast as possible. The longer spilt materials are left on the floor, the greater the risk of permanently staining. Persistent stains may be removed using laminate cleaner. To remove chocolate, grease, juice, cordials or wine, use lukewarm water and a non-abrasive cleaner (like ammonia and water or vinegar and water) with a soft cloth or mop.
Glue. To remove glue, use an appropriate glue remover. After use, be sure to clean with standard cleaning products.
Tough stains. To remove tough stains like tar, markers, crayons, lipstick, oil, shoe polish, nail polish or cigarette burns, use acetone nail polish remover or denatured alcohol on a clean cloth. Note: Do not use on coordinating skirting.
The first cleaning after installation
When you buy a Floorbit floor, everything has been taken care of. No extra finishing layers or protection are required. The first thorough cleaning after installing your floor:
- Remove all coarse dirt with a soft broom and a dustpan.
- Vacuum your floor thoroughly or mop it with a dry microfibre cloth. Make sure your vacuum cleaner is equipped with soft wheels and a special parquet brush.
- Get rid of any stubborn dirt as indicated in the dirt removal section above.
- Fill a bucket with clean water for rinsing out your mop.
- Pull the lever to moisten your floor and start to mop. Rinse your mop in the bucket containing clean water and wring it out well. After that, wipe your floor again until it’s entirely dry.
- Start enjoying your squeaky clean, brand-new floor.
Cleaning instructions
Weekly cleaning: dry
For regular maintenance, we recommend using a vacuum cleaner or a dry mop once per week.
Monthly cleaning: slightly damp
Once or twice per month, depending on how often the floor is used and how dirty it gets, we advise a more thorough cleaning session with a slightly damp microfibre mop. Be careful not to use too much water: it is unnecessary and could damage your floor.
- Vacuum or mop your floor thoroughly to make sure you get rid of all the dust. Make sure your vacuum cleaner is equipped with soft wheels and a special parquet brush.
- Fill a bucket with clean water for rinsing out your mop.
- Start to mop. Rinse your mop in the bucket containing clean water and wring it out well. After that, wipe your floor again until it’s entirely dry.
Luxury vinyl flooring
From cleaning to stain removal, follow the guidelines below to care for your luxury vinyl floor properly.
Floorbit 5mm
Everyday Care
- Place protective mats inside any exterior doorway over your Floorbit floor to collect sand, gravel, oil or dirt tracked in the home. You can also place area rugs in other spaces for extra coverage. These mats will also help protect your flooring from premature wear. Mats are also suggested at heavy pivot locations, such as in front of your kitchen sink or stove. If mats are placed directly on top of the vinyl floors, use mats without latex or rubber backings to avoid possible discolouration.
- Make sure your rugs have a solid backing, so soil doesn't sift through the rug to come in contact with the floor.
- Use large surface, non-staining floor protectors or felt covers on chair legs, sofas, TV stands, tables and other easily moveable furniture so you don't scratch the floors. Replace small, narrow metal or dome-shaped glides with smooth, flat guides that are in full contact with the floor. Heavy furniture or appliances that are not moved often should be equipped with flat, non-staining composition furniture casters or cups of appropriate size.
- Replace plastic casters on chairs with rubber wheels.
- Lift, don't slide, heavy objects across floors.
- DO NOT use impregnated disposable cloths. These often contain oily products that attract dust and may stain your floor.
- DO NOT use natural soap detergents. They will leave a sticky film on the surface which will collect dust and dirt that will be difficult to remove. The same for cleaning agents containing abrasive particles, these can matt down the surface of your floor.
Stain removal
Candle wax or chewing gum. Remove candle wax or chewing gum with a blunt plastic scraper after the material has hardened.
Food or liquid spills. Remove stains as fast as possible. The longer spilt materials are left on the floor, the greater the risk of permanently staining. Persistent stains may be removed using vinyl cleaner. To remove chocolate, grease, juice, cordials or wine, use lukewarm water and a non-abrasive cleaner (like ammonia and water or vinegar and water) with a soft cloth or mop.
Glue. To remove glue, use an appropriate glue remover. After use, be sure to clean with standard cleaning products.
Tough stains. To remove tough stains like tar, markers, crayon, lipstick, oil, shoe polish, nail polish or cigarette burns, use acetone nail polish remover or denatured alcohol on a clean cloth. Note: Do not use on coordinating wall base or quarter round.
Clean the floor routinely. Clean the floor routinely to remove dirt and dust by sweeping, vacuuming or damp wiping. For a deeper cleaning, use a damp cotton cloth or cloth mop. Always remove grit, sharp objects, staining agents, moisture or aggressive substances from the floor. Use a vacuum or vacuum attachment with soft bristle brush regularly to remove any particles that could scratch the floor.
You can make a household cleaner with 1 cup of household vinegar to 1 gallon of warm water or 1/3 cup of ammonia mixed with 1 gallon of warm water. This cleaner will cleanse gently, removing dirt but keeping your floor beautiful.
PLEASE NOTE: Never use aggressive cleaning agents, soap or abrasive cleaners or cleaners containing oil or waxes.
The first cleaning after installation
When you buy a Floorbit floor, everything has been taken care of. No extra finishing layers or protection are required. The first thorough cleaning after installing your floor:
- Remove all coarse dirt with a soft broom and a dustpan.
- Vacuum your floor thoroughly or mop it with a dry microfibre cloth. Make sure your vacuum cleaner is equipped with soft wheels and a special parquet brush.
- Get rid of any stubborn dirt as indicated in the dirt removal section above.
- Fill a bucket with clean water for rinsing out your mop.
- Start to mop. Rinse your mop in the bucket containing clean water and wring it out well. After that, wipe your floor again until it’s entirely dry.
- Start enjoying your squeaky clean, brand-new floor.
Cleaning instructions
Weekly cleaning: dry
For regular maintenance, we recommend using a vacuum cleaner or a dry mop once per week.
Monthly cleaning: slightly damp
Once or twice per month, depending on how often the floor is used and how dirty it gets, we advise a more thorough cleaning session with a damp microfibre mop. Be careful not to use too much water: it is unnecessary and could damage your floor.
- Vacuum or mop your floor thoroughly. Make sure your vacuum cleaner is equipped with soft wheels and a special parquet brush.
- Fill a bucket with clean water for rinsing out your mop.
- Start mopping. Rinse your mop in the bucket containing clean water. Then wipe your floor again until all the water is gone. Use a clean, dry cloth or mop head to wipe down the floor and remove any remaining moisture. This step is crucial as standing water can cause damage over time.
Warranty claim and support
The use of accessories other than genuine Floorbit accessories can damage your Floorbit floor. In this case, the warranty offered by Floorbit will no longer be valid. We therefore advise you to only use Floorbit accessories as these have been specially designed and tested for use with Floorbit floors.
If something goes wrong with your Floorbit flooring, please take photos or a short video of the issue, and contact us via email at warranty@floorbit.com.
To find out what our warranty covers, check out our Warranty page.