How to Remove Grease from Vinyl Floors

If you’ve spilled grease on your vinyl floor or if there’s an old oil stain on it, you’re probably thinking how to remove the oil without damaging the floor. Fortunately, vinyl is a fairly durable material, and with a little soap and water you can handle most greases. In this article, we’ll show you a few ways to deal with grease stains on vinyl floors.

Table of Contents

Clean up any freshly spilled oil immediately.

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Quick action will help prevent stains. If you spill oil or anything on the surface of the floor, wipe it off immediately rather than letting the oil soak into the floor. Grab a paper towel or sponge to absorb the oil. Throw the sponge in the trash after you’ve cleaned it so that the oil doesn’t get into the drain. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Wash greasy areas with water and mild soap.

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Soap will help break down grease. Whatever type of floor you’re dealing with, soap and water are a good place to start for oil cleaning. Mix 1 part dish soap to 10 parts water, dip a soft rag or sponge in the soapy water and wipe away any oil or grease, then rinse off the soap with water. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Avoid using strong cleaners that can damage the floor or leave smudges on the floor. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
This can work for some grease or oil stains. However, if the grease has hardened or soaked into the vinyl, you may need to use a stronger chemical such as ammonia or white gasoline.

Absorb large amounts of spilled oil with cornstarch.

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The powder will quickly absorb the oil. If you’ve just spilled a lot of oil on the floor, first pour cornstarch, cornstarch, or baking soda over the oil. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes to absorb as much oil as possible, then wipe the stain with a paper towel. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

You can also use a broom after letting the cornstarch absorb the oil on the floor for a few hours. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Treat grease stains with vinegar, castile soap, and baking soda.

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This homemade recipe is gentle yet effective. Mix 1 cup (240 ml) of distilled white vinegar, 1/8 teaspoon (0.5 ml) of castile soap, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of baking soda, and 3 cups (700 ml) of water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Shake well and spray onto grease stains. Wait 10 minutes for it to soak in, then scrub it off with a soft rag or brush. ^{[6] X Research Source}

Vinegar, baking soda, and mild soap are all safe for vinyl floors. ^{[7] X Research Sources}
Rinse with clean water after scrubbing.

Try ammonia to remove stubborn oil stains.

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Ammonia is a strong degreasing agent. It also leaves no streaks or residue on the floor. ^{[8] X Research Source} First, you need to clean the dirty area with water and mild soap. Rinse with water and wait for it to dry completely. Mix 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of ammonia with 1 quart of warm water and pour it over the stain. Use only enough solution to cover the oiled area. Wait 10 minutes, then gently scrub with a soft brush. Rinse with clean water. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Never mix ammonia with bleach or household cleaners! Doing so may produce toxic gases.
Amomiac can sometimes cause cracks in vinyl floors, so you need to be careful and only use on a small area. ^{[10] X Research Source} If you’re not sure how your vinyl flooring will react to ammonia, test it first on a hidden spot of the floor.

Spray WD-40 oil onto stubborn grease stains.

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WD-40 oil is also effective for scratches. Spray a little of this powerful degreasing product on the stain, then gently wipe it off with a paper towel or soft rag. Finally, you can clean up any remaining chemical residue with a mixture of 1 cup (240 ml) of apple cider vinegar mixed with 1 quart of hot water. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Treat cosmetic stains with rubbing alcohol.

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Alcohol is a good cleanser for lipstick stains. It is also an effective all-purpose degreasing agent. ^{[12] X Research Source} Pour some rubbing alcohol onto a soft rag and rub it vigorously into oil stains or stains on the floor. ^{[13] X Research Source} Rinse with clean water and dry. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Most cleaning experts consider alcohol a safe cleaner for vinyl floors if used in small amounts. However, rubbing alcohol can damage the finish of some vinyl floors. You should test on an inconspicuous area first before using rubbing alcohol on the floor.

Clean grease or wax stains with white gasoline.

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This cleaner is also known as inorganic pine oil. White gasoline is safe for vinyl floors and can remove many types of stains. ^{[15] X Research Source} It is also very effective in breaking down grease. ^{[16] X Research Source} Dab a small amount of white gasoline on a soft rag and gently rub the stain until the grease stain disappears.

Use a damp rag and a few drops of mild dish soap to clean the floor after removing the grease. ^{[17] X Research Source}

Remove stains with bleach.

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Some stains remain after the grease has been removed. If things like spaghetti sauce are spilled on the floor, you may need to add a stain remover in addition to a degreaser. Wipe up oil spills and use a solvent (such as dish soap) to remove the oil, then rinse thoroughly with water and allow to dry. Mix 1 part bleach to 4 parts water, dip a rag in the solution and leave it on the stain for 1 hour. Rinse with clean water. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

Never mix bleach with ammonia to avoid creating toxic gases. If you have used other cleaners, rinse them well before using bleach.
Some cleaners and floor experts warn that using too much bleach can damage vinyl floors. To limit possible damage, be sure to dilute the bleach before use and test it in an inconspicuous spot first to make sure it doesn’t leave a stain on the floor.

Avoid using gasoline-based floor polishes.

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These products can damage vinyl. Petrol solvent-based floor polish seems to be perfect for cleaning greasy vinyl floors because it’s formulated to break down grease and give it a shiny finish. Unfortunately, however, they are not safe for use on vinyl floors. If you want to clean vinyl floors with a floor polish, read the product label carefully to make sure it doesn’t contain gasoline-based solvents. ^{[19] X Research Source}

Some floor polishing products can be used on vinyl floors. Look for products that are water-emulsion or labeled as suitable for use on vinyl, PVC or “elastic floors”.
Some aromatic gasoline solvents, such as white gasoline, can be used exclusively to clean small stains. However, it can damage vinyl when present in long-lasting products such as floor polishes.

Avoid scraping floors or using abrasive materials.

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Anything rough will scratch the floor. If you want to scrub away oil stains, use a soft rag, sponge, or soft brush. Do not use steel wool, stiff brushes or abrasive cleaning materials. ^{[20] X Research Sources}

Some websites recommend using the edge of a spatula or butter knife to scrape off grease stains. However, metal tools can damage the floor surface. If you need to remove stains, try using a soft nylon brush to scrub. ^{[21] X Research Source}
Some cleaning chemicals may also be too strong for your floor. For example, some vinyl flooring manufacturers recommend not using acetone on the floor. If in doubt, consult the manufacturer’s instructions or a flooring professional to see which products are safe.

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