I’m very happy that the citrus cleaner and the Odoban cleaner are helping others. I use the Pro Care citrus cleaner but will also try the Odoban too. It’s always nice to have several options in case one of them gets discontinued.

I have found that Magic Eraser works well for marks on flooring. Just got it a little wet and scrub. The cloudiness is crazy, and I don't understand a flooring company not testing it out before selling.

Two days after using Odoban, the footprints are back. UGH!! Four years of fighting with these floors.

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Ugh. Sorry Denise. I do think these floors show dirt so much faster than my old 12x12 white tile did.

I started having the same problem. My floors were installed in May 2023 and previously used Fabuloso with some vinigar and sometimes alcohol. i also used the steamer once in a while.

i will use your advise and see if it works. I uave luxury Spc flooring

Can you please share what previous cleaners left the residue? Need to know what NOT to use on my SPC floors. I currently just use Fabuloso mixed with water,and a microfiber spin mop. They come clean pretty easily, but they do show footprints and dirt easily. I would like to try Quickshine.

I have decided to see if plain hot water can do the job just as well as any cleaner. It seems to. I was starting to feel that the Odoban by itself maybe wasn’t getting the sticky stuff as well as I wanted. That led me to think I wasn’t getting all the germs. That’s why I thought really hot water might do that. I do want to put some Odoban over it after the water has dried next time to see if it helps with shine. However, my sale sales person did tell me that mine weren’t made to be shiny as wood isn’t necessarily shiny. I’m not sure why but I think these floors, even without the footprint issue, simply show the dirt really fast.

I have the Home Depot Lifeproof LPV being put down now. It is a beautiful chevron design in light color wood grain. We are half way though and I want to rip it out. It looks gorgeous and that is the only good thing. The fake wood grooves hold dust and grit. I vacuumed, swept, swiffered mopped and mopped again and finally on hands and knees washed and dried the floor and if you run a hand over it there is still dust and grit. Also, I kept hearing about the good sound quality in a room compared to other hard floors and that it was not as cold as tile. BS on that too. I gave the installers a day off on a Friday hoping I would feel better about it in a few days. Nope. I feel like a fool. I spent almost $10,000 and even though it is gorgeous, I hate how cold it is and the grit just will not go away. I am in such a quandary. It was very difficult to prep the house for the installation. While it would be financially foolish, it may be better to ditch it now. Very said here in Colorado.

I’m sorry you hate it. It is gorgeous. Maybe once the initial grit and dirt are cleaned it will be easier to maintain??

Gail, the grit does go away. Particularly if they are cutting it in the house, there are particles in the air still settling out. Mine felt gritty at first but after several rounds of cleaning and time, it is fine now.

It is beautiful.

Thanks for the encouragement. I do not believe the grit is still installation grit. This floor has distinct rigids that define the wood design. I know other brands are more smooth. I am still leaning more towards ripping it out before it is done and going back to carpet. I have 8 cats and I thought a hard floor would be easier to keep with the fur and furballs. I wish it was not so beautiful, then it would be easier to say good bye. I did find a product that may help... Never Strip Floor Coatings. Their vinyl care product proports to make it easier to clean. But it won't help with the cold. Of course it is a very cold day here in CO.

If you want it gone, so be it. However my floor has the ridges too. The cut edges feel rough at first, they keep releasing tiny pieces for awhile. Between those things the initial grit is tenacious. However it does go away.

Similar thing happened with my hardwood in another house. However the lack of ridges makes the process quicker there.

I’m having the same problem. I chose my herringbone LVT for its grainy appearance and bevelled edge but all I see in certain lights is dirt and smudges. This was cleaned last night. It’s only half laid and I’m thinking of calling it and starting again with a different product. Anyone know of one that doesn’t do this?

I applied the product I mentioned previously, NeverStrip Vinyl Seal. My floor had a textured matte finish. the NeverStrip added a very nice satin sheen. it did not fill in the texture but it does not seem to hold on to the grit that we walk in daily. i dry mop at least every 2 days and pick up what I collect in a dust pan. It’s not what I would call easy care but much better than it was. I like the sheen much better than the matte look.

Id be going with timber or engineered timber. Ill never use a hybrid floor again

The manufacturer of my LVP floor told me to never use a steam cleaner, because it removes a protective barrier that protects the floor.

I had Progen Tarkett LVP installed. It’s very durable and easy to clean with the citrus cleaner.

I’m late chiming in, but I read through the previous comments and found a lot of great suggestions. I’ve tried many, but still havr foot prints 2 days after mopping. I wonder if the relative humidity level has any impact. Our humidity in the south is high year round.

I have the same problem of smudging and footprints on my LVP flooring, it was look but dont touch with this floor. i would have returned it if i hadnt a,ready installed it downstairs. You hear how great LVP is but you never hear sbout this loroblem with the smudging, footprints and watermarks. it could be the quality we bought - there may be other better quality ones that dont have this problem

What i did that helps is to use Quick Shine Multi Surface Floor Luster. i used that on laminate florring i had on another house I own and it has held up great at that house. I only put one coat on my LVP but it helps and gives it a beautiful shine.. im going to give it another coat on my LVP to see if it gets even better. Before i applied it to the floor i applied it to a plank out of the box to experiment. and i ordered the QuickShine Deep Cleaner from Amazon that they say removes it just make sure it can be removed safely - and it worked great. Still getting some smudges here and there but not as bad as before i applied it - so to deal with the problems i find I clean the area, buff it with a microfiber cloth and then apply more Quick Shine but buffing it in - as opposed to putting on wet and letting it dry like i did originally - going in the direction of the planks. and it seems to help alot.

I still think these LVP floors are going to be a pain - and take alot of attention. Going from tile to LVP is a big difference maintenance wise. When i do the upstairs im going to be alot more selective of what LVP iI install so that i dont have this problem again - or maybe go with laminate or wood look porcelain tile to match the downstairs. This has been an expensive lesson. .

This is a manufacturing defect and NOT a cleaning issue. Any PH Neutral cleaner is fine. We had LVP by Shaw on a new home that was replaced via warranty after it started "cupping" on the edges and our replacement floors were also being replaced due to the whole smudging issue like described in the original post. These LVP manufacturing issues can happen with any of these mills. The product, for whatever reason, can "off gas" chemicals causing these types of issues like the footprints showing even after cleaning with a neutral cleaner. It is a known problem in the industry and none of the manufacturers want to admit it. Instead, when you really push or involve a lawyer, they'll just back down and agree to replace it out of the kindness of their hearts, without admitting it is a product issue. This is a systematic problem in this industry and at some point, there needs to be a class action lawsuit so the behavior of these manufacturers can change. I'd suggest you get a lawyer or at a minimum, find and "independant" flooring inspector and filing their report with a warranty claim. Keep in mind though, not all of these inspectors are truly "independant." They are in the pockets of the manufacturers because it is the manufacturers who send them work for the most part, not individuals.

I, too, have a problem with the smudges and footprints. I have put nothing of these floors except white vinegar diluted with distilled water. Then I hand dry the floors. The minute someone walks on them the smudges return. I want to contact the manufacturer but the dealer who sold the product to me sold his business and the new owner said that he can't tell me who the manufacturer is because I don't have the original boxes. My invoice calls the flooring Fairway Olympic Oak but he said that is not enough information for him to find out who the manufacturer is. I feel certain that this flooring is defective but without the cooperation of the business that sold the product to me I have not had any luck figuring out who to contact. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Please don’t use vinegar even diluted with water. It’s too acidic and will gradually erode the protective top finish. I use Proclean Citrus Cleaner and have never once had any smudges or footprints. Some people like the product and some don’t. You can try it. It dries very quickly. It’s worth a try. When my LVP floor was first installed. I used a bit of water on a fiber cloth mop to remove dust and residue. I used some Bona on a small segment of the floor and immediately I got streaks and smudges. I rinsed it off with water. I didn’t clean the floor for about three weeks and it gassed off. I used multiple fans and kept the windows opened. Finally, the off gassing stopped. I started to use the Proclean Citrus Cleaner and haven’t had one problem since then with any streaks or smudges. I have a dog who sometimes pees and vomits on the floor. I use the cleaner and the floor looks brand new.

Do not use vinegar. I have also had good luck the citrus cleaner. I dilute it with water and dry with another microfiber mop.

Denise - we just got our new LVP installed and I’m seeing all the scuffs and marks I’ve seen discussed. Buying the citrus cleaner suggested. I cannot find a place to buy pro-clean citrus cleaner but did find pro care citrus cleaner - which seems comparable. Do you mind sending me exactly what you purchase?! Thank you!!

Yes, procare citrus cleaner.

Buy it on Amazon

Now I'm confused. Denise says ProCare and Natalie says ProClean. ProCare is easy to find online--ProCare a bit challenging, but Amazon does have it.

Sue, I’m so sorry. It’s Procare Citrus Cleaner. Sorry about the mistake.

Quik Shine - No matter how you clean it you need to put a protective coating on it so it does not get dirty or smudged afterwards. I highly recommend the Quck Shine. It makes my floors shiny and holds up great - no smudges. I clean them with water now and buff them after with a microfiber cloth and it stays shiny. You can apply it again every few months.

Gail Segreto - do you still like the NeverStrip? I’ve read several things about it and it says it doesn’t build up like wax does so you don’t have to strip and it also claims to make floors easier to clean and last longer. I’m thinking of giving it a try! @gailsegreto

@Annie Coz do you have to strip Quick Shine? Does it build up over time?

Murphy's soap with a microfiber mop. Rub the spot a couple times. Not sticky. No residue. No footprints. No drying . No rinsing. Follow bottle instructions. It says for wood (so great for wood furniture and floors) but in the fine print, it cleans pretty much everything. All natural. Been around for decades.

Im having the same issues The bottom of my pink slippers turn black My bare feet get dirty from these floors If i spill water and use a papertowel to wipe up the towel has a black tint This is after i have cleaned my floors Two years of this I never wear shoes inside Drives me crazy Please help

@frangurerin I've had the Quick Shine Floor Finish on my floors for a few months now - its still shiny - and have not stripped it - except one small area where I tried to use the baking soda / water solution to take out a stain and it dulled it really bad so I had to strip that small area. It was not easy to strip so I dont plan to strip it again.

The Floor Finish shine holds up great. No more footprints or streaks. This is what is working for me and my floors are now super easy to take care of:

>> Clean and dry and apply 3 coats of Quick Shine Multi Surface Floor Finish - leaves it super shiny. This will hold up a long long time and you should not have to do again for a few months - and then you just need one coat to bring back the shine, if you need that at all..

>>To clean it daily, weekly, etc. I use Quick Shine Floor Cleaner with a wet mop, do one wipe down after that with a mop with water to remove some excess, then - and this is the important thing - I dry it with a big towel (this acts to buff it and avoid streaks or cloudy floors) and my floors are beautiful and super easy to maintain. And no more footprints or streaks.

Everyone comments on how great my floors look. Read the reviews on Amazon on the Floor Finish - everyone loves it.

I would not use Murphy oil soap on LVP floors. Our builder cleaned with that before we moved in and it was weeks before we could get the oil off. I would not use anything with oil in it. That makes the footprint problem worse. Also, dry your floors. That helps a lot.

I am the same. my lvpis fairly smooth, and the rooms have a lot of natural light. what has worked for me is i went to a professional cleaning supply place and got a ph balaced professional cleaner. make sure it is ph balanced. then i filled a spray bottle and keep aswifer with a microfiber pad in the pantry. instead of doing the whole floor i grab sprtiz and run the microfiber over it. is still gets marks but now i spot clean i stead of the whole floor. then maybe every couple months i clean the whole floor using the same method. works great and u wount hate your floors as much.

Denise,

Were you able to find a solution to the smudges? I have the same issue, two years in this home and it is driving me nuts. Thinking of getting them replaced but wanted to check if there is a solution.

Pro care citrus cleaner on Amazon. Only thing that works for me.

Yes. ProCare citrus cleaner is wonderful. I never get smudges.

Thanks Natalie.

Denise,

Are you able to walk barefoot on the floor without any smudges/footprints?

Yes!

Hi im back after a few years, no more smudges, now its coated abd super slippery and shiny! now what?

I finally found something for this. After trying everything I was so upset that this kept happening. I bought a Swiffer wet mop, not the wet jet. my floor never smudges after using that.

Why are you back? We are trying to be helpful.

Hi Denise I think that you are talking to me, I initially had the trouble of smudges on my floor, now the same floor is super shiny and slippery so I am looking for suggestions, thank you

Also I only use boiling water and no cleaners

Nope. I was talking to myaglubpanny

oops ok, I saw that I said "I was back" so assumed it was me, thank you

ttmoss, Please don’t use boiling water on LVP floors. It can really damage the foundation of the planks, especially if the planks have some adhesive. Use warm water and quickly wipe with a soft cloth. Treat those floors gently. I continue to use my ProCitrus cleaner with great success. You can have some area rugs for those heavily trafficked areas.

I was using Mop n Glow but it now tracks badly. trying procarecitrus cleaner next