Cleaning Kitchen Floors

Home-repair expert Jim Carey tells how to use common household items to remove spills, scuffs and scrapes on your linoleum.

Crayon Marks on Vinyl/Wood/Tile

Use undiluted toothpaste on a toothbrush designated only for cleaning. This will work when even a degreaser won’t, and it won’t damage or dull the vinyl.

Raw Egg Cleanup

Cover the broken egg completely with table salt. Let it sit for about five minutes. The salt will absorb much of the liquid and make the egg much easier to pick up. Be sure to use a disinfectant on the surface afterward to avoid the possible spread of salmonella.

Soda Spills

Clean a deep spill with a disposable diaper (be sure to use the side not covered in plastic). This is much cheaper and less messy than using multiple paper towels. Clean with a mild detergent and water. This will work on any surface. Work quickly with stains on wood.

Scuff Marks

Use an art-gum eraser to remove the black mark(s).

Damaged Vinyl

You can prevent a nick from gathering dirt and grime or getting bigger by using vinyl seam sealer. Use the kind that comes with the sealer first. Then, put enough drops of the sealer over the tear to cover the damage. The sealer will self level as it dries. Keep traffic off the area until it has dried.