ᐅ Does PVC flooring fade?

Good evening,

We have a PVC floor in the kitchen (brown, looks like wood). Now there are small white spots all over (they look like drops that have fallen on the floor), as if some liquid has dissolved the color that we spilled at some point. Could someone tell me what kind of liquid this could be? It must be some kind of food, because the spots are found in front of the stove and the refrigerator. Thanks in advance for your answers.

Best regards,
chris

Hello Chris,

PVC floor coverings are generally considered chemically very resistant, but they can be sensitive to aggressive solvents and fats, depending on the PVC composition (filler content). Ethers can attack PVC but are rather uncommon in kitchen environments; for example, they are found in vanillin. Plasticizer migration can also cause discoloration.

Without a precise analysis, the cause of the discoloration cannot be determined; our surroundings are full of chemically reactive substances—in clothing, shoe soles, cleaning agents, building materials, food, and so on. It is hardly possible to pinpoint exactly which substances react with each other.

All types of flooring suffer in kitchen areas due to fats, oils, acids, dropped pots, knives, etc. It is a small consolation, but something you have to accept.

We had the same issue and I suspect it was caused by the oil and vinegar. We then removed everything and installed tiles on the floor.

In households, we use many oils, acids, and similar substances. Many of these products are very aggressive towards PVC. This was also the case for us, and we wondered where it was coming from. Somehow, we couldn’t solve the mystery.

Solvents are simply toxic to any PVC flooring. I once worked with spray paint and didn’t cover the PVC flooring properly. As a result, a gray stain appeared on the floor. Later, I learned that acetone attacks PVC flooring severely. It was quite difficult to remove the stain. I ended up using paint thinner to get it off.

Dario schrieb:
Solvents are simply toxic to any PVC flooring. I once worked with spray paint and didn’t properly cover the PVC surface. Before I knew it, a gray haze appeared on the floor. Later, I learned that acetone strongly attacks PVC flooring. It was quite difficult to remove, and I eventually used thinner to get rid of it.

Good example. However, the paint probably didn’t bleach the color, but rather the spray mist deposited a layer causing a matte haze. This can, of course, be removed with the same solvent already contained in the spray can. Thinner may help in some cases. Acetone, however, is probably the most aggressive substance you can expose PVC flooring to. Since it is usually an ingredient in most nail polish removers, it is present in almost every household. It can not only damage the surface but also affect seams that are heat-welded, causing the joint to soften or smooth out.