Flooring for Busy Families: Durable and Easy to Clean Options
When it comes to today’s busy lifestyles, there is little room for fussy and high-maintenance materials. There are so many popular styles to choose from that are both durable and easy to clean. What are the options and how are they different? Keep reading to find out!
Each type of flooring has its individual pros and cons. If you are considering a whole-house flooring upgrade, you will choose something different than if you are just looking to upgrade a few areas.
Tile is Easy to Clean and Durable
One option, which is especially common in climates that tend to be warm and humid, is to tile your entire space. Due to the waterproof nature of tile, it is also popular in rooms where moisture or messes are highly probable, such as kitchens and bathrooms. Dry messes can be swept up or vacuumed, and wet spills are easy to wipe away. Tile floors require little more than for you to wash or mop them regularly! Tend to any grout, deep clean, and seal if necessary, a few times a year.
Available in ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone, tile can be found in a limitless array of colors and styles. While it resists scratches and, when properly installed over an appropriate subfloor, is relatively difficult to crack, beware of dropping excessively heavy objects on tile floors, or ignoring damaged grout. Any cracks in the grout can allow water to penetrate and potentially affect the subfloor, cause swelling and eventually damage the tiles.
Vinyl Floors are User Friendly
Another easy to maintain and durable option is vinyl flooring. Available as sheet vinyl, which is just as it sounds, in varying widths to accommodate your specific needs, as well as luxury vinyl tile or plank, these floors are entirely inorganic. They don’t crack, swell, or otherwise respond to moisture. Vinyl floors can be swept, vacuumed and mopped routinely and will stay looking new for longer than many other similar materials .
If you are looking for a flooring upgrade that can be used throughout your living space, luxury vinyl flooring is a worthy contender. It can be used from the entryway to the formal living room and even outback, where the kids and dogs drag in mud. Available in styles and finishes to mimic all visuals of wood and tile, you are sure to find something that will fit your decor and the needs of your family.
Hardwood Floors are Both Durable and Easy to Clean
Possibly the longest lasting and toughest flooring money can buy is hardwood flooring, mostly because it can be refinished. Not that it won’t scratch; it can just be fixed if/when it does. Wood will not be a great choice for every room in a home, but there is something about hardwood flooring in a home that makes a statement that few other floors can. Hardwood flooring brings a classic air to homes!
If you are lucky enough to have hardwood flooring, or are considering having them installed, just know that they are best used in areas that won’t see a lot of moisture. Avoid installing them in damp basements, or kitchens and baths. Other than that, hardwood floors are very low-maintenance and only need to be swept with a dust mop or vacuum and the occasional cleaning, according to best-practices. Make sure to sweep up any wet or gritty mess right away and use throw or area rugs in high traffic areas to protect your hardwood floors from scratching or damage.
When you are ready to take the next step in upgrading your flooring, or if you need some in-person advice, pay a visit to our helpful design staff at Thornton Flooring. We can review your budget, preferences, and lifestyle so you are sure to select something that will meet all your needs. In fact, we can even advise you about installation, so you will know exactly what is involved. Soon you will have new floors that are both easy to maintain and will hold up to whatever life throws at them.
