The 4 Best Low-Maintenance Flooring Options to Simplify Your Home Cleaning Routine
Many homeowners lead very busy lives. Between work, family, pets, health, and personal time, household cleaning has to fit into the schedule somewhere! A lot of folks would do anything to lighten the load.
At Flooring 101, we get it. That’s why we’re always happy to point our customers in the direction of flooring options that strike a balance between being attractive and easy to maintain. You don’t want to spend all your free time taking care of floors, so choose one of the four great options below that ensure you won’t have to!
1. Tile Flooring
Natural tile flooring comes in several different material options, all of which are incredibly low-maintenance and offer a variety of color and pattern options.
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile is made from clay and strikes the best balance between being low-cost and low-maintenance. It’s water-resistant and stands up to heavy foot traffic, making it ideal for the messiest kitchens. Tile maintenance is as simple as sweeping up dirt and mopping tougher messes. Plus, tile works well not just on floors but on shower walls and kitchen backsplashes!
Porcelain Tile
Technically, porcelain is a type of ceramic tile. However, there are some key differences that set it apart: namely, they’re heavier and harder. These floors are highly damage-resistant and don’t require sealing, and like other ceramic tile options, they’re easy to wipe down. Expect porcelain tiles to come in at a higher price point on average.
2. Luxury Vinyl Flooring
If you’re truly looking for easy flooring maintenance, it doesn’t get much better than luxury vinyl flooring! Available in both tile and plank varieties, luxury vinyl mimics the looks of popular wood, stone, and tile options in a variety of colors, textures, and sizes. Aside from being easy to clean, it’s recently become massively popular for its versatility and affordability.
Vinyl is lightweight and highly resistant to all forms of damage such as scratches, scuffs, dents, and stains. At Flooring 101, you’ll find a variety of waterproof luxury vinyl flooring that is perfectly safe to mop without worry about moisture damage. Plus, vinyl offers great traction and won’t get slippery when wet.
If you’re looking for the beauty of natural hardwood or tile with a fraction of the work, tile may be exactly what you’re looking for. Luxury vinyl installation is simple and efficient, making it possible in just about any room in your home.
3. Laminate Flooring
Laminate floors are another excellent choice if you’re looking for easy maintenance. Laminate is scratch- and moisture-resistant and needs only sweeping and the occasional damp mopping to keep it looking great. Your maintenance routine can be as simple as sweeping up at the end of each day.
Because laminate resists water, spills, stains, and slippery floors aren’t a concern. For these reasons, laminate is a popular choice for families with young children. Laminate is a safe, resilient surface that is tough to damage. Plus, laminate installation is similar to luxury vinyl in that it’s relatively easy and affordable compared to some traditional flooring materials.
4. Hardwood Flooring
While hardwood floors require additional maintenance compared to the other choices on this list, that doesn’t mean you should write them off. Well-maintained hardwood is incredibly durable, able to last a lifetime or more. It’s highly stain-resistant and can be cleaned with just a broom. If spills occur, wipe them up with a damp rag to avoid moisture damage from mopping.
Keeping hardwood low maintenance comes down to sealing the surface. Choose a type of wood with a high Janka rating, which measures the hardness of the wood and is a good indicator of its ability to stand up to scratches, dents, and other damage. With the right sealant, your floors will also be resistant enough to moisture that they can be installed in a kitchen.
If you already have old hardwood floors that have seen better days, you can have them refinished multiple times over the duration of their lifespan. This gives you the opportunity to have like-new floors without going through the trouble of flooring removal and installation.
Have More Questions?
If your current floors demand too much of your time, consider any of the options above as alternatives. Soon you’ll have more time for yourself, your family, and doing the things you love.
Want to learn more about low-maintenance flooring options for your home? Have any other questions related to flooring or renovation? The team here at Flooring 101 is ready and able to help! Contact us today or visit any of our seven southern California flooring locations.
