If you suffer from indoor allergies, your flooring can have a major impact on your health. Thankfully, certain types of flooring are great at avoiding allergens like dust and moisture. These options are also very easy to clean, allowing you to remove any lingering allergens with just a few simple tools.
Here are the best flooring options to consider if you want to minimize allergens in your home:
Flooring Options That Can Help Minimize Allergens
- Hardwood
Hardwood is a popular choice for people with allergies because its smooth surface doesn’t trap allergens like dust and dander, nor will it absorb airborne particles. The surface of hardwood also makes it easy to remove dirty and dust with a quick sweep and vacuum. You can use a microfiber mop for any lingering bits, just make sure you don’t use a wet mop because the hardwood can absorb the moisture, which can trigger allergies and damage your floor over time.
- Tile
Tile is another great option for allergy sufferers because like hardwood, its hard surface prevents allergens from building up. Tile is also highly resistant to moisture, preventing the growth of mold of mildew. Specifically, ceramic and porcelain tile have the lowest water absorption rate because of their dense composition.
Though moisture can accumulate on grout over time, grout can be easily cleaned with a household cleaning staple: OxiClean! Just follow the instructions for diluting the powder with water and then apply the solution to your grout lines with a paintbrush or even a toothbrush.
- Vinyl
Vinyl flooring is moisture-resistant, and it can be designed to mimic the surface of hardwood or tile to prevent the collection of allergens. While allergens cannot settle within vinyl planks, they can accumulate on top of it. This is why it’s important to sweep and vacuum your vinyl floors at least once per week. For maximum protection against allergens like mold and mildew, you can pursue vinyl sheet flooring that’s completely free of the gaps where moisture can hide.
- Laminate
Laminate flooring is smooth and very easy to clean. Allergens like dust, dander, grass, and other allergens can be vacuumed away, and you can purchase a cleaner specifically designed for laminate flooring to keep your floor allergen-free. Laminate flooring is also inhospitable to mold or mildew, unless moisture accumulates over an extended period. So, clean up spills as quickly as possible.
You really can’t go wrong with either of these four options, all of which are conducive to a hypo-allergenic home. If you’re not sure which type of flooring is best for you or your family’s health, the experts at Flohr are happy to answer your questions. We’ve helped plenty of families in Austin choose flooring that suits their health needs as well as their budget. Contact us today and let’s get started on your flooring project.
