Eco-Friendly Flooring with Little Maintenance

While upgrades to the home are important, many can be changed rather easily. If you decide that a bold red paint wasn’t quite what you had in mind for the kitchen, it can be repainted. If your newly hung curtains don’t complement your windows, they can be swapped out. Flooring, on the other hand, is more permanent. Since you can’t just rip up a new floor and exchange it with a new one, you’ll want to put careful consideration into your purchase.

You’re probably familiar with the common floor coverings on the market, including laminate, hardwood, vinyl, ceramic and carpet. These options have their advantages and make up the majority of floor sales. But if you haven’t found what you’re looking for with these floor selections, the list continues. Although less common, bamboo, linoleum, rubber and cork are other floor types that may fit the bill for your interior. Competitively priced and available through many manufacturers, these options offer many benefits; one of the greatest being their sustainability.

If you’re making a commitment to the environment, bamboo is an excellent option. It’s more sustainable than wood selections, as it comes from renewable bamboo plants. Bamboo is also strong and has the aesthetic appeal of hardwood selections. Bamboo is commonly used in contemporary homes and features a clean, minimal appearance. It’s cost-effective and less inexpensive than many hardwood floors. You can also enjoy the changing colors from exposure to sunlight, similar to real wood.

Bamboo should be treated like a hardwood floor, with regular vacuuming or sweeping to lift loose dirt and debris. It’s a great choice for those with asthma or allergies, since it’s easy to maintain and doesn’t hold in allergens or mold. Occasionally, you’ll want to sanitize the floor using a special cleaner, but make sure that the one you use is recommended by the manufacturer. It’s also ideal to protect the bamboo from scratches by placing protective pads underneath furniture and chairs.

Although linoleum has been around since the 1800s, many people have chosen vinyl in its place since it doesn’t need to be waxed. While linoleum does require this added care, it is virtually indestructible and an excellent choice for the environment. It’s made from linseed oil, wood flour or cork dust, and the color lasts forever, so there’s never an issue with premature fading. For added appeal, linoleum can be cut and installed to create unique colors and patterns that are a treat to the eyes.

Linoleum will need to be waxed to restore its shine and should be installed by a professional. These minor drawbacks are worth the added time when looking for a beautiful flooring option that is gentle on the environment. Linoleum is also easy to maintain and requires regular vacuuming, as well as occasional cleanings with water and a mild detergent.

Perhaps the most easy-to-care-for type of floor is rubber, even though most people consider rubber for public facilities only. While it may not be the most attractive at first glance, rubber floors are ideal for basements, workout rooms or kids’ areas, especially with the range of bright colors they’re available in. Rubber comes in a variety of textures and is long lasting so you can play rough on it all day. With its non-porous surface, the area is easy to keep clean and requires regular vacuuming.

More importantly, rubber is soft and resilient, making it ideal for impact absorbency or being on your feet all day. And, you don’t have all the common worries as with other floors, including denting, scratching or fading. Rubber is also easily recyclable, which means the floor is not only made from used products, but can be recycled in the future. Of course, rubber isn’t the most elegant of floor choices, so this may not be your first preference in an entryway or kitchen. However, there are other areas of the home that can benefit.

Cork is another feasible option and has all the perks of being Eco-friendly. Cork is taken from the barks of trees and does so without causing damage. Similar to hardwood, cork floors are never the same. They have their own unique qualities from the individual tree, so you can enjoy a look that’s distinct throughout your home. Cork is a suitable choice for those with allergies and asthma since it doesn’t harbor mold or mildew and is naturally hypoallergenic. It’s also quiet to walk on and creates a warm, welcoming environment. Hopefully these sustainable floor choices have opened up new opportunities for flooring throughout your home.