Pets can enrich our lives and bring us happiness. Unfortunately, they don’t bring much happiness to your flooring. Claws, slobber, dirty toys, and little “accidents” can scratch, stain, and even ruin your flooring. We love our pets and want to keep them safe inside, so what flooring should you get to combat the mess and scratches? In this blog, we’ll go over what flooring is best for a home with pets!
Hard Floor
Hard flooring such as wood, tile, and LVP is going to be the best option for pets and other mess makers (AKA children). It’s easier to clean than carpet and generally more durable. Which is the most durable? Well, let’s go over the facts.
Wood: With proper care, wood floors can last a lifetime. They are prone to scratches, so if you have a pup who likes to run inside, you may want to try LVP instead. Wood is pretty water-resistant, but if water is left on a seam for an extended period of time, the moisture can warp and ruin the planks. Wood is very hard and expensive to replace. If you have small dogs or cats, real wood flooring would be a good choice for you. Wood requires more maintenance than other hard floorings, like regular oiling.
LVP: LVP is the only completely waterproof flooring on the market. It’s difficult to scratch. Even if it does get scratched, it’s incredibly easy to replace. It’s generally much cheaper than real wood and tile. LVP is easy to clean, it can be swept, vacuumed, and mopped in minutes. There are tons of options of color and grain. LVP is going to be a great option for any pet.
Tile: Tile is by far the hardiest of all flooring. Unless you drop something very heavy on it, it won’t crack or get scratched. Tile is waterproof as well. Tile tends to be more expensive than LVP and even wood. The tile itself is very easy to clean, but grout isn’t. Cleaning grout is time-consuming and can be a little difficult. If cleaning grout doesn’t intimidate you, tile is a very good choice for a home with pets.
Carpet
Just because you have a pet doesn’t mean you want to give up carpet! The key to keeping your carpet clean and smelling fresh is good carpet padding! Learn more about carpet padding here. Let’s see what carpet options are best for pets!
Nylon: Nylon is the most popular type of carpet due to its durability. It resists staining, crushing, and mildew. Nylon is generally very affordable. It’s very popular in homes with pets because of its durability and stain-resistant qualities.
Polyester: Polyester is a great choice for homes with pets due to its hydrophobic (repels moisture damage) and stain-resistant qualities. Polyester carpets are very easy to clean and maintain. Unfortunately, polyester is not quite as durable as nylon. It is easily indented by furniture and pushed down by heavy foot traffic. It’s very soft and usually less expensive than nylon or wool carpet.
Pet-Proof: There are some carpets that are labeled as “pet-proof”. We love SmartStrand from Mohawk Flooring and Bellerea from Shaw Floors.
Tips to Keep Your Floors Clean
Place rugs at every door to catch dust, grass, and other debris that may cling to your pet’s paws. Put water mats under food and water bowls. Schedule days every week where you can sweep, vacuum, and mop. If you are really busy, shop around for a smart vacuum. When potty training, keep pets off the carpets. Keep toys, kennels, and food in the same area. Brush your pets regularly to keep their hair on the brush and off the floor. Clean off your pup’s paws after going on walks.