Hardwood is known for being much cleaner than carpet as it doesn't collect all of the dust and dirt beneath the surface. Despite best efforts, carpeting is never perfectly clean. Well maintained hardwood flooring can last decades!
Carpet vs Hardwood: The Final Verdict
According to the above, hardwood and carpet flooring are equally healthy. However, carpets are harder to clean properly, making them less ideal for people with allergies or asthma.
Not only are hardwood floors timeless and versatile, but they are also easy to clean. Most hardwood floors are sealed with a finish, meaning a good dusting or vacuuming, followed by dry mopping, is all you need to clear away residue and leave your hardwood floors gleaming.
According to most estimates, carpets are 4,000 times dirtier than toilet bowls. That's right, the surface you walk on every day is grosser than the place where you do your business in the bathroom.
A bedroom is a space where people spend many hours each day, and for those who suffer from allergies, asthma, and other breathing disorders, hardwood flooring is a better option than carpet.
The best rooms to carpet are bedrooms and playrooms. Family rooms, hallways and stairways can also benefit from carpeting but these high traffic areas will suffer more wear on the carpet over time. As a rule, entry rooms and rooms most likely to see high traffic or lots of messes should not be carpeted.
Today, carpet is often seen as outdated, dingy, and even unsanitary, trapping pests, dust, and moisture deep below the surface.
Nylon – Nylon is considered one of the most durable of all carpeting materials and the easiest to keep clean.
While carpet has changed over the years, today, its lifespan is usually anywhere from 5 to 15 years. The length of time that a specific carpet lasts depends on the type of carpet, carpet cushion, carpet fibers, and wear and tear the carpet is exposed to.
Carpet has been shown to hold dirt, dust, bacteria and other soils better than hard floor. Once in the carpet, they tend not to get kicked up from foot traffic. It is not certain that carpet is either healthier or not as healthy as hard floors.
For kitchen flooring, durability and ease of cleaning are top criteria. Good choices are linoleum, ceramic tile--both very common--and wood. Linoleum is inexpensive and provides an easy-to-clean surface and comes in countless designs. Ceramic tiles are even better.
Vinyl flooring is probably the easiest to clean out of all the options listed here and also one of the easiest to maintain. Also known as Cushion Floor, vinyl flooring is available at a good price and can take plenty of wear over the years, which is why many will come with a 15 year warrantee.
Ceramic, Porcelain and Glass Tile
Ceramic, porcelain and glass tiles are durable choices for solid-surface flooring and are good for rooms with a lot of moisture, like bathrooms and kitchens. For a sustainable choice, look for glass tiles made from recycled materials.
For most people, the bedroom is a cozy sanctuary from the bustle and activity of the rest of the home. The softness, quiet, and warmth of carpet often make it the best flooring option for this private oasis.
Carpet can actually make a home a healthier place to live, keeping fine dust and other particulates out of the air supply. On smooth floors, these particles are always being recirculated into the air as your furnace or air conditioner turn on, or even as you walk by.
Bedrooms, especially those with carpet, should be vacuumed at least once a week and twice a week during allergy season. Less-often used spaces such as guest rooms, sunrooms, or formal dining rooms can be vacuumed less frequently or just before you're expecting company.
If your carpet is old and dirty, however, it can cause fungal infections. The most common fungal infection you can get from old carpet is athlete's foot. Athlete's foot is a highly contagious infection that causes itching, stinging, and burning between your toes or on the soles of your feet.
The carpet is old
If you notice matting, fading color or that the padding just doesn't feel like it's there anymore, it's probably time to move on. If you see ripples or wrinkles, it is possible to have your carpet re-stretched.
Carpets made of nylon fibers are some of the most durable and easiest to clean. Nylon is a strong fiber and stands up very well to abrasion. It is also resilient with good texture retention to maintain its original appearance.
A gray or beige carpet with specks will cover up the majortity of any dirt on your carpet, plus it looks great beneath your couch or sofa. Neutral colors also blend with the furniture in your room. While a bright color will draw the eye down to the floor, neutral tones are less jarring.
Dark Shades of Brown, Green and Blue
Darker shades are the best carpet colors to hide dirt. Dark brown is particularly good in camouflaging dust and mud stains. You can count on powder and dust particles to hide in the dark brown carpet fibers for long without betraying you to visitors.
Though hardwood is incredibly popular, carpeting is making a comeback, in part due to the innovative new options on the market. Carpet is a great choice for bedrooms, dens, or basements where hardwood can feel too cold and sterile, or any room where there is a risk of water damage.
When you have a hardwood floor, it's better to install a carpet because it protects the floor and gives an aesthetic style to the room. Some people opt to have area rugs, but carpets are better. Besides, it is crucial to be aware of the maintenance because you won't install a carpet on the floor if it's damaged.
Carpet vs Hardwood Cost
Installing hardwood floors can cost between $12 and $20 per square foot installed, while carpet often cost about $6 to $12 per square foot installed. However, choosing engineered hardwood flooring can be dramatically less expensive than solid hardwood floors.