Hard-surface flooring materials that are non-absorptive, chemical resistant, and monolithic, such as resinous flooring, are the most hygienic flooring options. Resinous flooring consists of a solid and impermeable surface.
Porcelain tile
If you're looking at bathroom floor tile ideas and you want a wide choice of finishes that are tough, too, you'll likely start with porcelain. 'The “best” flooring material for bathrooms and wet areas is porcelain,' says Jules Archard, London showroom manager for Domus.
Laminate Bathroom Flooring
It's easy to clean, and since it's available in a range of aesthetic styles like wood or stone, it can be easy to match to your existing bathroom style. Laminate flooring is also relatively simple to install. That makes it even more cost-effective if you're planning on putting it in yourself.
Healthier flooring options include solid wood, natural linoleum, cork, bamboo, tile and stone. A key feature of all of these is that they are easily cleaned of dust and dirt.
Solid hardwood flooring is considered the safest and least toxic option as it's completely natural and free from any toxins. Solid hardwood floors are made of planks milled from a single piece of timber, which makes it a healthy flooring option.
Ceramic, Porcelain & Glass Tile
Tile is a safe, non-toxic flooring option that is easy to maintain. Ceramic, porcelain and glass tiles are all durable options for solid-surface flooring and are a great option for rooms with moisture, like bathrooms and kitchens.
Instead, the best way to clean a bathroom floor is with a small broom. Sweep along the edges of the room and work to collect dust and dirt in the middle. Don't forget to reach around the base of the toilet where dust likes to collect! An easy way to pick up your small dust pile is with a slightly damp paper towel.
If you make the classic choice of wood for its durability, warmth, comfort on your feet and easy repairability, a light colored option such as pine or ash, or an even lighter peach-hued maple, will do a great job of hiding dust.
1. Sheet Vinyl Bathroom Flooring. Sheet vinyl has slowly become more and more popular as they provide you with almost unlimited design choices. Sheet vinyl is more resistant to water as there aren't gaps compared to a vinyl tile.
We recommend that the toilet bowl be placed on top of the tiles on a finished floor. That's the long and short of it, unless you used a thin material for your tile, like vinyl.
Use large plain-coloured floor tiles
It's a common mistake to use smaller floor tiles in a small bathroom. This actually makes the room look smaller as it creates more dividing lines between the tiles. Choosing a large, plain-coloured tile will give the impression of more floor space and a cleaner, less cluttered look.
Unlike other products that claim to be waterproof — and are actually water-resistant — Aquatec Flooring® truly is 100% waterproof from our bottom EVA Rubber Padding to our topmost UV Wear Layer, and every layer in between.
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.
Laminate Flooring
You don't want this in your bathroom. Water can seep into the seams, causing the under layer of the floor to blister and warp.
Floor Cleaning Tips
For a quick clean up of spills on different flooring surfaces you can use Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes. They work great on hardwood floors! You can also use Clorox® Scentiva® Disinfecting Wet Mopping Cloths, which make it easy and convenient to clean floors, and can be used with a sweeper tool.
You should clean your bathroom tiled or laminate floors regularly of dirt and debris by sweeping it about once a week and wiping up messes as they happen. However, you don't need to mop it weekly if it's not too dirty. Mopping is variable and can happen every 1-2 weeks, depending on how dirty your bathroom is.
Whether you have vinyl, laminate or ceramic tile floors, white vinegar makes an excellent cleaner, as it is a natural disinfectant and stain remover. Grab a bucket and mix eight teaspoons of vinegar with three litres of hot water. Then mop the floor as you normally would.
To do this sweep the space frequently and mop every few days. Also, make sure that you are washing and drying towels and bath mats regularly so avoid damp smells. Check for wet pools on your bathroom floors frequently and wipe them up whenever you notice them.
When it comes to environmental impact, laminate has a slight edge over vinyl thanks to its recycled wood core. However, the melamine wear layer on the surface is still made of plastic, which may off-gas VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that can be harmful to people and pets.
Generally speaking, floors with a nontoxic seal or finish have the lowest VOC levels. These include solid hardwood floors, polished concrete, and tile. Keep in mind that every flooring option comes with a lot of variety. Take the time to consider the different materials and finishes available to you.
In reality, the off-gassing should be the strongest during the first two weeks and continue to off-gas for up to months after it is placed into your home.