Tile’s chief appeal is perhaps its sheer durability. Tile is one of the easiest flooring options to clean with a simple wipe or mopping up. It’s tougher than most woods and will typically stand up to some abuse before scratching and breaking. That said, they’re not the warmest thing to put your feet on in the middle of the night, which is why they’re usually reserved for the kitchen, which you typically inhabit around the middle of the day, with shoes on, and the bathroom, where you don’t have a lot of choices beyond choosing something that cleans up very easily. Tile for your living room isn’t entirely unheard of, but it’s certainly putting style before comfort.

Wood is actually quite versatile, even if it’s seemingly becoming less commonplace every day. A major downside is that it can warp in more humid environments, and it has to be kept very clean and very dry if it is to last. That said, it can be flexible and resilient, it can be quite durable and it lends a touch of antiquated beauty and elegance to any room. There are as many types of wood flooring as there are trees in the forest, of course, and you’ll find the selection process daunting at first. However, once you find a wood that you really like, it will have been more than worth it.

Carpeting is the most common choice for bedrooms, living rooms, hallways and general flooring throughout the house. Carpeting provides a degree of comfort that you simply won’t get from harder flooring options. That said, carpet can be tricky to care for in that you do need to vacuum regularly and you will have to worry about stains. This is why most people will go with a darker colored carpet or an earth toned carpet in order to prevent stains and marks from being too prevalent. On the other hand, you don’t need to worry about scratching a carpet. You can easily push a coffee table over a few inches where doing the same on a wooden floor, without lifting the table first, would leave a mark.

Whatever you select, what it really comes down to is what you like, what you want in your home. If you want hardwood in your bedroom and carpet in your bathroom, that’s your call. Simply look at what’s available and find something that has the style and feel that you are after.

Nowadays, you can choose from many different types of hardwood flooring: from different makes of wood to different patterns and installations. If you don’t want to choose a pre-made color, you can even get unfinished planks that allow you to pick out the exact stain you want. However, when it comes to choosing this type of flooring in your home, it’s important to consider all the pros and cons of having hardwood floors in the home.

Pros of Hardwood Floors
There are many benefits to hardwood flooring, but the greatest one by far is its look. Most people agree that hardwood flooring is beautiful and much more attractive than carpet or tile. Even better, you can choose from a variety of different woods, such as oak, cherry, and even bamboo.

Wood is a neutral that goes with any style, which makes it much easier to match furniture to hardwood than carpet whether its Arts & Crafts style oak furniture or contemporary dining room furniture. What’s great about hardwoods is that if you do decide to redecorate, you can easily change the style of the room and the floor will still match—unlike some carpets and tiles that only match certain themes and styles.

When it comes to cleaning, hardwood flooring tends to be very low-maintenance. To keep them clean, all you need to do is a simple vacuuming or sweeping with a duster every few days. Then about once a month, use a wood cleaner on the floor to help keep its shine. Hardwood floors are certainly much cleaner than carpet, which is especially beneficial if anybody in your home has allergies.

Finally, with the popularity of hardwood floors these days, it may be easier to sell your home than if you have carpet. Hardwood is considered an upgrade by most home builders and contracts, and thus may allow you to increase the price of your home.

Cons of Hardwood Floors
One of the biggest drawbacks to hardwood floors is the price. If you go with real hardwood flooring, not the laminate stuff, it can get pretty expensive. Furthermore, unless you’re able to do the installation, you will have to call in a contractor, which will probably cost you a great deal more.

Another caution with hardware flooring is if you have pets. After all, cats and dogs are notorious for scratching hardwood flooring. Think of how heartbreaking it would be to have a beautiful hardwood floor with scratches all over it. The same holds true for high-heeled shoes, which can also leave dents and scratches.

Hardwood flooring is also much colder than carpet, particularly when it’s installed on the ground floor of homes that are built on slabs. This can be a major deterrent for people who live where the winters are cold. You can get rid of some of the chill with area rugs, but then you don’t get to see the beauty of the wood as much.

Finally, there are some important considerations for those with small children. After all, hardwood floors don’t always make the best play area. Obviously, this type of flooring is much harder than a soft carpet and can be tough on crawling babies, not to mention those who are attempting to walk and are falling quite often.

As with any type of flooring, installing hardwood floors has its pros and cons. By looking at and assessing your own situation, you should be able to determine the best choice for your house.

Confused about which cleaning method is best for you floor? Some cleaning solutions can work wonders on one kind of floor and wreak havoc on another. We thought we’d make it that little bit easier. So whatever your floor type, check out our top tips on how to keep them ship-shape.

Carpets and Tiles

Regular vacuuming is essential for carpets, as it prevents loose dirt and grit from working into the carpet pile where it will damage the fibres. Upright vacuum cleaners are best, especially those with revolving brushes to dislodge embedded dirt. Use the suction head for loop-pile carpets, as beater brushes and heads can cause the carpet to bobble. Manufacturers recommend an annual steam clean. Clean according to wear. Whether you do it yourself or call in the professionals, high-traffic areas should be cleaned once every two years.

Natural remedy

Remove wine or grease stains from carpet by lightly sprinkling area with baking soda. Dab it up and add a little more if necessary. Leave on until the wine is absorbed, then vacuum up any residue left.

Natural Flooring

All good quality natural floorcoverings should have a substantial latex back to prevent dust and debris falling through and ensure easy maintenance by vacuuming. A cylinder-type vacuum cleaner without brushes is the best choice for natural floorings to avoid damaging the fibres.

Most high quality natural floorings are sold with a stain inhibitor that protects them from dirt and prolongs there life, so ask your supplier for details of cleaning products for natural fibres. These should be used on stains immediately – not once the stain has been absorbed. Mop up with a clean cloth or kitchen paper. Don’t use carpet mousse or shampoo as these can cause natural floorings to shrink.

Consider hiring a professional cleaning company if you want to give your flooring a thorough clean, but make sure they use a dry-cleaning system as opposed to a wet on. Ask your retailer to recommend a firm

Wooden Flooring

Sweep wooden floors regularly, or use a vacuum cleaner with a brush setting. Mop once a week or so with a well-wrung mop, using soapy cleaner specifically for use on wood. Don’t saturate the floor or allow water to stand on it as this can cause damage. Wet-clean waxed boards sparingly and wax polish them to improve the patina. Dirty wax build-up should be removed with white spirit and the boards re-waxed. Treat engineered boards with oil or lacquer reviver, applied with a soft cloth.

Natural remedies

Remove scuff marks from wooden floors by rubbing them gently with a pencil eraser.

Bring out the natural colour of your wood flooring by wiping the surface with lemon oil and a dry cloth. However, this only applies to natural and waxed flooring, not varnished floors.

Laminate flooring

Laminate should be swept or vacuumed regularly. Using a damp cloth is fine, but never soak the floor with water – they’re designed to be water resistant. Most spills on laminate can be removed with household cleaners but, if the stain is lipstick, ink or permanent marker, try acetone. Never use scouring pads to remove stains on laminate flooring, and remove any liquid stains from the floor as soon as possible.

How to clean tiles and stone flooring

Stone floors

Stone will often have been treated before it left the factory. If not, it will stain easily so it’s important to seal it with a proprietary sealant or, for terracotta and slate, use linseed oil. Once sealed, clean it with a mix of mild detergent and water. However, it will need re-sealing at regular intervals to keep it looking its best.

Immediately wipe away any acidic spills.

Reconstituted stone needs to be sealed with a stain inhibitor then impregnated with a top coat of water-based sealant. It’ll need re-sealing every two years. Ask your manufacturer or suppler for specific care advice and suitable products.

Ceramic tiles

Ceramic tiles can be cleaned with a mild detergent and water solution and do not require sealing. Damp-mop your ceramic tile with a standard, all-purpose cleaner. Dry the floor with a soft cloth to avoid streaks.

Never use harsh abrasive cleaners that might scratch the glaze.

Flagstone, limestone, slate

Damp-mop flagstone or slate floors using either clear water, an all-purpose cleaning solution in warm water, or water to which fabric softener has been added. Wring the mop until it doesn’t drip, and apply it to the floor in slow, even strokes. Ask the manufacturer for recommend the appropriate cleaning product.

Wipe up spills on unglazed floors immediately or they might cause a stain.

Remove stubborn marks with white spirit, but always do a spot test first.

Flexible flooring

Vinyls, linoleums and rubber are hard wearing and easy to care for. The amount of cleaning and maintenance depends both on your lifestyle and the colour of the floor. Vacuum or brush regularly to remove dust and grit that might lead to your floor being scratched, and follow with a weekly wipe with the cleaning agent recommended by your supplier.

Remove scuff marks by gently rubbing with a scouring pad – the sort you would use to clean non-stick cookware.

Clean the floor with mild detergent and water. Don’t use abrasive cleaners, which may leave a dull film on your floor. Be careful with spray polishes and other silicone-based products as they can make your floor very slippery, as can white spirit.

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