Which flooring is easier to maintain — carpet or hardwood? The answer may surprise you.
While carpeting is luxuriously soft on the feet, it also requires more day-to-day maintenance than hardwood floors. However, commercial carpet may be the better option for places with high foot traffic.
When trying to decide between carpeting and hardwood floors, you’ll want to take into account multiple factors that are specific to you and your family. Some examples are:
- Which one is easier to clean?
- Which one is more durable in areas with high foot traffic?
- Which one collects fewer allergens?
Carpet vs. Hardwood: Spill Cleanup
Spills need to be cleaned up right away on both hardwood floors and carpeting.
To clean engineered or solid wood flooring, simply wipe away the liquid with a clean cloth so the floorboards are dry. Liquid that is left to sit can seep into your hardwood floorboards to create a permanent stain. Thankfully, you can always refinish hardwood floors that are stained or physically damaged so they look as good as new.
If you choose carpeting, keep in mind that more and more homeowners are choosing carpet for their homes. The stain-resistant treatment keeps liquids on the surface of your carpet until they can be blotted.
However, even stain-resistant carpet isn’t foolproof. If you allow a spill to sit on your carpet for an extended period of time, the liquid will seep into the carpeting and make a stain. Unlike hardwood floors, carpeting may require more effort to remove deep stains by using special carpet shampoos and chemicals.
The bottom line: Both hardwood and carpet are fairly easy to keep clean, although both can stain if spills are left for long periods of time. If you think stains will occur often in your home, it’s generally easier to remove stains from hardwood than from carpet.
Carpet vs. Hardwood: High Foot Traffic
If you’re trying to decide on flooring for an area with high foot traffic, such as an office, we recommend choosing an industrial carpet.
Today’s industrial carpets are better able to stand up to stains than their predecessors. Patterned carpet or colorful carpet tiles can also hide dirt more easily than other types of flooring. Keep in mind that carpets made from synthetic fibers may be more stain resistant than carpets made from natural fibers like wool.
Hardwood floors are not recommended for high-traffic areas because dirt and grit can wear away the finish. They’re also more vulnerable to scratches.
The bottom line: Consider industrial carpet over hardwood for areas with high foot traffic.
Carpet vs. Hardwood: Allergens
If you or a family member has allergies, you may want to consider real wood flooring.
Hardwood floors have a flat, smooth surface, which makes it difficult for allergens to stick around. Carpet fibers, on the other hand, collect dust, dirt, pet hair, and other allergens.
Carpeting can also attract mold and mildew microbes, which can only be removed with regular vacuuming.
To maintain wood flooring, simply sweep or dust to prevent dirt or grit from building up. We also recommend occasionally using a to keep hardwood floors looking nice for years to come.
The bottom line: If allergies are a significant concern in your household, you may want to choose hardwood floors.
Get the Right Flooring for Your Family
Our Grand Rapids, MI, flooring store offers a wide range of colors and styles for hardwood, carpeting, and more. Call Complete Flooring & Interiors today at (616) 458-4806, or contact us online.
This blog post has been updated.