Ceramic tile with matte finish is an affordable option that works well for keeping dirt out of sight. This finish will also make your tile much less slippery when wet. Be sure to keep your tile sealed to keep moisture, stains and maintenance to a minimum.
So, what flooring looks cleanest? Typically, lighter color woods show less dirt and dust. Dark floors can easily show dust, while lighter floors mask it. Similarly, matte floors show less smudges, foot and paw prints than high gloss flooring.
Gray also conceals stains and dirt well. Its neutral tone balances dust and crumbs, making them harder to detect. Also, gray flooring can give your room a clean atmosphere. It's a classic color and one of the best color carpets for high-traffic areas.
While cool and white-toned colors can make the room feel clean, dark colors actually hide stains and dirt more effectively, and are easier to keep looking clean over time.
Dark tiles can hide dirt, dust, water spots, and hair and can also hide imperfections in the floor. For this reason, black floor tiles work really well in a contemporary kitchen.
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.
No hidden debris: Dust, dirt, and debris are more visible on dark colored flooring, meaning you'll have to clean them more often. A daily sweep and weekly mop can keep the floors cleaner and keep the visible debris down.
Ceramic tile with matte finish is an affordable option that works well for keeping dirt out of sight. This finish will also make your tile much less slippery when wet. Be sure to keep your tile sealed to keep moisture, stains and maintenance to a minimum.
White tiles will also require more frequent cleaning in rooms with high foot traffic since they tend to show dirt and debris more than darker colors. If you're looking for a shade that's most easy to maintain, white might not be your first choice.
As a general rule of thumb, it is best for a bathroom floor to be a darker shade than the accompanying walls and ceiling. However, if your personal preference dictates, you can choose to be adventurous and go against the grain in this regard.
Neutral shades such as light brown, gray, and black are timeless classics that will look good for years to come. These hues make a great backdrop for any room in your home, so you can easily accessorize the space without worrying about the color clashing with your floors.
If you'd like a relaxing, peaceful environment, try light gray or light-toned wood. To emulate class and elegance, black or red are great options. These colors can also give the room a powerful or dramatic edge. An interior using brown colors can give the room a cozy, natural and rustic feel.
Floors with a white finish go with almost everything. A light burlap-like color is a great choice because you still get a light floor, without installing a truly “white” floor. You can use a variety of wood species to create a light floor.
Many home experts agree that the floor color should be darker than the walls. The rule generally applies because lighter walls and a dark floor make the room seem larger. Most homeowners prefer a spacious looking interior. However, the rule can change with low ceilings.
Additionally, darker gray floors will show more dirt and pet hair than their lighter counterpart. Conversely, with a lighter gray floor, it can open up smaller spaces and create an illusion of the room being larger and works better to hide dirt and pet hair.
Make a solution of warm water and dish soap. Apply it with a flat mop or cleaning cloth. Make sure to change the water frequently. Let it air dry or use a soft cloth.
Vacuum, dust or wipe with a lightly dampened mop – never use soap-based detergents, as they can leave a dull film on the floor, and avoid over-wetting. Don't use wax polish either, as this will make the floor slippery. To remove marks and stains, use a dilute solution of water and vinegar.
Mopping with dirty water usually causes that buildup and dirty appearance, even though it was just mopped. Dirt is added to a mop bucket each time the mop is dunked into the water, if you don't change the water you are just transferring the dirt and grime around the floors through the dirty water.
Epoxy resin based grouts are chemical, abrasion and stain resistant, able to withstand the harshest conditions such as swimming pools and commercial kitchens, epoxy grout dries with an impervious surface so simply wipes clean when tarnished.
This is known as chemical residue buildup, a common floor maintenance issue. These chemicals need to be scrubbed off or completely removed, as this chemical residue is doing what these chemicals are designed to do – attract dirt – which is making your floor look dirty!
The glossier a floor finish, the more light is reflected. There is a drawback, however, as dust, dirt and other debris show up much more on a high gloss finish, as does any imperfection in the floor.
Choose Light Colored Flooring
A light hardwood like pine or oak will add plenty of appeal to a darker room and expand the space to feel more open. Many homeowners feel that lighter hard surface flooring coordinates with a more contemporary design, but it can also work with a traditional look.
Polyurethane is the most popular finish for floors. It's tough enough to handle constant traffic and is resistant to almost everything. There are two types of polyurethane finish: oil-based (solvent borne) and water-based (waterborne).
Light color flooring tends to brighten up a space and make it feel larger. Bright and creamy floor tones can help modernize a small room, adding an element of airiness.