Aside from your bedroom and kitchen, your bathroom is somewhere you spend time every day. It is a high traffic area that is subject to tons of wear and tear, chemicals, water, and other substances. You want to be sure you choose a floor that is able to stand the test of time and also live up to your visual expectations.

Tile is probably the most common choice for bathroom floors and comes in stone, porcelain, or ceramic—ceramic tiles are great because they have a texture to them to help prevent slipping, but we are seeing much more slate and other beautiful natural stone come into the bathroom arena. It is best to keep your floor’s color choices natural to keep the eye from looking downward and keep the room from appearing smaller since most bathrooms are not that large.

Hardwood and carpet are other options for your flooring choices in the bathroom, but don’t hold up well to moisture causing damage and leaves you susceptible to mildew and mold.

Some other trends you should consider for your bathroom is mixing and matching different sizes and different types of tile in your bathroom to create neat patterns and explore the options for heated floors. There is nothing better than stepping out of your shower onto a nice warm floor!

During the summer months, your floors can take a serious beating from the mud, humidity, heat expansion, and especially if you have a pool! Here are some tips that can seriously help save your floors from the wear and tear of the summer months:

–       Use a de-humidifier: Summer holds naturally humid weather conditions. Humidity can make floors slippery and dirty, and this is especially helpful for wood floors because of their aversion to moisture and humidity.

–       Use a doormat: Doormats are especially helpful removing dirt and debris from shoes and feet before walking on your floors. It is a good idea to use area rugs or runners along high traffic areas to really protect your floors from daily wear and tear.

–       Protect from the sun: The UV rays from the sun can be especially damaging to floors and cause discoloration. Try to hang curtains, drapes, or blinds in your windows to help avert direct sunlight.

–       Clean your floors properly and regularly: Most discoloration of floors comes from lack of proper, regular cleaning. Depending on your flooring surface, do a deep clean on the floor as these summer months begin and try to clean at least every week during these summer months to get the dirt and grime off your floors.

–       Remove standing water: Standing water is hazardous and also causes lots of damage to floors. There is lots of water in mud too, so if you see water or mud on your floors, be sure to wipe it up as soon as possible.

Wood floors bring a beautiful, natural element and add tremendous value to your home. However, for those with dogs, cats, or other pets inside the house can understand how frustrating it is to keep up with the cleaning and wear and tear your beloved pet brings to your household.

With accidents, scratches, and messy eating areas, sometimes you can question which floors are best for your lifestyle, but the good news is that pets and wood floors can peacefully co-exist with a little bit of effort from you!  On top of potty training your dog, using puppy pads, keeping nails cut and trimmed, and using a waterproof mat under their eating areas, there are a couple cleaning tips to help keep your floors looking like new.

Tip #1: Vacuum your floor every week to remove any fine dirt or sand that may wear down your floors. Pets bring in dirt daily so it is best to stay on top of it.

Tip #2: Do not let water sit on your wood floors. They will warp and stain the wood so immediately wipe up any water you see, especially around your pets eating area.

Tip #3: Protect your high-traffic areas with an area rug. Sure you want to see all the glory of your wood floors, but you want to keep them that way too. High traffic areas wear down much faster than the areas that get no foot or pet traffic.

Tip #4: Your can reseal your floors if they do become worn-down.

Remember, wood floors are extremely durable and can last a lifetime if cared for properly, even for pet owners!

Trends in Carpet

I think we can all remember a time when someone mentioned carpets, we were transported back to a time where carpets were shaggy (aka- shagadelic) and only offered in an assortment of awful colors. Fast forward a little bit and carpets were still shaggy and only offered in boring neutral colors….

This is no longer our reality! Carpets have evolved and now are offered in tons of different textures, patterns, and colors. Carpets are coming back to become a focal point for interior design. Even if you go with a basic neutral color, people are choosing to add flecks of added color to provide new depths to your flooring choices.

These new colors and textures show a major shift in the carpeting industry that also helps with maintenance and general wear and tear of the carpet. You can choose carpet with design whether it is color design or textured design to create a stronger statement and make your flooring more eye appealing.

Just as paint does, a carpet is one of the easiest ways to make a room your own, no matter the size.

Here are some tips on how to clean and maintain your tile and grout in your home to keep them looking like new!

For tile:

• To keep your tile from looking dull you should sweep and vacuum regularly. Even if you tile is dirt resistant, sand and other gritty materials can wear down the surfaces making them appear dull.
• Clean your tile with mild detergents and water.
• Don’t use a sponge mop! Sponge mops push dirt and grime around and pushes the dirty water into your grout lines. Change the water frequently and use rags or rag-type mops (chamois).
• You may be dealing with soap residue if you tiles appear hazy. Use an all-purpose cleaner, or other mild acids (lemon juice) to remove the residue then rinse with water.

For grout:

• Because grout is porous, it collects dirt and grime very easily. A grout-cleaning regimen should start shortly after the grout cures. Be sure to use a sealant to help keep your grout looking new.
• Use a strong bleach solution with about ¾ cup of bleach for every 1 gallon of clean water. Some homemade recipes also include baking soda.
• Scrub the grout with a small brush or toothbrush.
• You can also try a foaming grout cleaner and let it soak for a few minutes before wiping it off.
• Protective tips include wearing goggles to protect from splatters, and work in a well-ventilated area.
• Do not scrub so hard that you damage the grout.

The holidays are usually spent stressing out. Whether it be about money, family, cleaning, setting up your house, paying bills, buying gifts, making enough food, there is stress involved. A gift of new floors would DEFINITELY ease some stress.

Gift new floors to your loved one or family this year. We can install as you try to relax during the hustle and bustle of the season.

Floor Depot is San Antonio’s only choice for quality and affordable flooring. We are sure to get a huge smile out of that loved one when you give them the gift of NEW floors!

Merry Christmas from Floor Depot and have a wonderful New Year!