Many cooks aspire to have a kitchen “clean enough to eat off the floors.” And while that may not be the best idea, even if you are a thorough housekeeper, we all want our floors to look and stay clean, especially in our kitchens where we prepare food for our families.
When choosing flooring for your kitchen, you’ll want to factor in stain resistance and ease of maintenance. The design will also be an important decision as there are hundreds of colors, patterns, and grains to choose from.
Dark flooring may be better at hiding dirt but will increase the visibility of scratches. Lighter flooring will mask dust but accentuate every spill and stain. A matte finish shows foot and paw prints more than high gloss flooring. You’ll also want to think about your lifestyle. If you have young kids prone to making messes or pets running around that tend to scratch surfaces more often, that will determine what kind of flooring you purchase.
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is the easiest flooring to clean and also one of the easiest to maintain. It handles heavy traffic well and often includes a 15-year warranty.
Vinyl usually has a protective layer that acts as a barrier to stains and spills. That protective layer also provides scratch resistance, which makes it a good option for pet owners.
Cleaning vinyl is simple – sweep and then mop. But don’t use too much water because it can seep into the seams and cause your vinyl to become loose, discolored, or curled.
Vinyl Flooring Colors
Today’s vinyl flooring comes in different formats, from sheet to Luxury Vinyl Planks (LVP). It’s also offered in a variety of colors, patterns, and even visuals that realistically resemble materials such as wood, stone, and concrete.
Vinyl products with certain patterns will hide dirt well, but the sheen will show the dust when the sun is shining on it.
Waterproof Laminate Flooring
Laminate floors are a lot like vinyl when cleaning – just sweep (or vacuum) and mop. But in the case of laminate, a dust mop might be a better option, as water can cause warping in this type of flooring
Laminate is made of high-density fiberboard or plywood core and uses a photo layer to mimic the look of hardwood or stone. That layer also adds a protective plastic coating, resistant to scratches and dents. If you get a scratch, you can often buff it with mineral oil.
Laminate Flooring Colors
Laminate flooring is a great choice for people who want the look of a wood floor but need something lower maintenance. Laminate offers a variety of colors and patterns that feature a realistic hardwood look.
For laminate floors, it’s best to stick with lighter colors and matte finishes if you want a clean look.
Hardwood Flooring
Keeping hardwood floors clean doesn’t take a lot of work. Spills can be easily mopped up, and dust can be easily vacuumed or swept away. Hardwood floors do require more long-term maintenance to keep them looking beautiful. Since they can scratch easily, keeping up with dirt and grit will be a priority. And while you can remove scratches with light sanding and refinish floors to make them look new, the work is time-consuming and involves more heavy lifting than other types of flooring.
Most of today’s hardwood floors are sealed, meaning a good vacuuming, followed by dry mopping, will leave them clean and fresh.
Hardwood Flooring: Dark Floor vs. Light Floor
Hardwood floors are a timeless choice for flooring in a home.
Glossy finishes are great for easy maintenance but will highlight any dirt or dust on the floor. Darker colors can scratch more easily, and stains will be more visible without the right finish. They also need more frequent cleaning.
Lighter colors, such as pines and ash, generally hide dust better, while a grain with many variations, like maple, will disguise dirt. But some woods, like pine, are softer and can get more easily scratched and nicked with everyday wear and tear.
Ceramic Tile Flooring
With a regular schedule of sweeping and mopping, you’ll keep the tile floor in your kitchen looking great. Heavy-duty mopping and scrubbing are usually only required on tile floors when stains have been allowed to set in the grout for too long. Be sure to keep your tile sealed to keep moisture, stains, and maintenance to a minimum.
Ceramic Tile Flooring Colors
Unlike wood flooring, the best tile floor should be a medium color with a pattern to hide dirt and dust. Tiles in lighter tones are harder to clean, so you’ll want to lean toward beiges, grays, or even slightly darker shades.
Matte finishes also do a good job of keeping dirt out of sight, and this finish will also make your tile much less slippery when wet.
Another tip for keeping your tiles looking clean – use a darker shade of grout. White grout will require constant cleaning to keep it looking good. Grays and beiges will blend in better with your tiles and help the dirt look invisible.
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H·FLOR’s special surface treatment technology ensures easy maintenance and eliminates the need for waxing and polishing. For more assistance finding a low-maintenance, easy-to-clean kitchen floor, use our contact form and one of our flooring experts will contact you promptly. You can also visit LX Hausys inspiration gallery and virtual showroom to discover flooring and other kitchen design ideas.
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