If you or your family suffer from asthma or allergies, choosing the best flooring for allergies can make a major difference in the health and comfort of your home. Fortunately, there are plenty of hypoallergenic flooring options to choose from, and we’re here to break them down for you.
How Can Flooring Trigger Allergies or Asthma Attacks?
Your flooring may trigger you allergies or asthma in a number of ways, regardless of whether it’s a hard surface floor or carpet. Luckily, there are many types of hypoallergenic flooring that can decrease your chances of triggering allergies or asthma. But first, let’s take a look at how flooring can trigger your allergic reactions or asthma attacks.
Dust mites, pet dander, mold, mildew, and pollen are common triggers for those struggling with allergies and asthma. Dust mites, pet dander, and pollen can easily become trapped in carpets, even with regular vacuuming, and pollen can accumulate on hard surface flooring as well. Mold and bacteria often form in damp areas of the home, like the bathroom or kitchen.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are created when certain types of flooring are manufactured. In flooring, they’re most commonly found in flooring that uses adhesives, and high levels of VOCs can trigger allergy and asthma symptoms.
While these triggers are common in many homes, you can decrease the chance of your flooring causing allergies or an asthma attack with a little research. In the next section, we break down the best flooring for allergies to help you choose the type of flooring that will encourage your family’s health.
Best Hypoallergenic Flooring Options
Hardwood
Hardwood flooring, although not the only option, is often considered the best flooring for allergies. Why? The smooth surface of hardwood floors make them less likely to trap allergens, and they are easy to clean and maintain.
The best hardwood flooring brands offer a variety of options you can choose from, including flooring made from maple, walnut, cherry, and oak, which have smoother surfaces so allergens are even less likely to accumulate. If choosing engineered hardwood, look for brands that are known to emit lower amounts of VOCs, or are completely VOC-free.
Tile
Tile is another hypoallergenic flooring option for people living with allergies and asthma. This non-porous flooring makes it hard for allergens to accumulate and is moisture-resistant, decreasing the chances of mold and mildew. However, you will want to properly maintain the seal on the grout, as it can break down and accumulate allergens over time.
Vinyl
Luxury vinyl tile (LVT or LVP) flooring has many benefits in addition to being one of the best flooring types for allergies. It’s waterproof, easy to clean, and gives you the look of textured flooring while still being smooth enough to decrease the chances of an allergy or asthma flare-up.
Low quality vinyl flooring can cause allergies as it may be more likely to emit high levels of VOCs. Look for brands that prioritize low levels of VOC. COREtec is one of our top vinyl flooring brands at Floor Concepts that has a GREENGUARD Gold certification for very low emissions.
Cork
Not only is cork flooring becoming more popular as an environmentally conscious flooring option, but it is also a popular choice for hypoallergenic flooring. Cork flooring is resistant to mold and mildew and has natural antimicrobial properties.
Carpet
Yes, carpet may be a surprising choice to include on our list of the best flooring for allergies, but carpet has come a long way over the years. Some carpet brands, like Shaw, provide hypoallergenic options.
The best carpet for allergies and asthma is low-pile berber carpet, one of the three main carpet styles. There are still likely some pros and cons of berber carpet you will want to consider, especially when staying allergy-conscious, but the tightly woven loops of this carpet make it both spill resistant (reducing the risk of mold and mildew), and easy to clean, reducing the likelihood of allergen buildup with consistent maintenance.
Laminate
Laminate is a budget-friendly hypoallergenic flooring option. It offers smooth surfaces and easy maintenance without the price tag of hardwood floors or LVT. However, laminate flooring can cause allergies as the manufacturing process can create high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). You can reduce the risk of VOCs by choosing high quality laminate, especially brands certified by GREENGUARD and FloorScore. One of our popular laminate brands, Engineered Floors, is Green Label Plus approved for very low VOC emissions and could be a good choice if you have concerns about air quality.
Bamboo
Bamboo is one of the best types of flooring for asthma and allergies, but it’s important to choose a high quality brand. High quality bamboo flooring is easy to clean, water-resistant, and has low levels of VOCs.
Finding the right flooring is only half the battle when it comes to managing your allergies and asthma. Even if you choose the best hypoallergenic flooring, regular upkeep is key to keeping allergens at bay. In the next section, we share practical maintenance strategies that will help you and your loved ones breathe easier and your floors looking their best.
How to Maintain Your Floors to Avoid Allergy Flare-ups
Now that you know the best flooring for allergies and asthma, it’s time to talk about how to keep your floors free from allergens.
- Use a vacuum with a small particle or HEPA filter at least once a week.
- If you have pets, choose a vacuum that is designed to pick up pet hair.
- Reduce the humidity in areas of your home prone to moisture (like your bathroom) by using an exhaust fan or dehumidifier.
- Deep clean your carpets multiple times a year and ensure there is enough air flow so that they can dry properly.
- Choose an air filter with a high MERV rating and clean your filters monthly.
- If your floor has grout, reseal it at least once a year.
Where to Find Hypoallergenic Flooring Near Pittsburgh, PA
Ready to upgrade your home with flooring that supports a healthier, allergy-friendly environment? At Floor Concepts, we carry some of the best flooring for allergies – from hardwood to LVT to carpet. Our local experts are here to help you, whether you want to learn more about the best flooring for asthma sufferers, you’re weighing LVP flooring pros and cons, or already know which type of flooring you want but need help choosing between brands.
Stop by our Pittsburgh showroom to see samples of the best flooring for allergies and asthma, get personalized recommendations, and ask about flooring materials (yes, even carpet) that are certified as asthma and allergy friendly. Whether you’re renovating one room or your entire home, we’ll help you find the best flooring for someone with allergies.
Your journey to better indoor air quality starts with the right floor. Floor Concepts provides local flooring solutions to greater Pittsburgh, PA and the North Hills, free in-home measurements and estimates, and worry-free installations. Book your free in-home measurement now or get in touch with our flooring experts today!
