Which Floors Is the Easiest for Older Individuals to Clean & Maintain?

Believe it or not, low- or no-pile carpet is the easiest — and safest — floors alternative for seniors or older people to walk and preserve. Hardwood, tile and concrete floors present slick surfaces that become major tripping hazards for people who must, at all costs, avoid falling, bruising and breaking brittle bones. As seniors age, the odds of decreasing increase and the odds of completely recovering from such falls decrease.

Durable Commercial Carpet

Flooring alternatives which are soft and offer a little cushioning are the best option for seniors. A carpet with a polyurethane foam mat — stretched taut — wall to wall is not only soft to walk, it yields and offers some cushioning in case of a drop. For seniors, a commercial permanent grade or short-pile nylon carpet works best for power chairs and wheelchairs, while still being simple to clean and maintain. Routine vacuuming is all it takes to keep carpet clean. Employ a professional carpet cleaner or clean it yourself once annually using a carpet shampoo machine.

Cork Flooring

Another easy-to-clean-and-maintain alternative for seniors is cork flooring. Besides reducing energy loss due to its insulating material value values, cork flooring offers strong grip for seniors or anyone who walks on it, helping prevent slips and falls due to slick floors. All cork needs is an occasional sweeping or vacuuming to keep it clean. This floor choice can also stain resistant.

Linoleum Floor Coverings

When not insured with a glossy coat of wax, the third floor choice available for seniors or older people is linoleum. Generated from linseed oil, wood powder, cork, resins and limestone, linoleum floors require sweeping or dust mopping and washing as needed to remove spills or stains. Linoleum floors offer you a little bit of padding or cushion and therefore are anti-microbial. This keeps germs and bacteria from forming on the floor, which makes it a healthy solution for seniors or elders with weaker immune systems.

Non-Slip Vinyl

The majority of seniors opt for carpet in the house due to the reduced risk of injury, but some may prefer a ripped vinyl floor to avoid triggering carpet fibers. Vinyl floors also don’t require a coat of wax, and they work well underfoot when wearing rubber-soled shoes. To keep them tidy, give them a daily sweeping and also the occasional wet mop with warm or lukewarm water combined with a little bit of vinegar to kill bacteria.

Avoid Tile and Natural Stone

Even though they are flooring alternatives which are relatively simple to keep clean, natural stone and tile floors are not safe choices for seniors. Falling on this type of hard surface may lead to broken pelvis, hips or legs. Many seniors frequently die after a pelvis or hip breaks due to complications that come up with setting the injury and healing.

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