The Best Flooring Options for Allergy Sufferers: A Comprehensive Guide

If you have allergies, your immune system responds to various allergens, which create a response that includes symptoms like sneezing, coughing, itchy and watery eyes, and more. When it comes to choosing new flooring, it’s important to know the best flooring for allergy sufferers to keep your symptoms at bay. The professionals at Hernandez Wholesale Flooring are experts on flooring health, comfort, and air quality. Here’s what you need to know about choosing flooring for your home if you or someone in your family has allergies.

Why Flooring Choices Matter for Allergy Sufferers

When it comes to the best floors for allergies and asthma, the material matters. Certain flooring materials, like carpet, can trap dust, pollen, and other triggers. Wall-to-wall carpet and area rugs may also trap moisture that could lead to mold and mildew growth, triggering allergies. Any flooring that harbors allergens can exacerbate your allergy symptoms, which is why it’s so important to make sure that you select flooring materials that reduce allergens for your home.

What Makes a Floor Hypoallergenic?

Hypoallergenic flooring options should have a smooth, non-porous surface that doesn’t trap allergens like pet dander, pollen, and dust. These allergy-friendly floor types should also be easy to clean so that any lingering allergens are completely removed. It’s important to note that flooring products with low levels of VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, are also some of the best non-toxic flooring solutions.

Top Flooring Types for Allergy Relief

So, which type of flooring is best for allergy relief? Here are some of our most highly recommended carpet alternatives for allergies.

Hardwood

Hardwood flooring is one of the most beautiful options, and it does a good job of keeping allergies at bay. This flooring material has a unique texture, and it comes in a wide range of visually stunning finishes. Proper, routine care is vital to remove allergens from hardwood floors, but overall, it’s a good choice for anyone who prefers hard flooring for allergy relief.

Vinyl

Luxury plank vinyl and vinyl tile flooring are both excellent, stylish options for anti-allergy, dust-resistant flooring. The dense, non-porous surface of vinyl prevents dust mites, pollen, and pet dander from getting trapped in your floors. Look for certified low-VOC vinyl flooring and make sure that your home has proper ventilation for maximum benefits.

Laminate

Attractive and affordable, laminate is another excellent pet allergy flooring recommendation thanks to its smooth, hard surface. Unlike carpet, laminate won’t trap a range of allergens, and it’s easy to clean and maintain. Choose high-quality laminate flooring with sealed edges and water-resistant properties to reduce mold and mildew.

Tile

Porcelain and ceramic tile are both water-resistant, making them an excellent choice for allergy sufferers. This durable flooring is available in a wide variety of beautiful sizes, shapes, and colors, and it’s also easy to clean. For best results, choose tiles with a smooth surface instead of textured ones to reduce allergens.

Cork & Bamboo

Cork and bamboo are some of the best flooring options for allergies. Cork flooring has some antimicrobial and insect-repelling benefits. Bamboo flooring’s dense, smooth surface won’t trap dust and dander. Look for options with low-VOC finishes and adhesives to support healthy air quality.

Carpet

You may wonder, is carpet bad for asthma? If you do opt for carpet, look for low-pile and hypoallergenic options. Most hypoallergenic carpet is made from synthetic fibers or treated with anti-allergen chemicals. Vacuum carpet regularly to keep it clean and allergen-free.

Flooring to Avoid If You Have Allergies

Traditional wall-to-wall carpeting, especially high-pile carpeting, should be avoided if you have allergies. Other flooring types to avoid include some engineered wood and laminate flooring products with high levels of VOCs. Each of these can release fumes or allergens that will increase your allergy symptoms.

Tips for Maintaining an Allergy-Friendly Home

Try these anti-allergen floor care tips and home care tips to maintain a safe, healthy, allergy-friendly home.

• Vacuum floors often (at least twice a week) using a vacuum with a HEPA filter to trap and remove small allergens.
• Use a damp microfiber mop to clean hard floors, and look for gentle, allergy-friendly cleaning products to remove dust.
• A vapor steam cleaner works to eliminate grime, bacteria, and dust mites on carpets and some hard flooring materials.
• Choose non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning products that help minimize your exposure to harsh chemicals, which can make allergies worse.
• Consider scheduling routine professional carpet deep-cleaning to remove the fibers of hidden allergens.
• Groom pets regularly to reduce shedding and wash all bedding, throw blankets, and other linens often to help reduce allergens in your home.
• Implement a “no shoes” policy so allergens from the outside don’t get onto your floors and enter your home.
• Replace your HVAC system’s air filter per the manufacturer’s instructions to reduce the circulation of allergens through the air, and use filters with a high MERV rating for the best level of filtration.

Products That Help Reduce Allergens on Floors

Some products may help to reduce allergens on your floors. Choose special floor washes and sprays that contain ingredients designed to neutralize or destroy allergens like mold, pollen, and pet dander on contact. Hypoallergenic and low-VOC hard floor cleaners are best for those who are especially sensitive to allergens. Vacuum cleaners with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters capture and trap microscopic allergens and work to keep them from re-entering the air after cleaning. You may also choose to add an air purifier with a HEPA filter to certain rooms, like bedrooms and the living room, to reduce allergens on furniture and floors.

Visit Hernandez Wholesale Flooring for Personalized Recommendations

If you’re looking for the best flooring options for allergy sufferers, trust the experts at Hernandez Wholesale Flooring. Schedule a free in-home flooring consultation or visit our Commerce showroom to explore our wide selection of beautiful, hypoallergenic flooring materials and get personalized guidance on non-toxic cleaning routines that reduce indoor allergens. With decades of experience in the Los Angeles area, we’re focused on providing our customers with safe, health-conscious flooring solutions, so contact us to learn more or to schedule your consultation today!