April 18, 2024

If you’re a parent of a fur baby, a real baby, or both, chances are you spend a good amount of time on the floor!  It can be challenging to find an ideal selection, maintain your floors, and keep them clean. That’s where we come in! 

For Parents

As a new mom, I am often on the floor, especially as our little one has begun crawling.  It’s imperative to me that we have a safe and durable surface on which he can explore because tipping over and messes are inevitable.  Since life is busy, we also want our floors to be easy to maintain.  At Floor Store & More, we have several parent-friendly selections that resist stains, water, and scratching.  When spit-up, drool, baby food, and other substances hit the floor, I have peace of mind that my waterproof, stain-resistant flooring will not be damaged.   

For Pet Parents

Does anyone else’s dog love to transport their food to the living room rug?  Or pick up an ice cube and leave it somewhere?  And we can’t forget a favorite habit of any happy dog: zoomies.  If you’re a pet owner, you’re all too familiar with the sound of a thirsty animal sloshing water onto the floor or excited paws bringing in mud on a rainy day.  Having a furry companion, while worth it, does mean more frequent cleaning and that your floor needs to be tough enough to take the wear and tear.  For pet owners, it is also important to consider durable, scratch-resistant, waterproof, or water-resistant flooring. 

Kid and Pet-Friendly Selections That We Recommend:

1. Luxury Vinyl is great for areas of high foot traffic because its layers make it extremely durable.  It is also waterproof and scratch-resistant, making it a great choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and living areas.  Additionally, vinyl will be kinder to your wallet, which is always a plus. 

Coretec, “The Original 100% Waterproof, Kidproof, Petproof Floor,” is one of our luxury vinyl selections.

1. Laminate flooring is another great option for many of the same reasons as luxury vinyl.  You can find stylish choices that mimic the look of real tile or wood!
2. Carpet is an affordable option for parents and a safe option for children.  We have several stain-resistant, fade-resistant selections to make cleaning up messes no big deal!  And when kiddos are playing hard or falling hard, carpeted floors give them a soft place to land.  Did you know that carpet also provides temperature insulation as well as noise reduction?

A Note on Hardwood and Tile

If you prefer to have or already have hardwood or tile flooring in your home, these can still become family-friendly options.  

Modern manufacturing has provided us with great hardwood options that have a water-resistant finish from brands like Shaw Floors and BPI.  Hardwood is usually sustainably sourced, composed of non-toxic materials, and is thought to provide better air quality to your home, so those are points in its favor!  

Tile can still be beneficial for bathrooms since kiddos are probably (hopefully) not running through them as often as in kitchens, living areas, or playrooms.  For pet owners, tile is still an ideal choice due to its water resistance, durability, and easy maintenance.  

3 Tips to Take Home:

1. Area rugs can be your best friend when it comes to catching dirt and debris from outside and providing a softer surface for your hard flooring.  They also extend the life of your floors in those high-traffic areas.  
2. Consider your cleaning solution.  This goes for anyone, but especially if you have kids and pets in your home, it is best to avoid harsh chemicals and highly fragranced products.  If you’re not sure about your current cleaning routine, take a minute to read and research the ingredients of your products.  

For vinyl flooring, we highly recommend using a non-toxic solution with a microfiber mop such as vinegar and water, or our Coretec Encore solution.  (Sold here at Floor Store & More!)  

If you need advice on how to care for your flooring or what cleaning products are best, feel free to DM us on social media or email us at info@floorstoremore.com. 

1. As a parent and pet owner, I know how hard it is to stay on top of the mess!  But what motivates me to vacuum and mop often is remembering that allergens collect beyond what we can see with dust, pet dander, et cetera, and of course, I want my baby to be able to crawl on a (relatively) clean surface.  

Bissell Rental recommends that pet owners “…clean carpets by vacuuming one to two times a week to keep up on loose pet hair, dander, and tracked dirt. Pet owners seeking a deeper carpet clean should shampoo the carpet three to four times per year.”

For those of us who are lucky enough to chase kiddos or animals around at home, flooring is one of the most important things that you may not think about often.  At Floor Store & More, we want to provide education and assistance so that your flooring works FOR you, not against you.  

If you have any questions or are looking to upgrade your flooring, shoot us an email at info@floorstoremore.com, call us at 254-939-3502, or drop by our store at 900 E Central Ave in Belton, TX.   

Check out these relevant posts from our Instagram!

• Flooring Tips for Pet Owners
• The BEST Floor Cleaner
• Why Choose Carpet?
• Why Choose Laminate?
• Why Choose Luxury Vinyl?
• Stain-Resistant Carpet
• Caring for Your Carpet

Additional Sources:

• Bissell Rental
• Coretec Floors
• Flooring America