Antimicrobial flooring – it sounds like something you’d find in a hospital, medical center, or scientific research lab, doesn’t it? It’s what you need when cleanliness matters most.

But thanks to a pandemic, more homeowners are putting health first and are rethinking interior design. And they’re starting with their flooring.

Before we get into flooring, let’s take a look at how antimicrobial is defined.

“Antimicrobial” refers to substances that kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. These agents can be naturally occurring or synthetically produced and are used in various settings to prevent infections and ensure hygiene. Antimicrobials are commonly used in medicine, agriculture, and food preservation to control the spread of harmful microorganisms.

That’s the official definition. Flooring manufacturers have long since used antimicrobial flooring in places like medicine, agriculture, and food preservation. But now it’s moving into households, and for good reason.

You want a clean house. Not just clean, but sanitized too. This means eliminating the presence of viruses and bacteria, the stuff you bring in each day without knowing it. Your shoes may pick up harmful organisms as you walk around outside each day. You bring it home, tracking it wherever you walk.

Then these organisms have the opportunity of spreading throughout your home. Your kids pick it up on their socks, snuggle down on your couch to watch a show. And on it goes.

Antimicrobial flooring can help with that. It can stop those microbes from moving by eliminating them altogether.

Is Antimicrobial Flooring Possible?

The good news is, Yes, antimicrobial flooring is possible and being used in many settings. Antimicrobial flooring is designed to inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, thereby enhancing hygiene and reducing the risk of infections.

If you want antimicrobial features, you have to know where to look.

Start with materials. Antimicrobial flooring can be made from various materials, including vinyl, linoleum, and certain types of treated wood. These materials are often infused with antimicrobial agents or coatings during the manufacturing process. They are designed with health in mind.

• They’re more hygienic. They’re designed to reduce the risk of infections and cross-contamination.
• They’re durable. They’re more resistant to stains, odors, wear and tear.
• They’re easy to maintain. They’re easier to clean than standard flooring options.

In some cases, it’s about technology. Antimicrobial properties can be integrated into the flooring material through various technologies to disrupt the cell membranes of microorganisms, preventing their growth and proliferation.

Of course, when selecting antimicrobial flooring, it’s essential to consider the specific needs of the environment, including traffic levels and cleaning protocols. If you’ve never thought about antimicrobial properties before, don’t trust something just because you read a review or see a stamp on a box. Have a conversation with a flooring expert to truly understand what you’re potentially buying and installing, to ensure they meet relevant health and safety standards.

Making Flooring Choices

Is antimicrobial flooring sounding good to you? We always tell our shoppers to pay attention to a few considerations:

• Choose flooring that offers moisture resistance. If the flooring material is resistant to moisture to prevent mold and bacteria growth, it’s less likely to cause problems over time.
• It should be easy to clean. Choose flooring that is easy to clean and maintain to keep it free from germs.
• It should be durable. This is especially in high-traffic areas where risks increase. Pay attention to what you put at your entrances, and where your family most often spends time.
• Don’t forget aesthetic preferences. Because what good is flooring if you don’t like the way it looks? Select a flooring option that complements your home’s interior design. You can have it all.

Antimicrobial Flooring Choices You Can Live With

The good news is that a lot of flooring choices you might be considering for your home are already healthy options and come with antimicrobial features. That’s because manufacturers listen to homeowners – they design what homeowners want. And right now, aesthetically pleasing floors that help you stay healthy are in. This is where you start:

Vinyl Flooring

You’ll never go wrong with vinyl flooring – it’s a popular choice for its antimicrobial properties. That’s because flooring manufacturers design it with antimicrobial coatings that prevent the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew.

In some cases, some vinyl products have antimicrobial agents mixed directly into the material during manufacturing. These agents work by disrupting the cellular functions of microorganisms, stopping them from growing and reproducing. The coatings act as a barrier, making it harder for microbes to survive on the floor’s surface. That’s why you’ll find vinyl crosses into residential, commercial, and even healthcare environments. It really tops the list of flooring choices where cleanliness matters.

Ceramic and Porcelain Tile

Not convinced vinyl flooring is for you? Ceramic and porcelain tiles are naturally resistant to moisture, which helps prevent the growth of mold and bacteria. Some tiles even come with antimicrobial glazes for added protection. The dense, non-porous nature of these tiles makes it difficult for microbes to penetrate and thrive.

Some manufacturers are taking it to the next level. Antimicrobial glazes often contain compounds like silver ions, which are known to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria and other microbes by interfering with their metabolic processes. Of course, what you truly need to install is up to you. No matter what you choose, it’s hard to go wrong with ceramic and porcelain tile.

Linoleum Flooring

This isn’t your grandmother’s flooring. Linoleum is made from natural materials such as linseed oil, pine resin, cork dust, and wood flour, which have built-in antimicrobial properties. The natural oxidation of linseed oil over time enhances linoleum’s ability to resist bacterial and fungal growth. This makes linoleum a great choice for maintaining a clean and healthy home environment.

What’s more, it’s gorgeous. When you see the choices, and what linoleum offers, you’ll wonder why you’ve never considered this before.

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)

Luxury Vinyl Tile combines the benefits of vinyl with added style and durability. It gives you what you love about hardwood planks of stone or ceramic tiles, and gives you even more.

Like regular vinyl, LVT can include antimicrobial agents in its material or have antimicrobial coatings on its surface. These agents disrupt the cell walls or interfere with the metabolism of microorganisms, preventing them from thriving. The coatings provide an additional layer of protection, making the floor easier to clean and more resistant to bacteria and mold. They’re water-resistant, and in some cases, waterproof. What could be better than that?

Keeping Your Floors Effective

You know you want antimicrobial flooring. You want the cleanest, easy to care for flooring possible. That may mean antimicrobial flooring.

To maximize the effectiveness of these antimicrobial flooring options, regular cleaning and maintenance are essential. Ensure proper installation to avoid gaps and crevices where moisture and microbes can accumulate. Always check that the products meet industry standards for antimicrobial effectiveness.

Have additional questions? We’re here to help.