The Laundry Room Flooring Material To Avoid At All Costs (And What To Choose Instead)

It isn't just a laundry room: It's a space to clean your cherished items so they are ready to wear whenever you want. It's where you go to wash away stress and frustrations, find confidence with every fresh-smelling garment that comes out of the machines, and prepare your pieces for new interactions. Since your laundry room serves so many useful purposes, it only makes sense that you would want to design it to be as functional as possible. Your appliances are important, but so is the foundation on which they sit. Choosing the best type of flooring for your laundry room will make all the difference to how practical this area is, and while you want it to look good, it should also be low maintenance and useful. Put simply, the worst kind of flooring you can choose to lay in your laundry room is carpet. 

Throughout the rest of your abode, carpets might reign supreme. Soft, plush, and easy on your feet, the piling that separates hard foundation from the soles of your friends and family can be a game-changer. Even in high-traffic areas, a well-chosen carpet type can add a luxurious aesthetic that also leans into comfort. However, there are several mistakes to avoid when designing your laundry room, and adding carpet is one of them, so skip this option at all costs if you want to avoid suffering, disappointment, and possible renovations or unnecessary costs.

Between moisture build-up, drips, drops, and even the random washer break, carpet flooring can absorb any liquid it comes into contact with and over time could produce mildew and mold. You never want your machine to break, but if it does or if it floods, that water will soak into your carpet's fibers, and it can be an odyssey to make sure every section of material dries thoroughly should that occur. Not only that but as you fill the laundry detergent cup or pour fabric softener, spills are common phenomenons during washing loads. If your carpet is white or light in color, these liquids can leave behind stains that require more effort to remove if they're left unnoticed for too long.

Should too much moisture accumulate in the carpeting, mold can grow beneath the lining, which would eventually require the flooring to be ripped up and replaced, and the mildew would need to be eradicated before a new carpet can be installed.

Not to mention, each time you open the dryer, lint that didn't get suck into the lint trap can fall onto the crevices of your carpet surface. These small flecks might not be visible, but they can create allergens that linger as people walk across the carpet fibers and knock dust or lint into the air. If you're adamant about choosing carpet, the price depends on the material, but they range from 65 cents to $12 per square foot.

With so much upkeep, it's better to opt for a flooring type that is easy to care for and low-maintenance, as well as nearly impervious to spills and moisture. One of the best types of flooring for this part of your home is ceramic tiles. Not only are these odor and bacteria resistant, but they are better at repelling moisture which could otherwise seep into materials and grow mold. Water will just pool on the surface of these tiles, allowing you the chance to wipe it away before it absorbs.

Though ceramic isn't completely waterproof, the materials are less prone to moisture damage than carpet. They are easy to clean, too, with a mixture of gentle soap and water doing the trick whenever they get dirty or need a little refresh — just remember ceramic tiles and vinegar don't mix. The flooring's polished finish is tough so day-to-day interactions won't scratch the surfaces and make them lackluster either. Ceramic tiles can be pricey, ranging from $7 to $27 per square foot for glazed options.

If ceramic tiles aren't your preference, stone polymer core (SPC) or vinyl flooring is another good option. They're sturdy and resistant to various elements including water spills and surface damage, this material is also easy to clean and still produces a chic, functional, budget-friendly aesthetic. Vinyl flooring can range between $2 and $9 per square foot, making it a great option for an easy renovation that keeps floors simple to clean.