Whether you are building a new home or renovating, choosing the right flooring is essential for any remodeling project. If you are a pet owner, choosing the best flooring is even more critical, as your furry friends will cause more wear and tear (scratches, stains, and dirt) over time. This buying guide will help you find the best flooring for dogs and other pets for your home, while providing tips on how to prevent further damage to existing floors. Keep reading to find the best flooring option for you.

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What to Consider
Pet-Friendly Flooring Options
Tips to Keep Pet-Friendly Floors Looking Newer for Longer
Pet-Friendly Flooring Cleaning Tips

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What to Consider

There are four primary considerations to remember when looking for the best pet-friendly flooring options.

1. Resistance to scratches
2. Resistance to damage
3. Pet traction
4. Pet comfort

Pet-Friendly Flooring Options

Bamboo Flooring

Out of all wood flooring ideas, bamboo is the best flooring for dogs and one of the most popular for pet-friendly homes. Its natural hardness makes it more stain- and scratch-resistant than traditional hardwood floors. It is also naturally antimicrobial, which will keep your house free of mold and allergens.

Cork Flooring

Similar to bamboo flooring, a cork floor is eco-friendly and a naturally antimicrobial material that will reduce the growth of mold, bacteria, and other allergens. This is a perk that benefits both you and your pet. Additionally, cork flooring is sound-absorbing, warm, and pliant – making it comfortable to walk on and sturdy against foot traffic. It can get discolored from over exposure to sunlight, so use area rugs to reduce discoloration. We also recommend clipping your pet's nails often to keep from scratching the surface.

Stone Tile Flooring

Tile is a great option for pet owners as it is stain-resistant, scratch-resistant, and extremely durable. Tile also makes for easy clean up of accidents and spills. However, a tile floor can be loud, cold, and a hard surface that provides little to no comfort underfoot. To absorb sound and add For added comfort and warmth, we recommend using area rugs throughout the space. A pet bed will also give your furry pal a cozy place to relax.

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl is the best flooring that can mimic the look of natural stone or hardwood flooring at a more affordable price. It is durable, easy to clean, water- and scratch-resistant, while also providing a soft landing for pet's paws. Vinyl floors also have traction, which is important for keeping your furry loved ones comfortable.

Tips to Keep Pet-Friendly Floors Looking Newer for Longer

These quick flooring ideas and tips can help prevent or minimize damage to your brand new floors:

• Clip your dog's nails regularly to help prevent scratches on your floor.
• Wipe up pet urine or other accidents as quickly as possible.
• Place a mat underneath any pet food bowls to catch excess water.
• Use doormats at all entrances to catch excess dirt and debris.

Pet-Friendly Flooring Cleaning Tips

Accidents happen, so be prepared with an expert-approved solution to clean up the mess. Here's how the pros clean up pet-related urine and dirt stains.

What You Will Need

A clean, dry rag
Vacuum
Cleaning solution
Paper towels

How to Remove Stains

First, soak up and blot the stain as much as possible with a clean, dry rag. If your pet tracks in dirt, vacuum up as much of the dirt as you can. To remove urine stains or dirt stains, apply the appropriate floor cleaner for that flooring type, and let it sit for at least five minutes. Rinse with cold water and blot it dry with a paper towel.

Tip!

Check out our Flooring Options and Materials Guide for more flooring ideas to help you find the best flooring option for your home.

You can also make a consultation with Wayfair's Flooring Installation Services by Installation Made Easy®.

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