As cozy and comfortable as it can be, carpeting is also a contributor to poor indoor air.
A very common health issue among people in the United States is allergies and carpets are a huge cause of this, housing dust mites, mold and mildew.
In addition to contributing to allergies, wall to wall carpeting of today is made of synthetic fibers which are dyed and treated with chemicals and bonded to the backing with chemical glues.
The carpet will release potentially harmful compounds as they age.
These compounds, known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) may be irritants and carcinogens and dangerous to you and your family.
Carpet can also be difficult to keep clean.
It retains all the things that are brought in by the family as they track through the house.
Not just dirt and dust, but also bacteria, lawn and garden chemicals and insects, just to name a few.
It's really hard to ever get carpet completely clean once it has been installed.
Even the fancy steam cleaners that you can rent won't do the job as well as you would hope.
And using them can leave your carpet damp which will cause more mold growth.
A great alternative to carpet is a floor covering called ceramic tile.
This product is made from natural clay materials fired in a kiln.
Ceramic tiles are sealed with glaze and are resistant to bacteria and molds, making them easy to tolerate by those who are sensitive to chemicals and who may be allergy ridden.
Mortar is used to attache ceramic tile to the floor.
It can then be grouted with an additive free product, using 2 parts dry, clean sand mixed with 1 part Portland cement.
Add this to water to make a grout that will not be harmful to you.
Depending on the style of ceramic tile that you choose, it can be expensive to install this type of flooring up front, but these types of floors are extremely durable and will last you for many, many years with little maintenance.
They are easy to clean and come in a variety of colors and patterns.
In the long run, ceramic tile flooring is very affordable.