What’s the best flooring for your feet and joints?

One thing that a lot of people do not really think about when choosing flooring is how it will affect their feet and joints. Walking on hard floor surfaces causes lower body stress that can have real physical effects over time.

It is precisely because it is a longer-term issue that it is so often neglected during the floor consideration process. If you will be walking or standing on the floor a lot though, it is something to bear in mind.

These are the surfaces that will be best for protecting your joints and feet.

Carpeting

Installing carpeting in rooms that you will have to walk or stand in a lot is the best choice to protect joints and feet. Carpeting softens the floor surface, which reduces the impact on the lower body as you walk about on it.

It is important to make sure the carpets that you install come fitted with some thick padding on the underside of them though. That is particularly true if they are going on top of very hard surfaces like concrete. This padding will be needed to provide further protection and absorb the shocks that can lead to conditions like plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament that leads to pain through the feet.

Vinyl

Vinyl can be another very good choice for preventing foot and joint problems. It will be an effective flooring selection in rooms where carpets are unsuitable due to the potential for water damage. Examples of that include a bathroom or kitchen in the home, or a commercial kitchen in a business.

Again though, the vinyl should come with a good quality shock-absorbing underlay. Either cork or felt will work very well for that and will be vital if the floor beneath is made of something hard like stone or concrete.

Rubber

This is a less well-known floor choice, but can sometimes be found in places like garages. It is now starting to become popular for commercial kitchen floors where people are walking about constantly, due to its durability and the foot and joint protection that it provides.

Cork

Cork is another decent choice. It typically has a springy feel when you walk on it that is gentle on the feet and joints.

Overall, carpeting with underlay is the best choice where possible, but any of these flooring selections will protect feet and joints.

Can carpets improve your health?

David Neishabori, the owner of AZADI Fine Rugs, says that carpets and rugs can elevate your health and spirits.

There is some evidence that the colours in a room affect your mood. Colour therapists claim that blue is a relaxing colour, green is the colour of nature that helps relieve stress, and yellow makes you feel happier and more optimistic. A key colour element in the room is the carpet. It’s important to choose a carpet that suits your personality.

Whether you prefer a more traditional style or a contemporary look, start with the carpet when changing the room décor.

David Neishabori says:

"Studies have shown that walking on hard surfaces can be hard on your feet and your back."

A soft deep pile carpet takes the pressure off the back.

Carpets can absorb dust and allergens that affect the quality of the air in a room. To keep a carpet clean, vacuum regularly, wipe up spills promptly and hire a professional carpet cleaner at least once a year to deep clean the carpet.

Carpets have insulating properties, helping keep the room warm and saving on energy bills. They absorb noise, making the room quieter and feel more relaxed.

Good quality wool carpets are friendly to the environment, as well as your health. They are made from a natural material that can be recycled.

Most people choose carpets for their Wrexham home for how they look and feel, but it's good to know that carpets could be good for your health.

The three ingredients needed to freshen up deep pile carpets

A cleaning expert has demonstrated how she uses three simple ingredients to freshen up a deep pile carpet without scrubbing.

People love deep pile carpets in their Chester and North Wales homes because they add a luxurious, warm and cosy feel to a room. The downside of deep pile carpets is that debris and bacteria can become trapped in the fibres and cause unpleasant odours.

A cleaning expert has come up with a simple solution to freshen up carpets. A user who goes under the name of @washy-wash-cleantok uploaded a video to Instagram of this cleaning method. One cup of baking soda is mixed with four drops of lavender essential oil and two teaspoons of dried herbs. The mixture is sprinkled on the deep pile carpet and left for ten to fifteen minutes before removing it with a vacuum cleaner. The carpet is left clean with a fresh pleasant long-lasting fragrance. This method requires no scrubbing.

This solution is also suitable for rugs and shorter pile carpets.

A quality deep pile rug is durable and is expected to last for many years, provided it is well-maintained. Ideally, vacuum at least once a day. Any spills or stains should be promptly removed. The regular use of Carpet freshening powders such as Shake N’ Vac or homemade mixtures is recommended. To make sure that all bacteria and debris trapped in the carpet are removed, once a year or more frequently, hire a professional carpet cleaner to thoroughly deep clean the carpet.

Floor marking robots reduce single use carpets

The ExCel event and conference venue in London is the first in the UK to own a floor marking robot as part of its commitment to making events more sustainable.

Local suppliers of commercial flooring in Chester and North Wales use carpets to divide large event spaces into distinct areas. After the event, these carpets may be thrown away. It’s estimated that the United Kingdom event industry wastes six million tonnes of carpet every year.

ExCel is a carbon neutral venue that is committed to environmentally friendly practices. ExCel has invested in a robot, made by the company August Robotics, known as Lionel which can be programmed to automatically mark out floor areas. This does not need the services of a specialist floor marking service.

ExCel’s sustainability manager Natalie Sykes said:

“We are always looking for innovative new ways to help reduce our emissions and waste. As such, we’re delighted to be working with August Robotics to automate future floor marking operations.”

She said that she was delighted that ExCel is the first UK event venue to use the floor marking robot.

Marking floor areas using robots instead of carpets does not mean carpets are not needed in events and exhibitions. Trade stands can still be carpeted. Carpets are a relaxing floor covering in lounge areas. A quality carpet is durable and, after an event is over, the carpets should be suitable for her use, even if many people have walked on it during an event.

What to do with your old carpets

When it's time to replace a carpet in your Chester or North Wales home, what do you do with the old carpet? Many discarded carets end up in landfills, which is not particularly good for the environment. There are carpet recycling services that extract the material in carpets to make other products. News18.com, a news website, has come up with some innovative ways to use old carpets.

Make coasters and mats

Cut the carpet into a small oval or rectangular shape and glue cork or jute under them to make heatproof table coasters and mats.

Doormats

If parts of the carpet are not worn too much, cut them into square or circular shapes to make door mats. If using them on smooth, hard surface floors, add an anti-slip base.

Plant pot bases

Circular shaped pieces of carpet placed under plant pots help prevent soil and water from spilling on the floor.

Pet comforters

Deep pile carpet pieces make comfortable places for dogs and cats to relax and sleep. They help keep pets warm, especially when placed on smooth surface floors.

By the bed

Old carnet pieces make good beside runners. Use rectangular pieces and stitch or paste a contrasting colour material on the corners to improve the looks. Carpet bedside runners are comfortable and warm for bare feet to step onto on chilly days.

Expect a quality carpet to last for a long time, meaning you won't have to worry about discarding it for many years.