Both vinyl and linoleum flooring have benefits

By Heloise Cruse

King Features Syndicate

DEAR READERS: Do you know the difference between linoleum and vinyl flooring? Vinyl is popular because there are so many colors, it’s a great value and is easy to care for. Linoleum is back in favor, too, and it’s not your grandmother’s flooring. Here are a few reasons why:

• Linoleum is made of environmentally friendly, natural materials, such as linseed oil, wood, jute and cork, which makes it a favorite green choice.

• Linoleum naturally repels dust, and cleans up with little fuss.

• While linoleum and vinyl both are a great value initially, linoleum can last 30 to 40 years.

• Vinyl is a good choice for busy households because it’s softer and easier to stand on, plus it doesn’t absorb liquids, so it’s ideal for the kitchen or bathroom, where liquids tend to get spilled.

And now more on flooring: Don’t you hate to clean up that dirt and mud tracked into your house? You can do a lot to prevent it from getting inside. Do you realize that 80 percent of the dirt on floors comes in from the outside? To prevent extra cleaning, get several walk-off mats. Cleaning experts say that a good mat can reduce cleaning time. Who isn’t happy about that?

• Put a top-quality commercial mat outside every entrance to your home.

• Place attractive walk-off mats inside doors.

• Have all family members take off messy, dirty shoes or wet boots and leave them at the door or on the inside mats.

— Heloise
DEAR HELOISE: When I told my college-bound son to save quarters for the laundry, he looked at me like I had suggested he go to the river and scrub the clothes on a rock. He patiently explained that the machines take a swipe card. Not only that, but in at least one of the dorms, the washers are connected to the computers, so you can sit in your room and check your wash. That’s what happens when you send them to MIT! — Old Fashioned Mom, via e-mail

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.