Both bamboo and hardwood are environmentally-friendly flooring options that have a variety of benefits. Bamboo and hardwood are both aesthetically pleasing materials that complement many different dcor styles. When comparing the two, however, bamboo flooring takes the lead for the following reasons:

• Faster Source Replenishment:Bamboo is one of the most sustainable products that you can put in your home. The trees that supply hardwood can take 15-100 years to completely grow back, but bamboo, a grass, grows extremely fast?within 3-7 years, it will replenish itself! While this is great news for the environment, it is also helpful to consumers: Since bamboo is so plentiful, it is a cost-effective flooring material.
• Greater Stability:The stability of a floor depends on its ability to expand and contract in relation to the temperature and climate. Bamboo is actually 50% more stable than wood, since the material is better able to adapt to a variety of climates. Stability like this is especially helpful in areas with drastically different seasons, like the Northeast.

• Extensive Warranty:Bamboo is incredibly durable and easy to maintain. Because of this, manufacturers feel confident enough to outfit it with a long-term warranty to protect it against damage. As long as you properly care for it and damp-mop it instead of soak it, it should last you for many years.

It?s almost impossible to prevent spills on your carpet, but with the proper knowledge, you can keep them from becoming permanent. Watch this video to learn about the best way to remove red wine stains.

Acting as quickly as possible, blot the stain, starting at the outer edges and working your way in. Salt helps to keep the stain from setting, so you should use it if you do not have other cleaning products available. Mix clear dishwashing liquid, white vinegar, and warm water together in a bowl and blot it onto the stain. Alternate blotting with the wet rag and a dry one. When the stain is gone, blot the area with cold water and then dry it.

How does Mohawk?s SmartStrand carpet stand up to a full-sized rhino? Extremely well?even a rhinoceros can?t combat its stain-fighting powers!

As you can see in this clip, Ricko the rhino loves his SmartStrand carpet. Even after many days spent walking and rolling around on it, the carpet still does not show wear and tear. SmartStrand proves that it is extremely durable, even against a worthy adversary like Ricko.

While carpet is a great flooring material, vinyl composition tile is a wonderful alternative for rooms in which carpet is not appropriate. When you install this type of tile in your home, you can enjoy the following:

• Durability:Vinyl composition tile is extremely durable, which makes it perfect for any room in the house. Thanks to specially designed fillers, vinyl composition tile is much harder than other types of tile, keeping it resistant to normal wear and tear.
• Value:If you are a savvy shopper who is always looking for great deals on quality products, vinyl composition tile is definitely right for you. As one of the most affordable flooring materials available, it even surpasses cheap carpet! The most expensive vinyl composition tile only costs about $10 per square foot, while porcelain tile is around $30 and stone can run as high as $300.
• Ease of Installation:Many vinyl composition tiles will have self-adhering glue on the back, which is easily applied onto your floor. Other versions can be installed using a variety of adhesives.

• Longevity:Vinyl composition tile that does not see a lot of heavy traffic can last up to forty years. As long as you follow the maintenance schedule recommended by the manufacturer, you will have an attractive, comfortable floor for many years to come!