About Linoleum

Linoleum is an all-natural product with its main ingredient being linseed oil, which is part of where the name comes from. In Latin, linum is the word for linseed and oleum means oil. Englishman Frederick Walton, inventor of linoleum, patented his formula in 1860. Linseed oil, which is extracted from flax seeds, is dried out and ground into a fine powder called linoleum cement. The cement is mixed with ground cork, pine resins, wood flour, ground limestone and natural pigments. Then ingredients are mixed together and rolled out onto a jute backing via a process known as calendaring.

Linoleum offers many advantages as an all-natural product. First, it's an environmentally friendly material made from highly sustainable, natural materials. Linoleum also can be 100% recycled, meaning its waste products from its creation get reused and are used in future production.

Linoleum also helps to create a healthy living environment. Linoleum does not emit gasses, is hypoallergenic and naturally antistatic. This means it will repel dust, dirt, pollen and other allergens, making linoleum easier to clean and great for people who suffer from allergies or respiratory problems. Linoleum is also antibacterial which inhibits the growth and spread of microbes.

During the 1950s, linoleum became nearly extinct as it was replaced by synthetically made products like vinyl. Lately, linoleum has made a comeback because of its green nature when compared to vinyl flooring, which is occasionally referred to as linoleum, especially in health care facilities.

When cleaning linoleum, it is important to ensure left over water from washing is not left on the floor. Although linoleum is naturally antibacterial, water left standing on the surface can become breeding grounds for microbes.

Although resilient to most denting and scratching, linoleum is somewhat susceptible to gouging when heavier objects are dragged across its surface. This means ensuring heavy furniture is either on wheels, proper sliders or is lifted when going over linoleum, dragging is not advised.