The High-Maintenance House Materials You Should Avoid, According to a Pro Housekeeper

There are seemingly endless options with which to build your house with, but according to a professional housekeeper, choose the wrong ones and you’ll be cleaning endlessly too.

Austin-based cleaning expertVanesa Amarohas a series of TikTok videos warning folks about what house materials should be avoided at all costs. In her most recent post, she says she wouldn’t recommend getting a dark bronze water faucet. It might look stylish at first, but it is difficult to maintain.

“They’re super high maintenance, gets scratched super easily, and don’t hold up over time,” said Amaro.

In another post, she also advises homeowners against installing travertine tiles, as the material is so porous that everything gets stuck in them.

“Travertine is a natural stone. Therefore, it is going to be more high maintenance. It is also expensive, requires constant sealing, and it’s very cold and slippery,” wrote Amaro.

Still talking about floors, Amaro also criticizes dark wood floors, for a few reasons. One is that footprints and scratches are more visible due to the material’s dark color. Another is that without constant care, the floor would quickly look worn.

And finally, in her earliest post in the series, Amaro says never to get penny tile.

“First, it’s kinda painful to step on it. Second, there’s so much grout, therefore it’s hard to keep clean,” she said.

Her followers added that similar materials — like river pebble and mosaic tile — are equally a pain to maintain. A commenter wrote: “I don’t have penny tile but square ones as small as those and it is a NIGHTMARE.”

For those who are about to embark on a renovation and are looking for things that are easy to maintain, now you have your list of materials to avoid.