Don't let winter wreak havoc on your hardwood floors. Snow, salt and slush can damage unprotected hardwood flooring. Protecting your hardwood floor against the harmful effects of winter's harsh elements will help avoid wood warping and gapping and surface dulling and discoloring. Remember... Prevention is always better than restoration. Follow our simple floor care tips to: prolong the life and beauty of your hardwood floor.
- Use Welcome Mats
- Use Floor Mats
- Use Shoe Racks & Storage Bins
- Clean Frequently
- DIY - Reduce, Reuse & Recycle
- Teach Your Family
- Train Your Pets
- Check Warranty Information
- Install New Hardwood Flooring
Use Welcome Mats
It is nearly impossible to keep winter elements out of your home or office and off your floors. Using welcome mats help prevent snow and salt from getting tacked inside. Place a bristled welcome mat outside door entrances. Encourage your family members and guests or staff and customers to wipe their feet before entering. Mats with brush style bristles or rubber scrappers remove particles of salt and clumps of snow from shoes.
Use Floor Mats
Catch the mess at the door! Place a low profile floor mat inside entrances for guests to dry their feet on. A floor mat absorbs moisture which not only your protects hardwood flooring but also creates a slip free surface reducing the risk of a fall.
Use Shoe Racks & Storage Bins
Collect wet and snow covered items at the door. Ask family members and guests to leave their shoes at the door. Hardwood floors will benefit all year long from a "leave your shoes at the door" policy. Using a shoe rack or storage bin prevents all sorts of winter elements, mud, sand, dirt and debris from trudged throughout your home. When it comes to keeping your hardwood floor clean, you'll be thankful you decided to use a shoe rack. A nice chest or decorative storage bin provides a temporary place in which to put Hats, gloves, shoes even clothing. Does your home have a closet near the entrance way? A shoe rack and storage bins can be discretely tucked away in a nearby closet.
Clean Frequently
Remove any salt or standing water from wood surfaces right away. Salt has the ability to eat through varnishes and discolor wood. Hardwood absorbs moisture. In small amounts, moisture is usually not a concern. Hardwood with prolonged exposure to moisture may result in warping, gapping and discoloration. Keep a towel by the door and make sure a mop is on hand. Wiping or moping up standing water will prevent your floor from damage and your guests from falls. Depending on foot traffic your floors may benefit from additional cleaning. Clean frequently, if you mop your floors once a week mop them twice a week.
DIY - Reduce, Reuse & Recycle
We live in a Do-It-Yourself generation where it is wise to reduce, reuse and recycle. Old rags, old towels, etc. can be used for wiping up sludge around your mats. Place a rubber dish tray or a towel underneath your doormat for an extra layer of protection. Use a rubber dish bin for holding wet hats, gloves, shoes etc. Are you having old carpet replaced? Old carpet can be cut and used for many purposes including temporary door mats. Are you getting new carpet? Depending on how the carpet is measured and cut, there may be extra carpet leftover. Ask Superior Floorcoverings & Kitchens about their carpet binding service which uses carpet remnants to make matching area rugs, runners and door mats. There are many creative alternatives and DIY projects for all the tips we provided. If you need a cool creative idea for a door mats or storage bins check out our Pinterest page.
Teach Your Family
After a long day of playing or working in the snow, family members should know what steps to take before running through the house for a nice warm cup of cocoa. Remind them to wipe their feet, take off their shoes, remove snow or sludge covered clothing and wipe up any puddles of water. Taking time to educate your family of the expected floor care procedures will help establish a good habits, preserve the life of hardwood flooring, prevent wet slippery serves from causing falls and reduce time spent cleaning up after them.
Train Your Pets
Stop your pets at the door. Pets give no thought at all to trekking snow, mud or debris all over hardwood floors. Running with wet paws and slipping on hardwood floors is known to aggravate hip problems in some breeds. For the safety of your floor and you beloved pet. Train your pets to Stop, Stay, then Go. Stop (at the door). Stay (wait for their paws to be cleaned). Go. Use an old towel dry and clean off paws. Reward patience and good behavior with a treat. Place a towel and a container of treats near the door as a visual reminder to the animal. With luck, after a few training sessions, your pet will be trained preventing pet injuries and damage to wood floors.
Check Warranty Information
Many hardwood manufacturers offer warranties. Check with the manufacturer or Superior Floorcoverings & Kitchens sales team about your products warranty information. If you are considering hardwood... be sure to inquire about the various wood products and their warranty information. Either way... with the proper care hardwood is typically a forever floor - it will last a lifetime.
Install New Hardwood Flooring
Although winter may raise some concerns for our hardwood flooring customers which can be cared for simply (as noted above), there is a great benefit to this season: with indoor temperatures being at their lowest, winter is one of the best times to install hardwood flooring. Low temperatures at the time of installation help prevent gapping.
