Winter is right around the corner and many places are already seeing chilly weather. It’s always an exciting time when the weather is turning colder; you can enjoy being indoors, curling up in your living room or cozying up in bed, sipping hot cocoa and inhaling the warm, earthy smell of your custom hardwood floors.
Even more exciting is the slew of holidays coming in one after the other. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza and New Year’s Eve are all a couple of months away.
However, in all the excitement, don’t forget to watch out for your hardwood floors.
How can I protect my hardwood floors in the winter?
In order to keep your floors as safe as possible in the winter months, there are a few measures you can take. With the right care and maintenance, they can last for decades, which is why we offer wood floor warranties as well.
Keep Shoes Off Your Floors
If you’re based in a place where the weather goes into the negatives, you’ll be seeing a lot of snow and ice. This means you’re going to bring home snow-frosted boots, with salt that’s sprinkled on the streets and sidewalks too.
The salt particles can scratch up your floor, while the melting snow and ice are going to leave water damage and cause warping and discoloration. The easiest way to prevent this is to keep shoes out of the vicinity of hardwood floors. Get a shoe rack or make a point to leave them at the door.
Use Rugs and Mats Wherever Possible
Keep rugs and mats at entrances and high-traffic areas. This is a cheap and convenient way to prevent dirt and snow from the outside being brought in. Use mats and rugs wherever you have wooden flooring, especially close to the passages and entrances. These form a protective layer as well as added cleaning.
Clean Regularly
Speaking of cleaning, maintain a regular cleaning schedule. Even when you want to stay in bed and not do anything, think about the damage your floors will face if you’re not careful. Clean away sludge with a mop or old t-shirt and dust and broom regularly so that you’re not left with dirty floors and permanent stains.
Manage the Heating in Your Home
This is super important and cannot be emphasized enough. When you turn up the heating during winter, your floors are at risk of cracking and developing gaps. While it’s a normal occurrence, it can cause serious damage. Invest in an in-line humidifier like this one , in order to maintain the humidity of your rooms. This keeps the wood from getting damaged from the heating.
Enjoy the winter months with beautiful wooden floors in your home. If you get in touch with us, you might be able to get them in time for the holidays!