When winter is in full swing, floor care ramps up a bit.
The mess can quickly snowball into something pretty monstrous! With that in mind, let’s talk dos and don’ts of winter floor care.
During winter weather months, the biggest concerns for flooring are SALT & WATER.
Salt:
Salt can damage flooring by not only scratching or staining, but also by deteriorating finish and weakening the floor. Salt can eat right through that beautiful finish or top layer which is a real bummer. When ground into carpet, dirty road salt will often stain, agitate, and untwist the fibers.
Regardless of the type of flooring material, salt is just plain abominable all the way around.
Water:
Standing water on a floor can cause swelling, warping, buckling, glue failure, delamination (separation of material layers), and even mold growth. All things nobody wants!
Though it sounds and even looks pretty innocent, salt and water tracked across flooring really is a beast! And maybe it’s the fact that it does seem innocent that gives people a false sense of calm. The reality is, winter water and salt are ruining your floors… but they don’t have to. With only a little extra effort, you can protect your flooring investment from winter weather.
Here are 5 tips for caring for floors during the winter months:
1. Take shoes off when entering the house. Not only are you protecting your floors from salt and rocks stuck in tread, but you are also reducing the amount of germs and dirt being tracked in. A win all around.
2. Use a shoe tray or some form of protective barrier between discarded shoes and flooring near entrances.
3. Wipe up water immediately. Never leave standing water. Even if your floor says it is waterproof. Trust us, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Keep a towel handy by the door to wipe up wet shoe tracks and muddy paws.
4. Sweep, mop, and vacuum flooring regularly. There are differing opinions on how often to vacuum carpet, but plan on at least once a week, 2-3+ times a week in high traffic areas. When cleaning flooring, use the appropriate cleaners recommended by your flooring manufacturer. You can find suggestions on their websites under “Care and Maintenance”. DO NOT clean wood flooring with vinegar as it will etch (eat away) the finish. Stop by our showroom for manufacturer approved cleaning products, felt floor protectors for furniture legs, and microfiber mops!
5. If you have the resources, and live here in the west, consider adding a whole house humidifier to help with winter gaps. See our INSTAGRAM FEED for more info on gap season.
Winter can sure be harsh on flooring. Keep a handle on winter weather using the tips above and give the boot to that old abominable snow monster! Hang in there, spring is coming!