Winter Care for your Hardwood Floors
Especially if you live in regions with inclement weather, winter care for your hardwood floors is very important. Ice, snow, rain, and salt are all realities of cold winters that can have a disastrous impact on your hardwood floors. As such, regular maintenance and protective measures can help you protect your floors and keep them in optimal condition. Let’s take a closer look.
What’s Different about Winter?
As already mentioned, there are seasonal elements that can easily damage your hardwood floors. If you have hardwood floors, you already know that it doesn’t like moisture and you shouldn’t be surprised that salt or other ice-melting agents are also not friendly to hardwood. Salt can not only break down the surface of your hardwood flooring, but it can accumulate in grooves or gaps in your floor. Regular floor cleaning is important for winter hardwood floor maintenance, but there are other steps you can take to protect the appearance of your beautiful floors.
Summer Maintenance
Ok, we know we’re talking about the impact of winter weather on your hardwood floors, but your summer maintenance is also a vital step in ensuring the longevity of your floors throughout the year. Obviously, you want to clean spills to prevent stains and you want to ensure that moisture is removed quickly to prevent warping. The better the condition of your floors through the spring and summer seasons, the more likely they’ll stand up to winter’s challenges. Regular dusting and cleaning with approved hardwood products is also key.
Winter Care for your Hardwood Floors
Cover the Floor
As you move into fall and the weather starts to change, you should consider using mats or carpets to cover the hardwood in high traffic areas. Using mats and boot trays at entrances can ensure that moisture and salt isn’t tracked through the house potentially compromising the integrity of your hardwood floors. Ideally, you want to purchase high-quality mats that are designed to absorb moisture; inexpensive vinyl mats are not recommended as they may also damage your floors. Make sure that family members and guests remove their shoes at entry to prevent the elements from damaging your floors. Nevertheless, moisture is bound to make its way into your home during the winter, so make sure to mop up any liquid immediately.
Manage Humidity
Winter air is usually drier which can suck natural moisture out of your hardwood floors. As wood dries out, you may notice gaps forming between floor boards. Using a humidifier helps to manage the internal humidity of your home and may also protect your hardwood floors.
Clean Regularly with the Right Equipment
Regular floor cleaning with the appropriate equipment is equally important. Maintaining the shine on your floors will actually help to preserve its protective coating so that it stands up better to harsh winter weather. Regular dusting or vacuuming and mopping with a microfiber mop are the first step. Also, use an approved hardwood floor cleaner and buff your floors regularly.
Proper winter care for your hardwood floors can have a significant impact on the durability and longevity of your floors – not to mention their appearance. So, take a few extra steps to protect your floors from inclement winter weather and you’ll enjoy more beautiful floors for longer.