Today, we’re going to show you what you should do to protect your wood floors during winter.
Hardwood floors are beautiful, giving your home an extra layer of elegance and warmth. To keep wood floors looking their best, though, you have to take care of them. This is especially true as we inch closer to winter because ice and water become common threats to your floor during this season. Today, we’re going to show you what you should do to protect your wood floors during winter.
Dealing With Gaps in Your Floor Boards
Have your floor boards begun to show gaps between them? This is more common as the weather gets colder. As temperatures drop, humidity goes down as well, and at a certain point, the humidity gets low enough that your floor boards start shrinking, which is what makes these gaps form.
To combat this issue, use a humidifier throughout your house. This will keep the humidity inside your home from getting too low. As a result, your floor boards won’t shrink, and you won’t have to deal with any gaps between them.
Salt and Ice Melt On Your Floor
Wood floors can be damaged by salt and chloride that you track inside with your shoes. When this happens, your floors can become scratched and the floor’s finish can be compromised. To keep your wood floors protected, place mats at the entrances to your house, and be sure to wipe your feet before walking around inside. This way, all of the damaging materials you track inside will be handled by the mats instead of the floor itself.
Kids and Pets
As we get into winter, kids and pets will love being able to go outside and enjoy the snowy weather. Once they come back inside, though, they will track water inside the house, and this water will pose a threat to your wood floors.
To keep pets from tracking water into the house, have them enter the house through a different entrance if possible, one that has flooring more suitable for handling water. If this is not possible, you’ll need to dry them off before letting them inside.
For any kids you have, you should teach them to shake off whatever snow they have on their clothing before coming inside. They should also remove their boots, scarves, coats, and any other winter attire they have so that no extra moisture reaches your wood floors.
Ready for a Beautiful Hardwood Floor? Trust John K Eareckson & Co.
When you work with John K Eareckson & Co., Flooring, we will ensure your hardwood floors undergo a stress-free acclimation process and that they sparkle for years to come; from a seamless and beautiful installation to years of maintenance, John K Eareckson & Co. Flooring has the expertise to care for your home’s hardwood floors. For a consultation and more information, visit us online or give us a call at 410-788-4200. You can also look for us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr.