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| Chicagoland Pro: Wood Flooring Tips & Tricks For Winter Time |
Winter is almost here and we want to help you protect those beautiful hardwood floors.
First things first, why do you need to do more during the winter? The answer is simple, wood expands with changing levels of temperatures and humidity. During the winter, your home will change depending on how the house is used and how cold it is outside. Some people conserve on heat and lower temperatures during the day, while others keep their homes at a constant temperature. Either way, there will be variations. The humidity level will also change as heaters, fireplaces and cold winds enter the home.
Your hardwood floor will be affected by all of these changes during the winter months. We have decided to put together a simple list of things anyone can do to help protect their floors from damage this season.
First things first, entrance ways are the key in protecting your hardwood flooring. Start by adding mats by your door and creating a specific place for visitors and residents to put their shoes. We suggest asking people to remove all shoes before walking on hardwood flooring. Having a few old towels or rags nearby to clean up salt and water near the door is important. Rags can also be used for pets feet after walks. Its a good idea to train your pet to wipe their feet and even have a reward system for them to encourage them to stop at the door instead of running in and tracking snow across the floor. This will make clean up easier and avoid salt or water spots.
While we can do our best to prevent snow and salt from entering, one way or another some will always get through. Ass mentioned above, having a few extra rags ready to clean up the mess will help it from spreading. This can be old towels or t-shirts or you can purchase special rags specifically made for floor clean up. When winter approaches create a designated a place for rags, shoes, and include a way for snow to drain without creating a puddle. This can be done with a waterproof mat or a dish drainer with a rag under it. Make it easy for yourself and everyone els to use these things and wash rags weekly to avoid salt build up.
Cleaning the flooring 1-2 times a week is a must. While we can be vigilant about keeping snow and salt out, the inevitable will always happen. Adding a bit of extra cleaning during this season will help protect the floors. There are several protective products on the market that will coat the wood floors and form a protective shield. This is not necessary but advised as Chicago has tough winters that can last into the spring months. Normal cleaning is also sufficient, increasing the amount of cleanings is the crucial part. Simple steps like this will keep your floors looking great throughout the winter and well into the spring.
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