How To Care For Your Wood Floor During The Winter Time

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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Spring Cleaning Your Floors

When the snow is melting, the life is coming back to nature, temperatures are rising, and people are getting happier, you know that spring is here. Sure, there is still some snow on the ground in much of the midwest but we know that spring is this close to being here and the age old concept of "spring cleaning" is knocking at our doors.

Now, no matter what kind of floors you have, it is important that you get them clean and looking good for all those fun times you are about to have now that the roads aren't impassable due to the weather.

Hardwood flooring is definitely one of the simplest floors to clean and takes the least amount of work. Typically, to keep them in good shape means just having to sweep and vacuum them; you just want to keep all the dirt and dust (and other junk) from making your floors home and ruining them. Now, if you have spills or stains, you may have to use a mop or a wet mop device (the ones that have the spray and you attach the tissue to the base). If you use either one of these, make sure you do not soak your floor with too much of the liquid; use enough to get it clean but not to flood the place. Too much moisture can get in between the seems in the floors and ruin them; this can ruin the backing on the floors and perhaps ruin the finish.

If you are one to prefer carpeting, then what you have to do is vacuum and make sure that the vacuum filter is clean (this will give you a real good job at cleaning your carpet). If you have more aggressive cleanings to do, like for stains, then use a proper cleaning solution and blot the stain, don't wipe or rub.

If you have ceramic floors, then you have a pretty easy cleaning job as well, much like with hardwood flooring, your cleaning job is going to be a lot of vacuuming and easy mopping. However, you may have to do cleaning more regularly, daily almost. You have to do regular cleaning to avoid the buildup of things like mold, mildew, grime, etc. Use clean water and then wipe them dry. Make sure your grout is clean and good to go as well. If you have grout to clean, then mix some mild detergent (1/4 cup) with a gallon of water.

They say April showers bring May flowers, should there be April showers (or any other spring month), then try to keep the water out of the house and off your floors. If you have any questions, then contact Chicagoland Pro - a hardwood flooring company.