It looks as if old man winter is back, which means your floors are about to endure through one of the toughest seasons of the year!
Your floors cringe every time they hear these words: slush, snow and salt. But it’s unavoidable that these elements are going to make their way onto your beautiful floors this winter. So here’s some tips to minimize winter damage to your flooring.
• Install floor mats. If you’re able to catch snow, salt and slush at the door, you’ve solved most of the problem. Strategically placing floor mats where people enter your home is vital.
• Use around-the-house items. For example, a great idea is placing a dish-drying tray by the door to place wet boots and shoes to dry off instead of allowing the melting snow to leak on your floors.
• Pets can be the biggest problem of all, but by simply drying their paws with a towel before making their way back into the home can limit your floors exposure to the winter elements.
• Shovel and sweep. Try to keep the area outside your front door as clean as possible. Now we realize it’s not going to be sparkly clean, but by shoveling and sweeping access salt, you can prevent some of that wintery mix from making its way to your floors.
• Vacuum frequently. Even if you can’t see it, salt is most likely getting into your carpet. If you’ve had guests over or the kids are coming home from school, do a quick vacuuming of the area around where they entered your home.
• Always be prepared. Keep dry towels around areas where people are coming into your home. By getting rid of water and salt right away, it’s going to prevent damage to your floors.
It’s unavoidable that the wintry mix is somehow going to make its way onto your floors, but by safeguarding the entrances to your home and cleaning frequently, you can ensure your floors will safely survive the onslaught of winter.