Have Small Kids? 6 Ways to Protect Your Hardwood Floors

Kids can be a source of joy for any parent, filling your home with fun and laughter — but also coming with more than their fair share of accidents and messes. You’ve taken the necessary steps to child-proof your home, protecting your kids from danger, but have you thought about protecting your floors from your children? Unfortunately, small kids and hardwood floors don’t always go well together. From toddlers banging toys to young athletes in cleats, kids can often give beautiful wood quite a beating. So what are some ways to protect your hardwood?

6 Tips For Hardwood Floor Protection

You may need to take a few extra precautions when you have small kids and hardwood floors. Here are a few tips to keep your floors in great shape!

1. Remove Your Shoes in the House

One of the first steps you can take toward hardwood floor protection is to establish a rule that everyone must remove their shoes while in the house. Although shoes protect your feet outdoors, they may carry dirt and grit inside that damages your floors. Place a bin near the front door where everyone knows they can exchange their shoes for cozy socks and slippers. Removing your shoes immediately upon entering your home will prevent years of damage from piling up.

2. Use Floor Mats

Your family may abide by the no-shoe rule, but you’ll always have visitors unaware of it. Protect your floors by placing doormats at every entrance. As guests enter your home, they’ll wipe their feet on the mats, saving your floors from the dirt and grit tracked in. Mats are also helpful when your children play with their toys on the floor. Your kids have the freedom to play while the mat prevents any scratching or scuffing of the surface below.

3. Immediately Clean Up Spills

As a parent, you’re probably familiar with how often kids spill things. Immediately cleaning up spills with a paper towel or soft, lint-free cloth is essential to your hardwood floor protection. Leaving the mess to clean up later allows the liquid to penetrate the wood grain, causing permanent damage.

4. Place Rugs In High Traffic Areas

Area rugs are not just for aesthetics! Placing rugs in high-traffic areas throughout your home will add another layer of protection. It may seem like a simple decorative touch, but it saves years of wear and tear from pets, toys, and heavy furniture.

5. Cover Furniture Bottoms

Playing around is a way of life for kids. But sometimes, that includes bumping and dragging the furniture across the floor — accidentally or not. This movement can create deep scratches in wood, so placing padding on the feet of all furniture legs is crucial. You can buy chair pads made from various materials, like silicone, plastic, and felt.

6. Perform Routine Maintenance

Regular maintenance will protect your floors from getting damaged by the accidents and messes that kids can cause. Use a dust mop at least once a week to remove grime buildup, dirt, and pet dander. It’s important to note that you shouldn’t use a damp mop on a wood floor. Moisture sinks into hardwood, weakening the material. But a dry mop will help your floor last longer and keep it looking shiny and new.

Keep Up with Your Small Kids and Hardwood Floors

Your kids are constantly growing and changing in their appearance. But that doesn’t mean your beautiful hardwood floors have to. You can implement these ways to protect your hardwood or restore existing damage by reaching out to Elite Hardwood Flooring. Contact us today!

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Color Fire On September 14, 2022   /   FAQs, Flooring Tips