How to Protect Your Hardwood Floors During Holiday Gatherings
You’ve heard that the winter season is “the most wonderful time of the year.” For your hardwood floors, however, the holiday season brings holiday gatherings. When you have family in and out of your home, your hardwood floors might suffer, even when everyone is having a great time.
You can learn how to protect hardwood floors during this high-traffic time of the year. You don’t even have to miss out on any fun! Just take these simple steps to keep your floors clean and gorgeous this holiday season.
Potential Floor Issues During the Winter
Before discovering how to protect hardwood floors during holiday gatherings, take a moment to think about what happens to hardwood floors in the winter. This season is when you might start noticing streaks, scratches, and finish problems.
Floor Warping
Snow and ice are the most obvious causes of your floor’s problems during the winter. It’s all too easy to track in water as the weather gets colder. When this happens, your floors can warp.
Floor warping causes the wood panels to look wavy instead of straight. You might notice level differences as you stand on them. This happens when excess moisture (like snow and ice) seeps into the bottom part of each floor panel. The bottom of each panel expands, leaving the wood uneven and unsightly.
Salt Scratching and Filming
Salt is used to make stairs, driveways, and sidewalks less slippery in the winter. If your guests are tracking in snow and ice, salt is coming with them as well. When protecting hardwood floors during holiday gatherings, keep salt at the forefront of your mind.
Over time, winter salt can leave a visible film over your hardwood floors. Dragging salt across the floor with shoes or boots can also scratch the floor’s finish. If your floors are unfinished, the wood itself becomes scratched, leading to more issues.
Spills and Stains
As everyone gathers to celebrate the holidays, there might be some accidental spills that could stain your hardwood floors. Things like red wine and cranberry sauce are dangerous to your floor’s gorgeous appearance. If kids are present, there’s an added risk of accidents.
Easy Tips to Shield Your Floors From Winter Chaos
You can protect hardwood floors during holiday gatherings without turning away your guests. Here are some simple measures that will leave your floor looking picture-perfect after the holidays.
Have a “Leave Your Shoes at the Door” Policy
Make sure each guest removes their shoes or snow boots before entering your home. If you have a designated space on your front porch, have them use that. You can also put down a rubber entryway mat to hold the footwear. Make sure it’s weatherproof to prevent moisture from leaking into the floorboards.
Ask Guests to Knock Snow Off Their Boots
In frigid temperatures, snow can pile up quickly. Your guests might find that their boots are caked with it. Politely ask them to knock their boots together outside to remove the excess snow. This will make it much easier to protect hardwood floors effectively during holiday gatherings.
Offer a Cleaning Cloth at the Front Door
If guests must wear their shoes indoors, offer them a washcloth or absorbent towel to remove moisture as soon as they enter. This will minimize wear and tear on your floor and prevent fall risks.
Practical Solutions for Holiday Floor Messes
Trying to protect hardwood floors during holiday gatherings can feel like a sport. You might have to use new tools like furniture padding and spill-proof cups to keep your floors in good shape.
Use Furniture Padding
Furniture padding attaches to the bottom of each leg on your couches, chairs, and tables. You can invest in some soft pads for your floor’s sake. These will prevent scratches on your floor as people pull out chairs and push back from tables.
Pads for furniture feet can also make it easier for people to get comfortable. They won’t have to drag their chairs against the floor or pick up small tables to move them.
Vacuum Beforehand
Don’t wait until after your party or gathering to clean the floors. Small debris can drag across the floor, increasing wear and tear. Vacuum before your guests arrive to protect hardwood floors during holiday gatherings.
Provide Spill-Proof Cups for Kids
Your beloved relatives likely have a few little ones who will run around your home. You might even have small children yourself. Spill-proof cups are designed to keep liquids in and away from your precious hardwood flooring.
If you provide the cups, guests are more likely to use them. You can also offer locked-lid tumblers and bottles to the adults — as a holiday gift, of course.
Clean Up Spilled Food and Drinks Quickly
If you do face a spill, addressing it quickly goes a long way to protect hardwood floors during holiday gatherings. The longer a liquid or sauce seeps into the flooring, the harder it is to get out. Depending on your floor type, you may need to use different materials or cleaners to avoid scratching the finish.
The Importance of Post-Holiday Floor Cleanup
An important step to protect hardwood floors during holiday gatherings is to prioritize aftercare. Once your floors have been trampled on, they’ll need some TLC. Using appropriate hardwood floor cleaning methods will minimize any damage that may have occurred.
Check for spills, stains, and hidden moisture to prevent further problems. When in doubt, call in professionals for support.
Elite Hardwood Flooring: Get Durable Hardwood to Withstand the Holidays
If you’re worried about how the holiday season will affect your floors, Elite Hardwood Flooring is here to help. In addition to offering a wide variety of stunning hardwood floor options that last through any season, we also provide expert refinishing services to restore the beauty of your existing floors. Whether you’re looking for a brand-new installation or a refresh, we’ve got you covered. Contact us for more information today!
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