While some of us in colder climates may be excited for the winter scenery, others are dreading the dirty slush and slippery ice. Whether you like or disdain this snowy weather, tracking it in your home can have damaging effects on your flooring. Learn how and what you should do to protect your floors during winter.
Tracking snow on your floor can leave standing liquid, causing not only a safety hazard, but also irreversible damage to your floors. Melted snow can seep deep into carpet’s construction and damage its backing over time, leaving a bad smell and sometimes even mildew. Hardwood and laminate can buckle when faced with excessive amounts of water. Snow isn’t the only thing you can track in, either.
Salt has its own complications: it can leave a messy white residue, fade colors, and even leave permanent stains. On top of that, hard grains of salt can scratch the surface of your floors. Follow these 4 tips to help maintain your floors’ fresh look in winter.
One of the most essential place mats is the one before you even enter the house. Wiping your boots at the front door or on an absorbent runner mat in the garage can lessen the chance of you bringing in snow to begin with.
If you really want to protect your floors during winter, make it a golden rule to remove shoes at the door to stop snow before it even makes it in your home. Having a walk-off mat for your family and guests to place their shoes will make it easier to prevent the snow and salt from damaging the flooring in your entrance.
If snow or salt happen to get in your home, make sure to wipe it up immediately. Standing water doesn’t mix well with surfaces like hardwood and laminate and the longer it sits on carpet the more it seeps down into its construction. Having a dry mop or white towel handy is a great way to make sure you’re prepared for winter’s nasty soiling.
Even if you try to prevent snow and salt from coming in your home, 9 times out of 10 you will still track it on your floors. That’s why it is a good idea to explore floor options that are water-resistant. In addition to being water-resistant, vinyl plank is moisture-, mildew-, and scratch-resistant. This makes it a viable flooring choice that is durable enough to survive winter and daily traffic in general.
Overall, this season can be harsh, but keeping your floors clean is easy if you take action to prevent snow and salt from being tracked in your home. It’s even easier if you have floors that are durable enough to withstand winter’s nasty weather and the elements that come along with it. Schedule a FREE In-Home Estimate to explore our durable winter floors.
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