4 Tips To Protect Your Floors In Winter

Your floors are some of the most abused areas of your home, although not generally on purpose! Every time you step into your home you gave traces of dirt and debris on the bottom of your shoes. These can cause tiny scratches to appear n your floor, over time this can help your floor to lose its luster.

Of course, if you have high-quality French oak floors, you’ll be able to have them professionally sanded down and refinished, returning them to their perfect form. 

However, a few simple steps can help to protect your floors in winter from the elements.

 

Remove Your Shoes!

 

One of the biggest issues, as just mentioned, is the amount of debris you bring into your home on your feet. Instead of wearing shoes around your home get a nice shoe cupboard that can go in your entrance hall. This will allow you and your visitors to remove their shoes as soon as they arrive at your home. You can even offer slippers if you wish!

The only part of your floors that will be affected by tiny pieces of debris will be the flooring in your entrance hall. That’s definitely going to help your other floors.

 

Scrub Your Floors

 

Before winter sets in it’s a good idea to give your floors a really good scrub and then polish them with a suitable wood wax, or similar. You can check with your floor manufacturer regarding which is the best product for your floor. 

This will help to seal the floor and prevent water ingress thanks to the cold and wet winter.

 

Add A Mat

 

It’s so simple that many people overlook it. Place two mats at your doors. One should be outside and one inside.

The outside one should be very strong, allowing you to scrape your boots off before you step into your home. Inside can be a little sifter, allowing you, and visitors, to remove the rest of the debris on your shoes.

It won’t be effective at removing every bit of debris but it will reduce the amount being carried around your home, potentially damaging your floors over the winter period.

 

Clean Regularly

 

You can’t wax your floors too often as this will actually damage the flooring and make it more likely that people will slip over in your home. However, this doesn’t stop you from sweeping the floors regularly and then mopping them with a damp mop. 

If you have tiled floors or vinyl you can mop them with plenty of water. But, wooden floors should only ever be cleaned with a damp mop, too much water can cause stains and water damage.

It’s a good idea to use a cleaning product that is designed for use with your specific type of floor, this will help to keep them protected and clean. 

With a little effort, you can prepare and maintain your floors before and during winter. They’ll look as good at the end of the winter as they did at the start!

photography by Christina Kayser O.