How To Prep Your Floors For Winter
On
Winter is lots of fun for many – those who like winter sports. Even for those who don’t, you end up tracking in salt and sand from the roads, your driveway, and even your steps. The salt and sand sticks to the bottom of your shoes and will get onto floors and into carpets. If you have wood floors, the salt and sand will eventually scratch the floors.
Carpets
Be sure you vacuum your carpets frequently. The sand and salt that falls off your feet get trapped in the carpet fibers, and you won’t see it. If you have area rugs, be sure they have padding under them to help protect your floors, especially if you have wood floors or vinyl that scratches easily. Shake area rugs and padding out every few times you vacuum. When vacuuming the floor under the rugs, be sure to use a vacuum head that won’t scratch the floors.
Wood Floors
If you have wood floors, keep the climate neutral. If it is too moist, the floors might warp. If it’s too dry, the floors could shrink over time, especially if they are floating floors. Vacuum tracked-in sand and salt immediately so you don’t scratch the floors by grinding the sand and salt into the floors. Be sure to use a vacuum head without a beater and one that won’t scratch the floors. Clean wood floors with the cleaner your floor manufacturer recommends.
Vinyl Floors
Treat vinyl floors as you would wood floors. Tracked-in sand and salt will scratch the vinyl just as it will scratch the wood. Vacuum the floors with a head that won’t scratch. Mop the floors with a quality cleaner.
In general, you might want to help keep the sand and salt in one area by putting a mat outside the door and one just inside the door. The mat outside will catch most of the dirt and debris if people wipe their feet. The mat inside will trap more of it. You’ll still have sand and salt near the entries, but you’ll have a lot less.