How to Protect Your Hardwood Floors over the Holidays
Hardwood floors can sure take a beating during the holidays. With family and friends visiting causing more foot traffic in your home, and to your Christmas tree, many situations will present themselves that can harm your beautiful hardwood floors. So what can you do to better protect your hardwood floors during the holidays?
Area Rugs
Area rugs are a perfect way to add protection to your hardwood floors during the holidays and beyond. Keep in mind that synthetic area rugs are the safest and most effective ways to protect your hardwood floors. Synthetic area rugs are designed from breathable material and will prevent capturing unwanted moisture. Synthetic area rugs add a layer of padding to your hardwood floors which helps protect against unwanted gouges and scratches. Area rugs are one of the most efficient ways to protect your hardwood floors from any holiday hazards, as well as add to your room’s overall décor. Be sure to strategically place area rugs or mats at any entry points, especially if the weather outside is less than desirable. Area rugs and mats will help protect your hardwood floor from moisture and dirt that can come in on your guest’s shoes.
Extra Protection
If you’re planning on placing your Christmas tree in a room with hardwood flooring, it’s important to use a tree skirt to protect the floor underneath. A skirt won’t necessarily protect your wood floor from scratches and gouges that can occur from the heavy weight of a natural Christmas tree, so it’s advisable to add additional padding underneath your tree’s stand. Skirts are placed around the tree stand and will hide any padding solution you place beneath your stand. Skirts also protect your floor from unwanted moisture and water than can warp the wood when watering your tree. For extra protection, add a sheet of plastic underneath the tree, then a mat, this will better protect your floor from scratches as well as water damage.
Additional Care
Of course, spills are sometimes inevitable, but fast action can help protect your hardwood floor. If a spill occurs or dirt is brought into your home, be sure to clean it quickly. Do not use oil soaps or water on your hardwood floors, as this can leave a damaging residue to your floor’s finish. Excessive water can dull your floor’s finish, so it’s important to wipe up any water quickly. If you decide to add area rugs to your hardwood floors, be sure to choose a carpet or mat that does not use rubber or foam-backing. These types of backing may discolor your floor by trapping moisture.
Consider following these tips during the holiday season, and every day in between. With a little tender loving care, you can prolong the life of your beautiful hardwood floors for years to come.