The old images of winter involve softly falling snow—not ice, rain, and sleet. However, when the weather adds a few more kinds of precipitation into the mix (namely rain and ice), it’s time to start going on the defense to protect your floors from all the water and mud that Mother Nature decides to throw our way.
Clean your driveway and sidewalks so they are clear of gravel and water.
The first line of defense is to stop the tracking of ice and water at the source. Make sure you shovel and use salt to keep your walks safe—and all the ice and grime off your shoes when you come in.
Put down rugs outside and inside.
Especially if you use salt and sand for traction, make sure you use rugs outside your exterior doors so your guests can wipe off their shoes before they come in. On the inside, use runners and rugs to catch water and grit that gets tracked inside.
Wipe off your pets’ paws before they enter.
Train your pets to stop at the door before they come in so you can wipe off their paws. Keep a towel close by so you can make sure they don’t leave dirty foot prints all over your house.
Don’t let your guests wear shoes when they come in.
You’re not being rude if you ask your guests to remove their shoes before they come in. Keep a convenient mat by all your doors for shoes and boots so they are convenient for your guests.
Have a system for drying out your winter gear.
Puddles are the enemy for hardwood and laminate floors. Set up an area where your winter jackets, snow pants, hats, and mittens can dry out without damaging your wood and laminate floors.
Make sweeping and dry mopping part of your daily routine.
Regular maintenance can keep your floors in tip-top shape. Make sure you sweep up gravel so your floors don’t get scratched or damaged by all the grit that gets tracked in.
Vacuum regularly to keep your carpets in excellent shape.
Carpets can hide a lot of the grit that gets tracked in. To keep them in fine shape, make sure you clean them regularly so the grit and dirt don’t wear them down.
Keep a rag on hand to clean up puddles so they don’t damage your floor.
To keep your hardwood and laminate floors from warping or getting water damage, keep a rag close at hand so standing water is not standing on your floors.
Deep clean your wood and hard floors.
Make sure you deep clean your floors from time to time, but be careful about using products that could take the finish off of your hardwood floors. To make sure you get a deep clean that doesn’t damage your floors, be selective about the products you use or hire the experts to deep clean your floors.
Get your carpets cleaned twice a year to remove allergens.
In addition to a regular vacuuming, schedule a carpet cleaning twice a year to deep clean your carpets and keep them looking great. Trust us, a good professional carpet clean makes your carpets look like it’s not icing and snowing and raining and doing whatever else Mother Nature throws at you.
