Protecting Your Hardwood Floors During the Holidays

You’ve spent a great deal of time selecting the perfect hardwood flooring for your home. You’ve also invested a great deal of energy in choosing the right installer and properly caring for its finish. But then comes the holidays when family members and guests visit and inclement weather often occurs. These can be challenging times in protecting your hardwood floors from damage. But with a bit of precaution and foresight, you can ensure your beautiful floors will withstand the season. A little bit of anticipation and preparation can go a long way in this regard.

As with any season, specific hazards may exist that require some added attention on a homeowner’s part. This is particularly true when it comes to protecting your hardwood floors. The holiday season is no different. Holiday parties, Christmas trees and decorations, and soggy weather are among the most common threats. And depending on one’s particular situation, each of these may require some effort to prevent hardwood damage. With this in mind, the following discusses these risks and offers some important approaches to protect your hardwood.

Holiday Traffic Patterns

During the holidays, it’s not uncommon for your hardwood floors to see a bit more foot traffic. Kids are out of school during holiday breaks, which often means friends come to visit. Family members may also arrive out of time and spend more time in your home. And naturally, holiday parties further increase the number of guests who visit. As a result, your hardwood floors will be at risk for scratches and wear to a greater extent. In an effort to minimize these effects, there are several steps you can take in protecting your hardwood floors. One option is to request guests remove their shoes when entering your home. If this isn’t feasible, then you might choose to add runners to hallways and high-traffic areas. Also, it’s important to ensure you have a good hardwood finish that can withstand a bit more traffic. Certainly, the holidays will invite greater use and traffic to your hardwood floors. But considering these options can reduce their impact. How about that hardwood floor refinishing austin?

Winter Weather Woes

While homeowners in northern climates must worry about snow and ice, these are as common in more southerly regions. But nonetheless, it’s not uncommon for winter weather to bring about a bit more dampness. Plus, wet leaves and other debris are also more common and likely to be tracked inside during the holidays. There’s a similar risk of a wine or beverage spill during a holiday get-together. As you are likely aware, protecting your hardwood floors from water, spills, and debris is important. Even water sitting on hardwood for a short amount of time can damage a finish or the underlying wood. Understanding this, placing mats at all entryways can help reduce exposure to wetness and grime. Also, wiping up any excess water from the floor immediately is essential. These steps and regularly cleaning your hardwood floors with a safe hardwood cleaner significantly reduce the potential for harm.

Being Festive, Fun and Smart

Throughout the holidays, it’s only natural to decorate your home and to partake in annual traditions. One of these traditions for many families involves putting up a Christmas tree, whether artificial or real. But while these help set the mood for the season, they also pose some risks to your hardwood floors. The needles from real trees can actually scratch and damage the finish on your hardwood floors. This is especially true if caught under someone’s shoes. Likewise, dragging a tree or its stand can also cause scratches, dents and damage. And water spillage and broken ornaments are additional hazards that might occur. Knowing this up front, it’s important to take precautions in protecting your hardwood floors. That means placing mats underneath trees, lifting rather than dragging décor, and keeping hardwood floors free of water or needles. It’s fantastic to get into the holiday spirit. But it’s also a good thing to do so with some foresight in mind.

Home and the Holidays

Sharing your home with friends and family during the holiday season is certainly a wonderful experience. It’s a time when we reconnect with those we love and offer season’s greetings to new acquaintances. In many ways, hardwood floors reflect these sentiments with its warmth and natural appeal. Hardwood floors provide the perfect backdrop for these holiday occasions. This is all the more reason to take a few simple steps in protecting your hardwood floors from a few of the minor hazards this season brings. And in doing so, you and your family will be able to enjoy so many more holiday seasons to come.