A wooden floor can add a timeless aesthetic to your house as well as offering some flexibility from a decorating standpoint. For example, you can choose to cover the floor with a throw rug or paint it to match the overall color scheme of your home. If your home’s wood floors already have paint or stain on them, they can be stripped to let the natural grain shine through. Let’s take a look at some wood care tips that you can use this winter to keep your wooden floor clean.
What to Know About Moisture and Wood Floors to Keep Your Wooden Floor Clean
If you allow even a small amount of water to pool or stand on a wooden surface, it may cause the wood to warp or rot. During the winter months, be sure to take your shoes or boots off after spending time on grass or pavement or other outdoor surfaces that are covered in rain, ice or snow. This is because anything that is on the bottom of shoes or boots can easily be tracked throughout the house.
It’s also a good idea to have a rubber mat or tray to keep wet sneakers or boots in while they dry. This will prevent snow or ice from melting on the floor itself. Instead, it will be absorbed by the material in the mat. Even if water does accumulate on such an object, you can simply pour the standing water outside where it won’t cause any harm.
You will also want to keep an eye on the amount of moisture that is in the air. If the air is too dry, wood may also be susceptible to rotting, splitting or suffering other types of damage. Generally speaking, there is an inverse relationship between temperature and humidity. This means that as the temperatures outside get colder, the air will get drier. Therefore, it may be a good idea to use a humidifier to ensure that your floors won’t get damaged.
Don’t Let Spills Linger
If you do see any amount of water or any other type of liquid on the floor, make sure to wipe it up immediately. Even if it’s not enough to cause significant damage to the wood itself, allowing moisture to linger could lead to mold growth or draw out pests that may be wintering in or near your home.
Be Careful When Salting a Porch or Driveway
Rock salt is one of the most effective tools that we have to keep outdoor surfaces from becoming skating rinks during the winter months. However, it also has the potential to cause a lot of damage to wooden floors. Therefore, it may be in your best interest to use heated mats on porches, walkways or patios located near a main entrance to your house.
It may be possible to install a driveway heating system that can keep moisture from freezing when the temperatures get cold at night. It’s worth noting that sand, kitty litter or other substances that are often used to prevent ice from forming can also be harmful to wood.
Make Sure the House Isn’t Too Hot
Wood surfaces that are in close proximity to a heat vent may be at a higher risk for damage. This is because constant exposure to hot air can cause wood to become dry and brittle. Therefore, in addition to making sure that there is sufficient humidity in your home, you’ll also need to keep the temperature at a moderate level as well. An ideal indoor air temperature during the winter season is anywhere from 65 to 68 degrees. In addition to preventing damage to wood floors, you can also help improve indoor air quality and keep your heating bills to a minimum.
Engage in Routine Wood Floor Maintenance to Keep Your Wooden Floor Clean
During the winter months, you are more likely to run your furnace or other heating system components. Even if you keep your heating system clean, it can still kick up dust, dirt and other debris in its general vicinity. These airborne pollutants will then travel around your home through the various ducts that carry the warm air to each room.
Ultimately, these travelers will settle on furniture, countertops and your wood floors. Therefore, you will need to sweep them at least once a week to ensure that they stay as clean and shiny as possible. If you have pets, children or elderly guests in your house, it may be a good idea to sweep once a day to prevent dust, dirt or pollen from becoming ingrained in the wood itself. Regular cleanings may also help to keep those with allergies, asthma or other breathing issues safe and comfortable throughout the year. Mopping a wood floor can help to get rid of sugary or other types of sticky substances before they can do any damage. If you do choose to mop, be sure to use warm water instead of hot and to only use enough to adequately cover the surface that you are cleaning.
Standing water should be wiped up immediately with a dry and clean cloth. If the water you are using to perform this task becomes extremely dirty, you should dump it and refill your bucket. This will help to ensure that you are actually cleaning the floor instead of simply spreading dirt and debris around a given space. As a general rule, you can use a vacuum on a wood floor without damaging it. This may be an ideal solution if your home has a kitchen with a wooden floor right next to the living room or another space that has a carpeted floor. It can also be helpful for cleaning larger messes as vacuums tend to do a better job or quickly removing large amounts of debris in a sanitary and timely manner.
Nothing Lasts Forever
Like anything else in your home, wood floors can only last so long before they need to be repaired or replaced. This is true even if you do your best to get rid of standing water or keep your home at a proper temperature each winter. Fortunately, you can limit the extent and cost of future repairs by inspecting your floors at the end of the winter season. Taking such a step allows you to take action while any outstanding issues are still relatively easy and inexpensive to fix before the next winter season arrives.
Wood floors can often improve the look, feel and market value of your home regardless of how old they are. If you are looking to repair or refinish existing floors or put in new flooring as part of a kitchen or bathroom remodel, the folks at Texas Floors would love to help. We offer timely, professional and affordable floor removal and installation services to ensure that your home looks great for years to come.