Wood Floor Maintenance Tips for Winter

There are some wonderful wooden floor maintenance tips for winter that will help keep your valuable floors looking beautiful all through the cold season. It is critical to keep wood floors free from excess grime and dirt. Even dust mites that populate during winter can cause extensive damage to wooden floor planks when not cleaned appropriately and frequently. Following the right wood floor care and maintenance practices ensures long-lasting durability.

In Fall, take time to thoroughly dust mop all of the gritty dust mite residue, sand, dirt, and other grime off your wood floors. The floors should then be cleaned with a damp mop and special natural oil soap suited for wood flooring before the colder weather begins. Take care to avoid leaving water puddles or spills, as any moisture can cause staining and warping if not mopped up quickly. Keep a handy safe-for-wood floor mop by the entryways.

These wood floor maintenance steps prepare your flooring for the harsh winter and help prevent long-term damage.

During hotter weather, more moisture can enter the home, causing floors to expand. When cooler and dryer weather arrives, the humidity inside the home lowers, which can cause the expanded planks to contract. This contraction may lead to gaps between the floorboards. The dryer air can also make the wood brittle, producing damage that sometimes requires new flooring installation.

To prevent this, maintain steady humidity levels year-round inside the home. A dehumidifier placed in areas prone to wide humidity and temperature changes can help. Set the humidity to maintain no more than a 20 percent shift from moisture to dryness. These checks are particularly important for engineered wood flooring maintenance since engineered planks react to moisture changes differently than solid wood.

Another way to protect valuable floors is with area rugs and carpet runners in high-traffic areas. Avoid vinyl or rubber backing that can damage wood. Use high-quality entryway mats to keep outdoor dampness, debris, and dirt from being tracked inside.

If you’re looking for a hardwood flooring store in Naperville or Calabasas, check out our two showroom locations for more useful wood flooring maintenance and care tips. Browse our wide flooring selection at affordable prices, and call us today for a free in-home estimate – we come to you!