Winter is here and Jack Frost is knocking on the front door! Don’t let him in without taking a few precautions. We’ve compiled a list of easy ways to keep your investment looking great all winter long.
Walk-Off Mats – Get a sturdy mat for both outside your entry doors and inside. Good outdoor doormats will not hold onto moisture (think moldy mildew) and will act as your first line of defense for keeping out mud and muck.
Water/Snow on Shoes – Some moisture is bound to get in. Keeping another doormat INSIDE the door for wet or snowy boots is a great way to keep the moisture from tracking into your whole house. Look around at a home goods store for hard plastic boot trays. They give you great place to leave wet shoes to dry. If you are using a fabric or carpeted area rug, be sure that you don’t let those wet mats sit on your floor for too long. Once boots are dry enough to move, pick up wet mats and allow them to dry off the floor, if possible.
Vacuum the Salt – Salt is about to line the streets; don’t let it line your floors! Salt can scratch even the toughest of hardwood finishes. Our suggestion? Sweep or vacuum the salt often. Be cautious when using “Swiffer” type dusters; grains of salt can get trapped under the head of the Swiffer and too much pressure can add to the scratching.
Cleaner – Get a strong floor cleaner for hard surfaces. This time of year, even with the best efforts, you can see spotting on ceramic, hardwood, LVT, etc. A good spot cleaner (we recommend a product Squeaky Clean, sold in our showroom) will allow you to easily keep floors looking great in-between deep cleans.
Get Carpets Cleaned – Most carpet manufactures will require your carpets to be professionally cleaned once every 18 months or so to avoid voiding warranties. A great time is NOW. Winter months often leave us stuck indoors, breathing in the dust and dandruff left behind in our carpets (YUCK!) Professional carpet cleaners use hot water extraction to get your carpeted areas clean and will keep you breathing easier, too.
These simple steps will keep your floors looking great all winter long. For those of you with floors that may need some work to begin with, give us a call for a free estimate. We can tell you if it is time to replace your flooring or if just a good scrub is in order.
