Salt and Snow On Hardwood Floors
Midwesterners are no strangers to salt and snow. Unfortunately, salt and snow can be damaging to your hardwood floors. Here are some things you need to know to prevent your floors from being damaged.
Why Is Snow and Salt Bad For Hardwood Floors?
The deicing salt that is spread on sidewalks and driveways in the winter to keep us safe can also damage your hardwood floors. The salt and snow mix can be tracked into your home on boots and shoes. The salt can also seep into the cracks of your flooring and cause the wood to swell and discolor.
What Can You Do To Protect Your Floors?
There are a few things you can do to help protect your floors from the salt and snow this winter. One is to put a throw rug or mat at each entryway to your home. This will help to catch the salt and snow before they can damage your floors. You can also sweep and mop your floors regularly to keep them clean and free from any tracked-in salt.
To protect your floor, you should try to keep it as dry as possible. You can do this by sweeping up any snow or salt that has landed on the floor and by wiping up any water that has pooled. You should also make sure to keep your shoes and boots clean so that they don’t track any snow or salt onto the floor.
What to Do When Your Floors are Damaged
If you already have damage to your floors from the salt and snow, there are a few things you can do to help repair them. One is to try and remove the salt and snow that is still on the floor. You can do this by using a wet vacuum or a mop. Once the salt is removed, you can try and refinish the floors to help get them back to their original condition.
If you are unable to remove the salt and snow or if the damage is too severe, you may need to replace your flooring. This can be a costly and time-consuming project, but it may be necessary to protect your floors from further damage.