Keeping your home flooring in great shape takes a lot of work. In the summer, you have to contend with dirt and dust, while in winter you have to deal with grains of ice, mud, and snow that can be tracked into the house and scratch the floor. A clean and well-maintained floor not only looks great and lasts longer, but also contributes to the health of your indoor environment. With this in mind, here are a few tips for keeping your floors in pristine condition.
Have a No-shoes Policy
Shoes not only bring dirt, grit, and other debris into the house, but their soles are often carriers for nasty germs. You do not want any of this on your floors, especially if you have toddlers or pets. Establishing a no-shoes policy is a great way of doing so. This practice is followed in many countries, especially in Northern Europe and Asia.
If people have to wear shoes in the house, place a shoe rack with flip-flops or slippers next to the door. This way, people can leave their shoes outside and immediately transition to “inside” shoes without much effort.
Do More Than Regular Sweeping and Vacuuming
Regular sweeping and vacuuming are both important for ensuring your floor is clean and in great shape. However, you should consider doing a deep clean periodically depending on the flooring material.
This deeper clean is for removing any dirt that sweeping or vacuuming cannot get rid of. It is also a great way of removing stains that you didn’t get to in time and that might have soaked into the floor.
Use Floor Protectors
You already know, and likely expect, that your floors will wear out over time; however, they are especially prone to damage during refurbishment projects. You can prevent damage and even increase the lifespan of your floors by using floor protection. There are many products to choose from in this category, but they are all designed to help protect your floor and keep it in great shape.
One great floor protection option is protection boards. These boards are very versatile, and they can be shaped and cut according to your room’s shape so they fit perfectly. The second option is tack mats that, in addition to protecting the floor, prevent people from transferring dirt, dust and debris from one part of the house to the other.
Lastly, there are protective covers that do not require fixing and taping. You just roll them out, measure and cut them. These are water-resistant and therefore protect your floors against spills and even wet feet.
Use a Dehumidifier
This is a tip for those with wood floors. Dry air or low humidity levels can dry out the wood and cause it to shrink and thereafter crack. This can happen during the winter when the dropping temperatures lead to drier air.
Using a dehumidifier is a great way of stopping this from happening. Just ensure you choose a humidifier that is the right size for your home and is efficient enough to keep power consumption low.
Cleaning and protecting your floors is vital if you want to keep them in shape and ensure they always look great.