Between the snow, ice, slush, and salt, winter can wreak havoc on your home if it’s tracked inside. Protecting floors in the winter can help prevent damage to tile, wood, carpet and more.

Signs of Floor Damage

Depending on the type of floor you have, there are several signs that it’s been damaged by wet shoes or abrasive salt.

1. Scratches. Bits of ice, gravel, and rock salt can stick to the bottom of your shoe and end up scratching the surface of your floor’s finish. Even a small imperfection can grow if it’s not taken care of promptly.
2. Stains. Boots wet from snow or dripping coats and gloves can leave more marks on the floor. Mixed with salt, this could also dull and damage a floor’s finish. Carpets are also more prone to mud stains and water damage as well.
3. Drying. Residual salt can pull moisture out of your flooring, compromising its integrity.
4. Warping. Hardwood that takes on excess moisture can warp and eventually rot.

While it’s important to clean up any clothing drips and footprint puddles, you can help keep the area clean and protected with some simple tips.

Protecting Floors in the Winter

Even if you have a mudroom or do your best to remove wet clothing before entering your home, there are some easy ways to prevent water and salt from ruining your hallway floors.

1. Place Door Mats Inside and Out. Wherever you have a doorway to the outdoors, place a mat there for added protection. You may want a sturdy, scrapping mat for the outdoors to remove any abrasive materials. Add a second absorbent map just inside the door to catch any residual drips. Make sure any coat racks also feature something underneath to protect the floor from dripping coats, hats, scarves, etc. Make sure to hang the indoor mats to dry if they become too waterlogged.
2. Use a Boot Tray. To truly capture puddles of slush and salt that run off from your winter boots.
3. Vacuum and Sweep Regularly. To ensure any residual salt is off the floor, vacuum any carpeted or rug area and lightly sweep a cloth across the floor to lift away gritty grime.
4. Reseal Your Floors. Protect high traffic areas that could have compromised finishes, including vinyl, hardwood, tile and grout, and concrete.
5. Professional Cleaning. One of the best ways to ensure your floors are kept in prime condition is to have them professionally cleaned, especially after a wet winter.

No matter what type of flooring you have, there’s a specific solution for ensuring any salt residue, chemicals, and stains are properly removed. When you contact JDog Carpet Cleaning & Floor Care, you can trust our expertise on the right way to clean your floors, from carpet and hardwood to tile and vinyl.

Leave the Floors for Us

From the mudroom down the hallway to the kitchen, our team of Veterans and Military family members are ready to treat your home with Respect, Integrity, and Trust. We’ll help your floors weather the winter. Simply call us today at 844-GET-JDOG for a free quote and to learn about our full service offerings.