Christmas is a time for fun and relaxation, but it can also mean disaster for your engineered wood flooring if you don’t take the necessary precautions. From cold weather and excited kids running around to high foot traffic from guests, there are many situations that can harm your beautiful wood floors this festive season. So, what can you do to minimise the risk of destroying your floors this Christmas?
At Wood Flooring Ireland, we know the benefits of engineered wood flooring and are most committed to making sure it looks great and lasts longer. With that in mind, we have compiled a list of a few tips that will ensure you enjoy the Christmas season with your family without the risk of damaging your engineered wood floors.
Tips for Protecting Your Wood Flooring this Christmas
Place Doormats at Entrances
With everyone gearing towards a fun evening, it can be relatively challenging to implement the “no shoes” policy during Christmas. It can also be slightly tricky to ask your guests to take off their shoes, especially if you are hosting a large party. So, you’ll be better off getting high-quality doormats for each entrance.
Dirt and debris pose the most significant hazard for your wood floors, as they can cause scratches. However, by placing doormats at entrances, you can significantly minimise the amount of grit that gets tracked into the house.
As well as doormats, you might want to put protective rugs in areas of your home that get a lot of foot traffic. Some areas that might see massive traffic include the kitchen, dining room, hallway, and patio. Placing rugs in these critical places can minimise the risk of heel scratches and shoe prints on your beautiful chevron flooring.
“It’s also best to put doormats near all entrances of your house. This helps you get rid of the dirt and grit to get tracked toward your home. Additionally, you should remove outdoor footwear before stepping into your hardwood floor to prevent dirt and debris from entering your house.” – Giovanni Scipo, Director, 3D Lines
Clean Your Wood Floors Frequently
Despite all the precautions, dirt and debris will still find their way onto your wood flooring. Doormats will eliminate a large percentage of the grit, but the rest is bound to find a way into your house. That’s why it is important to clean your wood floors frequently this Christmas, especially after a long day of socialising around the house.
If you clean your herringbone flooring more often, dirt and debris won’t be able to damage it as much over time. Permanent damages can range from stains to embedded grit due to being stepped on repeatedly.
With the doormats placed and the rugs set, cleaning the small amounts of tracked-in dirt on your wood floors will take a relatively shorter time. However, it is essential to employ the correct floor care techniques and follow the proper steps to avoid ruining the finish and the wood itself.
Before you start cleaning, ask yourself, “What are the different types of wood flooring and what are the various ways to clean them?” Alternatively, follow these few tips on how to clean engineered wood floors this Christmas.
“Regularly cleaning your floors can help to prevent stains and damage from spills and footprints. Using a damp mop or cloth to clean your floors can help to remove dirt and debris without damaging the surface of your floors.” – Viktor Holas, Founder, Simplyswider.com
Place a Waterproof Barrier Between Your Christmas Tree and Floors
Your Christmas won’t be complete without the scent of a well-decorated Christmas tree. Unfortunately, tree sap, scratchy needles, and water can mean bad news for your long plank wood flooring. Watering helps ensure your Christmas tree stays fresh, so you can’t avoid it.
The best way to ensure your Christmas tree stays fresh without posing a risk to your wood floors is by placing a waterproof barrier between the two. There are several different options to choose from when it comes to waterproofing your floors around the tree. These include:
- Waterproof Christmas tree stand mat
- Plastic drain tray, which is commonly used under washing machines
To improve aesthetics, place a tree skirt over these waterproofing items. Some people might prefer a towel over a tree skirt; however, tree skirts offer much more protection to your floors than towels, which only absorb moisture.
“Christmas is a time for decorating, and part of that decorating often involves putting up a Christmas tree. But you need to be careful if you have hardwood floors. If you’re not careful, the sap from the tree can damage the finish, leading to a costly repair job. So how can you protect your wood floors this Christmas?
The first step is to get a tree skirt or a tree mat that will absorb any sap that might drip from the tree. Be sure to put it underneath the tree before you put up any decorations. You can also put down extra padding, like an old blanket or a piece of cardboard, to further protect your floor.” – Elton Cage, Marketing Director, Hairbro
Use Felt Protector Pads
Besides waterproofing the area around your Christmas tree, it might be a good idea to invest in felt protector pads for your furniture. During this festive season, you will probably have many guests, which might require furniture rearrangement. Even minor movement of these pieces of furniture may scratch or mark your floors. That’s why it is essential to install felt pads on the bottom of all your furniture, especially those that are more likely to be moved around.
“To prevent scratches and dents on your wood floors, you can place protective pads under the legs of furniture. This can help to distribute the weight of the furniture evenly and prevent damage to your floors.” Alec Pow, CEO, The Pricer
Installing felt pads allows your furniture to glide instead of dragging when it is moved around. That can help minimise the damage to your Versailles panels flooring this Christmas. If your furniture has felt pads already, check to ensure they are in place. You should also consider replacing them if they have picked up a lot of grit.
“Take a moment to look under the legs of your furniture and make sure they aren’t leaving any scratches or other damage on your hardwood flooring. Some furniture has nothing more than a plain wooden base. Plastic tabs could be hammered into some of them. Some furniture, particularly older furniture, could just have the plastic tabs’ nail. In the latter scenario, you need to get rid of the nail, preferably before it ever comes close to your floor. Consider purchasing some felt pads to stick to them or another smooth plastic tab for those with a simple wooden bottom or those that had to have a nail removed.” Sai Blackbyrn, CEO, Coach Foundation
Sand and Apply a Protective Coat
As wood is a natural material, wood floors are prone to staining and marking if you don’t take care of them properly. One of the best ways to restore and protect your wood flooring is by sanding it and applying a new protective coat. As the holiday season draws closer, you can take this opportunity to complete the overdue restoration of your wood floors.
“One of the most effective ways to protect your wood floors over the long term is to seal them with a wood floor finish. This will help protect them from water, moisture, and dirt, and it will also add an extra layer of protection against scratches and dents.” – Jeroen Van Gils, CEO, LiFi
Sanding helps strengthen hardwood flooring as it closes spaces between planks, removes wood splits, and tightens loose nails. This can help the floor hold up better to the heavy traffic and heavier furniture that is expected.
After sanding, it is crucial to apply a protective coat. Refinishing your engineered hardwood floor is a great way to give it a brand-new look while also adding a layer that repels stains and spills. As you expect guests and children to be running around, a protective coat can help minimise the effect of wear and tear in high-traffic areas.
“It’s also important to be aware of any potential food and drink spills that could occur during your holiday gatherings. Place a rug under any dining tables and be sure to have plenty of paper towels on hand for quick clean-up.” Zeeshan, Founder, Greenry Ethusiast
With all the maintenance work required, you may sometimes wonder, “Why choose engineered wood flooring?” Yet there are several other options. Even though other types of flooring might not need as much care, do they offer the same benefits as an engineered wood floor?
Conclusion
Do you live in Ireland? If so, you should definitely visit Wood Flooring Ireland for all your engineered hardwood flooring needs this Christmas. Visit our Cork showroom or call us at 021-462-9913. Alternatively, you can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.