Winter brings joy with holiday celebrations, snow-covered landscapes, and cozy,
decorated homes. But it also brings challenges for hardwood floors. Snow, ice, and rain
can take a toll on your flooring, whether in your home or on job sites. Thankfully, small
adjustments to your cleaning routine or site maintenance can go a long way in protecting
your floors from debris, moisture, and humidity fluctuations.
Winter Debris
During winter, rock salt and sand are commonly used to de-ice walkways and roads. While
effective for safety, they can wreak havoc on hardwood floors. Rock salt is abrasive and can
scratch finishes, while calcium chloride often leaves a greasy residue when tracked indoors. While grit and debris are year-round concerns, they become far more prevalent in winter.
Prevention is Key
To keep winter debris from damaging your floors, start by clearing outdoor areas like
walkways and driveways of snow and ice. Next, set up a two-step mat system:
Outdoor Mats: Use coarse mats outside entryways to capture large debris.
Indoor Mats: Place finer, absorbent mats just inside to catch smaller particles and
moisture.
Clean these mats regularly to ensure they remain effective and don’t accumulate harmful
materials.
Excess Moisture
Moisture is one of the biggest threats to hardwood floors. During winter, rain, snow, and slush tracked indoors can lead to water damage, such as warping or gaps between boards.
Moisture Management Tips
Ask guests to leave wet shoes in a designated area.
For contractors, encourage the use of shoe covers indoors to limit exposure to moisture.
Use mats that can handle wet footwear effectively.
If you have pets, keep towels near entryways to quickly dry their paws.
Increase dry-mopping efforts to remove lingering moisture.
By staying vigilant, you can prevent water from settling and damaging your floors.
Humidity Changes
Winter’s cold air and indoor heating create significant shifts in humidity, causing hardwood
to contract. This contraction can result in gaps between floorboards. On the other hand,
excessive humidity can lead to cupping (edges higher than the center) or crowning (center
higher than edges). In severe cases, it may even cause buckling, where floorboards lift from
the subfloor.
Managing Humidity Levels
It’s natural for hardwood floors to expand and contract with seasonal changes. If you notice
gaps during winter, they may resolve themselves as the weather warms. To proactively
minimize humidity issues:
Maintain indoor humidity levels between 30-50%.
Keep temperatures between 60-80°F.
Use humidifiers or dehumidifiers to stabilize your home’s environment.
Proper humidity management can help keep your floors looking their best year-round.
A Little Extra Care Goes a Long Way
With some attention to detail, your hardwood floors can stay in great condition throughout
the winter season. For added protection, consider using Bona PowerPlus® Hardwood
Floor Deep Cleaner, which is specially designed to remove ice-melting residues and
maintain the beauty of your flooring.
Trusted Expertise for Your Floors
These tips are brought to you by Bona and Mansion Hill Custom Floors, a proud Bona
Certified Craftsman Company. By following these simple steps, you can enjoy a beautiful
home and protect your investment in hardwood flooring all winter long.
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