Cold weather can wreak havoc on your wooden floors. Snow-melting materials can cause surface scratches, and lower humidity levels in the air can cause gaps in your flooring and warp the wood. The professionals at NorthWest Granite and Flooring in Oak Harbor, WA, understand the importance of protecting and maintaining your hardwood flooring and offer their top three tips for keeping your wooden floors in optimum condition this winter:

3 Tips for Maintaining Your Wooden Floors in Winter

1. Clean Frequently

Cleaning your hardwood flooring will not only make it shine; it will also protect your floors from scratches caused by dust, rocks, and salt. Therefore, it’s a good idea to establish a regular sweeping and dusting routine to prevent further damage.

2. Stop Tracking in Debris 

Salt, water, and sand damage your floor in winter. Salt and sand used for melting snow can leave unsightly stains and corrode the wood, and water can permeate the surface and destroy the integrity of the planks. One way to get around this issue is to use absorbent mats at all of the entrances to your rooms with wooden floors. These mats allow you to take off your shoes or clean them before those materials can get on your floor.

3. Use a Humidifier

Wood is a natural material that expands and contracts based on its natural environment. However, winter can zap the moisture out of the air, which creates gaps and even small cracks. You can avoid this by placing a humidifier in the rooms with the wooden floors to allow a consistent stream of moisture to permeate the air and help the planks expand naturally again.

Wooden floors, if maintained properly, can last a lifetime, so it’s important to know preventive measures to preserve the integrity of the material and keep them looking like they should. NorthWest Granite and Flooring has spent the past 15 years providing the highest quality hardwood flooring, countertops, and carpets to the local community for their home remodeling projects. For more information about their available services, visit them online or call (360) 675-­4978.