5 Ways to Protect Engineered Hardwood Flooring This Holiday

5 Ways to Protect Engineered Hardwood Flooring This Holiday

It’s that time of the year when family and friends meet to spend quality time together and celebrate the holidays, including the start of a new year. During this time, loved ones gather in your kitchen, living and/or dining room, which puts the flooring in these areas under excessive pressure and brings with it wear and tear.

Since visitors also bring in snow, salt, water, and sleet, keeping your floors free from damage becomes difficult. This makes it necessary to take precautionary measures to prevent stains, scratches, and other damages that come with high foot traffic and the outside elements getting in.

Fortunately, it only takes a few simple steps to ensure your flooring is protected against potential damage.

Whether you’ve just installed new engineered hardwood flooring or have had it for years, here are tips to ensure it remains beautiful throughout the holiday season’s hustle and bustle.

Engineered Hardwood Care Advice to Prepare for the Holiday Season

Here are some of the best ways to protect your engineered hardwood flooring against holiday guests and the elements.

1. Purchase a Shoe Rack

Soft-soled shoes might not cause much damage to engineered hardwood flooring, but hard soles and high heels can.

Instead of dealing with the damage done, it’s better to have a practical plan to protect your floors. If you want visitors and guests to leave their shoes in a specific area, it’s important to make the process easy. Of course, you don’t want shoes in a muddy or snowy pile by the door. By offering guests a space to stow footwear, you ensure that floors stay clean and protected and the area looks organized.

That’s what makes investing in a high-quality shoe rack a good idea. Just make sure it’s large enough to hold your visitors’ shoes and place it strategically near your main entrance. If you have people using other entrances, consider placing smaller ones there as well.

It’s also recommended that you place a chair next to the rack as some guests may need a few minutes to get settled. If you’re hosting a big party, make it fun by offering (new) festive socks for guests to wear.

2. Plan Protection from the Christmas Tree

While engineered hardwood flooring can last many years, your Christmas tree can scratch the floorboards or create cracks. If you have a live tree, frequent watering will be necessary. Unfortunately, since the core of most engineered hardwood planks is not water-resistant, it will get damaged if water is absorbed, resulting in buckling or cupping.

So, before putting up your Christmas tree, place a plastic bag or sheet directly under the tree to catch water that may spill down it. This will go a long way towards protecting the floor.

3. Use Gliders on Furniture

Are you going to be hosting a lot during the holidays? This will mean moving furniture around to make more room for guests. However, this can wreak havoc on your floor and result in scratches and dents which are expensive and time-consuming to repair.

That’s why it’s vital to invest in gliders for the bottom of furniture legs. This will go a long way towards holiday-proofing your home. Along with protecting your engineered hardwood flooring, it will also make it easier to move furniture around.

4. Invest in Area Rugs and Runners

Every home has high-traffic areas. These include the kitchen, hallways, and entryways. When holiday hosting, these areas usually see more wear and tear than others as more people will be coming in and going out of the space. That’s why it’s important to purchase area rugs and runners as they can go a long way towards protecting your engineered flooring.

Entryways are one of the best areas to have them in as they do a great job at absorbing moisture from wet shoes. Plus, they will provide added comfort in areas where individuals may be standing for prolonged periods.

If you have furniture in the area, like chairs and tables, that can be taken from one place to another, it’s better to purchase low piles and flat rugs to reduce chances of tripping.

5. Be Proactive

No matter how careful you are, there is a good chance somebody will spill drinks or food or wear their shoes inside. But, by taking prompt action, you can protect your engineered hardwood flooring from extensive damage.

In case someone tracks dirt inside or spills a drink, clean it up quickly. Don’t leave soap and water on the flooring as this can result in damaging residue being left behind. Moreover, too much water can damage the floor’s protective layer and destroy its appearance.

If you are thinking of adding an area rug or runner, be sure to purchase a barrier (like a rubber pad) that will be placed between the floor and rug.

For more tips on how to prepare your flooring for the holidays, take a look at this blog.

When it comes to engineered hardwood flooring, it pays to be smart and proactive. With tender loving care, your flooring will stand up to holiday wear and tear and stay beautiful for years to come. With the precautions outlined here, you’ll be free to spend more time with your loved ones and less time worrying about your flooring.