The daily wear and tear of a busy household can be traumatic for a floor. Think about that for a minute; it’s walked on every day, furniture is moved around across it, dirt is tracked in, toys are dropped, animals pee on it, babies throw-up all over it. Our floors take a big beating over their lifetimes. No matter what type of floor covering is purchased, “stuff” is going to happen. Our goal is for the homeowner to love their floor the entire time they live on it and there are a few simple things that can be done to help that happen. Here are the top 4 causes of floor damage and how to avoid it.
1. Forgetting to Vacuum, Mop or Sweep
Just like washing a vehicle to keep the paint looking newer longer; mopping, vacuuming, and/or sweeping does the same thing in relation to floors. When dust, spills, or grime settle into or on top of the floor, it deteriorates the surface faster than if it’s kept on a regular maintenance routine. A fool proof way to keep floors ‘alive’ longer is to set a weekly schedule of regular cleaning.
2. Not Moving Furniture and Rugs
Have you ever moved a table or couch to clean under it and realized there are big impressions on the floor or carpet from where it had been sitting? How about moved a rug and realized there is a round circle where the color is different right where the rug had been placed? Furniture that stays put, in one location, for extended periods of time tend to leave imprints in the floor. Whether it is carpet, laminate, luxury vinyl or hardwood, periodically moving the couch, bed, chairs, tables, etc. will help keep the floor from retaining that permanent dent from the furniture. The same thing can happen with rugs on the floor that are never moved. The sun can fade the color of the floor around the rug over time and the type of backing on the rug can also affect the coloring of the floor under it. It’s also important to make sure the proper protective pads are on the furniture in the home to avoid unnecessary scratching.
3. Sharp Pet Nails
Dogs and cats have one damaging thing in common, their nails! Pet nails dig into hard surface flooring and snag on carpets easily causing major and sometimes costly damage to the floor. Take the time to trim pet nails regularly. Not only is it better for your pet, but it’s also better for the floor. If scratching has occurred, there are a few easy ways to cover it up.
4. Letting the Outdoors Come Inside
Tracked-in dirt and debris are like taking a scouring pad or sandpaper to hard surface flooring. Setting out the welcome mat and/or leaving shoes off at the front door will help alleviate tracked-in debris from damaging the surface of the floors leaving them looking newer longer. Having walk-off mats on the inside of every outdoor access point is another great way to make sure humans and pets are not tracking in mud, dirt, rocks and who knows what else, across the floor covering.
Floor covering is a large ticket purchase, and no one wants to be disappointed shortly after installation. So many times, floor damage can be avoided easily, when the proper post-installation care and maintenance is followed. Care and maintenance instructions, for the floor that was installed, are usually included at the very end of the instructions but are so often missed. Make sure to always read the end of those installation instructions and follow these 4 easy steps to avoid damage.