If you live where snow, salt, and slush are a normal part of winter, you know it can be one of the most trying seasons for your floors. No matter how careful you and your guests are, tracking snow and salt into your home is inevitable. Winter maintenance for your flooring is crucial for keeping its beauty and preventing permanent damage. With a few strategic purchases, some smart house rules, and a cleaning schedule you can stick to, your floors can stay clean. Here's how to keep your floors clean this winter.

Keep the Outdoors OutsideKeep the Outdoors Outside

If your front porch or backyard is covered in snow and mud, you can be sure it'll be tracked into your home. It's not just you and your guests, but also your four-legged family members. Keep the areas outside your home as clean as possible by shoveling driveways and sidewalks before they melt into a gross wintery mix on your floors.

Doormats, Doormats, DoormatsWinter Maintenance for Your Flooring

No matter what flooring type, doormats are a must to keep your floors clean this winter. In fact, doormats are the most effective thing you can do year-round for your flooring. Invest in two mats per entryway, one for outside and one for inside. The outdoor mat collects the brunt of dirt, salt, moisture, snow, and slush from everyone's shoes. The indoor mat will take care of any residual debris that might be left.

Add Boot Trays to Entryways

Boot trays are indispensable for keeping your flooring clean and dry. The trays are often made of rubber, plastic, or metal with a raised edge to contain dirt and moisture. You can also use these handy trays to hold pet water dishes or snow shovels.

No Shoes Indoors RuleNo Shoes Indoors Rule

A no-shoes-in-the-house policy is a simple way to keep your floors clean. Removing your shoes at the door is the only way to ensure that nothing gets through. Taking your shoes off at the entrance is a customary gesture of respect when a guest enters someone else's home in many parts of the world. Implement a no-shoe policy to keep your hardsurface floors and carpets clean this winter. If asking guests to take off their shoes is uncomfortable, you can offer them a pair of slippers or warm fuzzy socks.

PetsPets

Doggie boots! Of course, this won't be an option for ALL dogs, but some dogs love them. Especially during winter, it keeps their pads warm and dry and protects them from cracking. They also have socks that would be comfortable indoors, too. Keep a towel by the entrance to wipe their paws before they walk inside. A longer runner might even be better, depending on the size of your pooch.

Cleaning Supplies Near EntrancesCleaning Supplies Near Entrances

Keep your supplies nearby and easily accessible to ensure quick clean-ups before any damage sets in. A broom, a dustpan, a towel, and a mop should do the trick.

Regular Maintenance

Daily sweeping, mopping, or vacuuming is the most practical way to maintain your floors during winter. Sometimes even several times a day in high-traffic areas and during holiday get-togethers. Salt and moisture need to be cleaned up immediately.

This time of year is also the perfect time to book a carpet cleaning since winter is tough on carpets (not to mention the holiday traffic.) You should hire a professional carpet cleaner every 12 to 18 months. But stick with 12 months if you have children or pets! Learn more about Creative Carpet & Flooring's professional carpet cleaning service HERE and schedule your cleaning online. We even have a few cleaning products available in our showrooms located in Mokena, IL, and Highland, IN. Let Creative Carpet & Flooring help you with winter maintenance for your flooring today.