Hosting holiday gatherings means increased foot traffic from guests and family members, which can cause premature flooring wear and tear. In addition to scheduling floor cleaning services that eliminate all traces of dirt, dust, and grime, there are several other ways to prepare your home’s floors for the holiday season. Below are tips for maintaining your floors during the busiest season of the year. 

How to Prepare Your Floors for the Holiday Season

1. Add Shoe Racks to Entrances

Consider implementing a no-shoes indoors policy that requires friends and family to remove their footwear before entering your home. Doing so prevents visitors from tracking in dirt and dust that can scratch your floors and contribute to unsanitary premises. You can place shoe racks at all entrances and provide slippers, so guests don't have to walk around in socks or stockings. 

2. Place Felt Protectors on Furniture Legs

When your guests drag furniture without felt protection across wood floors to make room for other guests or create room for a board game, the furniture legs can mark up the finish or wax. Before the holidays, try attaching felt protectors to the bottom of furniture legs to shield hardwood flooring from lengthy scratches. You can also request that your family and guests lift furniture whenever they can. 

3. Use Runners & Area Rugs

As guests begin to make their way in your home, your floors will become susceptible to scuffs and dents. To prevent any damage this holiday season, create a barrier between your hardwood floors and foot traffic with attractive area rugs and runners. You can secure them with rug grippers that won’t leave adhesive behind. Additionally, you might want to use these products to protect tile floors and even newly-laid carpets to keep them clean and bright. Rugs can also keep pets from scratching the wood by providing traction. 

4. Put Up Baby Gates For Visiting Pets

If your visiting friends and family are bringing their dogs, add baby gates to prevent pet entry to certain rooms, such as a formal living room with hardwood floors. Unlike cats, dog claws do not retract and can scuff wood floors. Baby gates simplify canine issues so you aren’t constantly chasing your pets. For concerns about muddy paws staining your floors, you can provide wet wipes at entrances for the dogs’ owners to use. Opt for moisturizing wipes that remove dirt and grime without drying out the dog's paw pads.

No matter when you need professional floor cleaning and refinishing, count on Root Cleaning Solutions to complete the job perfectly. The company serving Willamette Valley, Marion County, Polk County, Linn County, and Yamhill County, OR, provides eco-, child-, and pet-friendly cleaning solutions. Call (971) 601-4186 today to make an appointment, or book their professional floor cleaning and refinishing services online.