How are your wood floors fairing? Here are 4 mistakes home owners make during the winter months, along with remedies to insure your hardwood floors make it through March unscathed by moisture from snow, ice, and salt. 1. No Mats - Sturdy mats and rugs should be your first defense against salt and moisture. In fact, an effective matting system can trap 90% of debris A coarse, sturdy mat should be placed right outside the home for the purpose of stomping off snow and dislodging salt particles before entering. Another mat or rug heavy enough to wipe shoes on should be placed directly inside the doorway to catch any remaining salt or moisture before it can be tracked into the house. Consider adding a third waterproof mat to the side of the door, where shoes can be placed to dry, as well as keeping towels handy to wipe up any wetness that makes its way onto floors. 2. Letting Moisture Linger When liquid, slush, or ice is spotted resting on hardwood floors, make every possible effort to remove it immediately, lest it seep into the floor and cause mold growth beneath the floor surface or warping of the floorboards. If the amount of liquid is excessive, a wet/dry vacuum may be the best tool to start. Take heed, however, that utterly soaked wood may crack if it is dried too quickly. Heat should also be avoided during the drying process, as it can cause cupping, which is a type of warping where the edges of individual boards are raised higher than the center. 3. Shrugging off Salt Most cold-weather salts or ice melt products are made from Calcium Chloride, which is popular due to its affordability and relative effectiveness. Calcium Chloride is crystalline, and the rough texture of each individual crystal—most visible under a microscope—has the potential to scratch and abrade wood floor finish if tracked inside and dragged across or ground into the floor. Homeowners should regularly vacuum floors to suck up these micro-abrasive particles, preferably with a vacuum that is made for hardwood. If equipped with a rotating brush, it should be off or removed entirely before vacuuming. When Calcium Chloride is dissolved in water, it creates Calcium Hydroxide and Hydrochloric Acid, both of which leave behind a noticeable white residue. If the residue is not promptly removed, it can chemically damage the finish, causing hazing and premature degradation, which can also increase dirt embedment. If the residue is “fresh,” it can likely be removed with a damp (not wet) soft cloth. Older or more stubborn salt stains will require a thorough cleaning. 4. Cleaning with Whatever's in the Closet After vacuuming over and around an older or more stubborn salt stain, it is important to thoroughly clean it. You may be advised by misguided friends or family to use a mixture of vinegar and water on salt stains. We advise you to let this “quick fix” go in one ear and out the other, as vinegar will leave a residue of its own and is harsh on finish if concentrated too strongly. Also resist the temptation to use the general cleaners or disinfectants you may already have on hand, and instead opt for a cleaner specifically formulated for finished floors. Otherwise, you risk damage from inappropriate pH levels and ingredients, such as Hydrogen Peroxide, acids, Sodium Hypochlorite, etc. If you avoid these 4 mistakes, you should be able to successfully avoid the perils of winter weather. If you are looking to spruce your wood floors up, remove the haze of salt and ground in soils, Kelce & Company has the trained and certified technicians to properly clean your wood floors. Call us today!