Flooring is more prone to scratches and stains, generally in high-traffic spaces. Either SPC flooring or wooden flooring: once furniture is dragged, it leaves marks that are hard to remove. Thus, it makes a bad impression on the floor, and guests would not like it. That is why it is very much needed to prevent your flooring from such scratches. If your flooring is damaged and scratched, and you are worried about how to prevent all this from happening? Then Just Lay offered this smart guide for homeowners to give unique tips to protect your flooring.
Expert 9 Tips To Prevent Your Flooring From Scratches
High-traffic spaces are more affected by foot traffic than low-traffic ones. Further, daily wear and spills can lead to permanent stains and dents on the flooring. Besides, whether it’s dragging the furniture or the pet scratches everything, it collectively damages the flooring. That is why it is essential to address the root causes of problems. Thus, we brought you quick hacks to prevent dents and scratches on the floors.
Do Not Drag Heavy Items
Do you often drag heavy items, such as home appliances or furniture? Then, in no time, your flooring would get damaged. That is why it is advised not to drag these loaded items. Instead, you have to lift them with the help of a tool or machine to avoid dents on your flooring. To shift the furniture, ask for someone’s help. Further, you can install an extra layer of hardboard sheets to prevent such an event. Vinyl flooring and laminate flooring got dents from dragging the heavy objects. That is why it is better to avoid dragging heavy items and start lifting the object to prevent scratches on the flooring.
Recoat Your Flooring
Over time, the flooring coat fades, which is why it gets stained. To avoid this, it is necessary to add a protective coat after months on the flooring to prevent it. The ideal time to recoat the flooring is after 3 years, and you can extend it based on your floor’s condition. If only the upper coating or shiny gloss has vanished, try recoating after 3-4 years. In case of scratched surfaces and fading, it is advised to recoat sooner than the ideal time. Further, for engineered wood flooring, add two or more coats for extra protection. Further, solid wood can be recoated more often to preserve the organic texture.
Add Pads Below Heavy Objects
Furniture and heavy objects can cause dents and scratch marks on the surface of the flooring. It’s either a table or a sofa that was pushed or dragged to transfer to a new place, or home appliances. Further, home electronics such as the fridge and dispenser should also be protected by inserting rubber pads below them. Rubber can bear a load and resist scratches. Hence, it can protect your hardwood and EPDM flooring. Further, attaching the furniture pads below your sofas and table can prevent dragging scratches. That is the best way to maintain the functionality of furniture along with aesthetics.
Insert Carpet Over Flooring
Usually, high-traffic spaces are more prone to stains, spills, and scratches. That is why it is best to install a dark-toned carpet over your flooring to prevent any such harm. For the hallway and entrance, ensure a dark-colored carpet, such as black, brown, or maroon. These colors perfectly conceal the stain marks and hide all the imperfections. Further, remember to add underlay and cushioning that completely preserves the flooring. Stair flooring is maintained by adding a plush stair runner. By placing these items, you can achieve a comfy floor that fits the desired theme.
Place Mats At The Entrance
Shoes bring in dirt that stains the flooring. Hence, you have to implement such a policy in your home to prevent shoes from being brought inside. Besides, place the door mats at the entrance of the house. These mats are designed to trap dirt and mites; hence, they are the best way to preserve your flooring. Further, it’s advised to encourage your family to keep the footwear outside your space.
Maintain Daily Cleaning
Achieve maximum cleanliness through vacuuming and mopping. Walking on the flooring can leave footprints; that is why they should be cleaned. Further, remove the debris from the floor using a vacuum cleaner. Besides, ensure to mop the flooring daily for maximum tidiness. Wood and vinyl can be cleaned daily without any hassle. Make sure to clean the floor that has high foot traffic. Along with the flooring, you also have to clean the furniture and the installed carpet.
Cut Your Pet’s Nails
Generally, pets are fond of scratching, and more commonly, they scratch on the surface they play on. So if you have a pet such as a cat or dog, then you must trim their nails. If you do not cut their nails, then they can damage the flooring. Even the groomed cats and dogs are fond of scratching. Along with trimming their nails, you have to file them as well. Further, buy a pet scratcher to provide them with a private space for playing and scratching. Anti-scratch flooring is the best option to get rid of this daily tension. Luxury vinyl flooring is an anti-scratch floor treatment.
Humidity Control
If you have wood flooring, then it is advised to keep the moisture level in control. Moisture can cause cracks in the flooring, resulting in damaged surfaces. Hence, you have to control the room’s moisture levels. And you can achieve this by inserting a dehumidifier in the space. Besides, this moisture can cause mold growth beneath the flooring, making a bad smell. Moreover, dampness can damage the flooring underlay, resulting in scratches. Further, in the winter season, turn on the dehumidifier to maintain moderate humidity.
Use Safer Cleaning Solutions
Floor cleaning is a mandatory task. But what really matters is the detergent or cleaning agent you use to clean it. Because harsh chemicals can damage the flooring surface, further, if you clean the wood with toxic chemicals, it would cause a disaster. Thus, either use DIY methods for cleaning purposes. Or you can use soft cleaning solutions, which are safer for the flooring material.
We have listed some DIY solutions that can clean the floor surface without affecting its glossy finish.
Baking soda
You can create a baking soda-vinegar mixture that is perfect for removing stains from the flooring. Mix one teaspoon of baking soda in 1.5 teaspoons of vinegar. Prepare a thick solution. Apply the mixture to the stained floor.
Vinegar
To clean the whole floor, you need to make a cleaning agent. To begin the process, take 1 gallon of warm water. Now add half a cup of vinegar and shake well. That is the best cleaning solution for maintaining your flooring.
Dish Wash
For tough stains, try preparing a solution using ⅕ cup of lukewarm water. Now add one tablespoon of dishwashing. Mix the liquid well and apply it to the stained surface.
Wrapping Up
Tidy flooring is every homeowner’s wish, but daily wear and tear can damage it. Hence, keeping the floor damage-free requires effort and maintenance. That is the reason we have brought this quick guide. You can follow it step by step to achieve scratch-free flooring. Take into account that you should not drag furniture that would leave marks. Further, insert a doormat at the entrance to the flooring. Besides, recoating your flooring will give it a glossy finish and a fresh look. In addition, you have to add carpet over your flooring for maximum protection. So prevent your flooring from every scratch, and recoat or repair the surface for a look.
