Summer Care for Hardwood Floors

While we are always very cautious about protecting our home’s hardwood floors during the messy winter months, it is important to keep the following tips in mind for taking care of your hardwood floors during the warm summer months too.

USE DOORMATS

Doormats are great in winter to make sure everyone coming into your home wipes the snow, ice, and grit from their boots but doormats are also a good idea during summer months. Whether spending time in the backyard, tending to gardens, or a day at the beach, any dirt or sand that is tracked into your home can act like sandpaper on your hardwood floors.

Photo Source – Canva

BE SUN-CONSCIOUS

Just as we use sunscreen to protect our skin from UV rays, we need to also protect our hardwood floors. The same UV rays that can burn our skin can discolor and prematurely age our hardwood floors. Blinds or curtains act as a sunscreen for your wood floors and should be lowered or closed during the times of day when the sun is especially strong, specifically early morning or early evening for east- or west-facing windows.

POST-PARTY CLEAN-UP

Summer time means backyard barbeques, pool parties, or let’s be honest, really any excuse to host a social gathering. This means increased foot traffic on your hardwood floors as guests and hosts alike continually transition from indoors to outdoors and back again. To properly clean your hardwood floors after a get-together, simply vacuum up any dirt and debris, using the vacuum’s hard floor attachment and, if a more thorough cleaning is needed, be sure to use an all-natural, organic, hardwood-specific floor cleaner like our own BreezeWood Floors’ hardwood and oiled hardwood floor cleaners.

Photo Credit – BreezeWood Floors

BEAT THE HUMIDITY

With the heat of summer comes the dreaded humidity. Too much humidity and moisture in a home can cause hardwood floor planks to expand and warp. By setting your home’s HVAC system to maintain humidity levels between 30-50% and in-home temperatures between 18-24 degrees Celsius, you can decrease the possibility of this happening and keep your hardwood floors looking and performing at their best.

By following these tips, you can enjoy a worry-free summer while maintaining the beauty of your home’s hardwood flooring for many years to come. Click here for more information on caring for your BreezeWood Floors’ hardwood flooring.