6 Ways to Get Your Hardwood Floors Ready for Fall and the Holidays

Fall Hardwood Floor Care Tips

Fall is here in Puyallup, Tacoma and across the South Sound, and that means rain, muddy shoes and the furnace running most of the day. All of it is hard on hardwood floors. Add a house full of holiday guests, and your floors are heading into their busiest few months of the year.

At Blair & Son Floor Co., our family has been caring for hardwood floors since 1951. Here are six simple ways to protect your floors this season and keep them looking their best for the holidays.

1. Stop Rain and Grit at the Door

Most fall wear walks in on the bottom of someone’s shoes. Wet soles leave water sitting on the finish, and the grit they carry acts like sandpaper with every step.

Place a mat outside each entry and another just inside. The outside mat catches the mud, and the inside mat catches the water. A bench or boot tray by the door makes it easy for everyone to slip their shoes off, guests included.

2. Wipe Up Water Right Away

A dripping umbrella, a wet dog or a tipped-over water bowl can do more damage than you might think. Water left sitting on hardwood can work its way past the finish and into the wood. Keep a towel by the door and wipe up spills as soon as you see them.

3. Don’t Worry About Seasonal Gaps

Wood naturally expands when the air is damp and contracts when it’s dry. Once the heat is running every day, the air inside your home dries out, your floorboards lose a little moisture and shrink, and gaps can start to show between them. In most homes they close back up in the spring when the air gets damper.

Gaps are most common in spots where temperature and moisture change the most, like near heat vents, in front of the dishwasher, around fireplaces and close to windows and doors. In these areas the gaps can look surprisingly large and still be perfectly normal. Seasonal gaps on their own aren’t a cause for concern. They’re only worth worrying about when you also see signs of water damage, like the ones in the next tip.

A humidifier can help keep things more even during the heating season. If you’re planning new floors for a basement or another room where moisture changes a lot, engineered hardwood holds up better than solid wood.

4. Watch for Cupping or Buckling

Cupping, buckling and staining are a different story. If the edges of your boards sit higher than the middle, boards start to buckle or lift, or you notice dark stains or soft spots, there’s usually moisture coming from somewhere, often a leak.

Don’t wait on it. Have it checked before the damage spreads. Learn more about our hardwood floor water damage repair.

5. Clean Gently and Check Your Chair Pads

A damp mop with a hardwood floor cleaner or a little vinegar and water is all your floors need. Avoid wax and oil-based products, which can leave a film that dulls the finish. You’ll find more care tips on our hardwood flooring FAQ page.

Before company arrives, flip your dining chairs over and check the felt pads. Chairs get pulled in and out all season long, and a worn pad can scratch a floor quickly.

6. Plan Ahead If You Want to Refinish

If your floors are looking dull, scratched or worn through in the walkways, hardwood floor refinishing can bring back their shine. The key is timing. Here’s what to expect:

•    Most refinishing projects take about 3 days, or about 5 days if you’re adding stain.

•    Furniture needs to be moved out of the room before we start.

•    You’ll need to stay out of your home while the finish cures.

•    Rugs should stay off the floor for 4 to 6 weeks after the final coat.

If you want your rugs back down for Christmas, plan to have your floors finished by mid to late November. Hosting Thanksgiving? Give us a call and we’ll talk through what will work for your home.

For busy households with kids and pets, ask us about a Swedish finish, a durable finish made for high-traffic floors.

Not Sure What Your Floors Need?

Not every worn floor needs the same fix. Buffing refreshes the finish on floors with light wear. Refinishing sands down to bare wood to take care of deeper scratches and faded color. Hardwood floor restoration goes a step further to repair or replace damaged boards.

To learn more, read about the difference between buffing and refinishing or the signs your floors need refinishing.

Get Your Floors Ready for the Holidays

Blair & Son Floor Co. is a family-owned business with three generations of hardwood flooring experience. Call us at (253) 785-9509 or request a free estimate today. You’re also welcome to visit our Puyallup showroom by appointment to see wood and finish options in person.