Protect Your Floors While Celebrating in Style!

The holidays are a time for joy, family, and festive gatherings, but they can also bring challenges for your floors. From muddy boots to tree stands, here are some simple tips to keep your hard surfaces and carpets looking their best throughout the season.

Hard Surface Flooring Tips

1. Keep Dirt Out at the Door
Place rugs or mats at all entrances to catch dirt, debris, and tiny rocks that can scratch your flooring. Encourage guests to wipe their feet thoroughly or take off their shoes altogether to prevent unwanted damage.

2. Protect Your Hardwood Floors
Hardwood is beautiful but can be sensitive to scratches from shoes or dropped items. Encourage a shoes-off policy, and remind guests to check their soles for trapped pebbles or debris. Don't stress too much, though—scratches can be easily touched up with a stain pen, showcasing the natural charm and resilience of real hardwood.

3. Safeguard Against Holiday Trees
If you’re putting up a real tree, place a waterproof barrier like a garbage bag or tree mat under the stand to catch spills when watering. Even a small water spill can damage your hardwood or luxury vinyl flooring. For both real and artificial trees, add felt pads under the pegs of the tree stand to prevent scratching or denting from the weight of the tree.

Carpet Care Tips

1. Be Ready for the Unexpected
Spills happen during the holidays, whether it’s red wine, hot cocoa, or muddy shoes from a Northwest winter. Keep a spot cleaner like NYLAC handy—it’s our top pick for treating stains quickly and effectively. Trust us, it’s a lifesaver! Stop by our store to pick up a bottle.

2. Protect Against Tree Mishaps
Similar to hard flooring, place a waterproof barrier under your tree stand if it’s on carpet to prevent water damage.

3. Deep Clean for a Fresh Start
Before hosting, consider giving your carpets a professional cleaning to freshen them up and remove any old stains. After the holidays, do the same to address any new stains or wear from foot traffic. Let us know if you need a quality recommendation of a local carpet cleaner!

General Holiday Floor Care Tips

1. Rugs are Your Best Friend
Rugs not only add warmth to your home but act as protectors in high-traffic areas. Use them in entryways, kitchens, and under dining tables to minimize wear on your floors.

2. Address Spills Quickly
Whether it's on hardwood, luxury vinyl, or carpet, clean up spills immediately to prevent staining or water damage. For carpets, blot (don’t rub!) the area to lift the liquid.

3. Trim Pet Nails
If you have furry family members, keep their nails trimmed to avoid accidental scratches on hard surfaces as they get excited about all the festivities.

4. Rearrange Safely
If you're moving furniture around to make room for guests or decorations, lift instead of dragging to prevent scratching. Use furniture sliders or felt pads to protect your floors from damage.

The holidays are all about creating memories with loved ones, so don’t let floor care stress you out. With a few preventive measures and quick clean-up tactics, your floors will stay beautiful and ready for many more celebrations to come.

Need advice on holiday-ready rugs or the best cleaners for your floors? Stop by Koebers, and we’ll help you keep your home looking its best this season.

Happy Holidays! 🎄

The Koeber Family