Hardwood floors are beautiful, but they can be difficult to walk on. Dust and the waxes and polishes used to achieve the gleaming surface can make the wood sticky. So, how can you avoid falling? You can use a variety of techniques to make wood floors less slippery.
Keeping your hardwood floor clean and dry is one of the best strategies to lessen the danger of sliding. Cleaning wood floors of dust and dirt regularly is the most effective technique to make them less slick.
Rugs and anti-slip treatments are among the items available for purchase. If everything else fails, sand and refinish the flooring to remove the waxy residue.
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What Are The Main Reasons For Slippery Floors?
Everyone has tried a spectacular slide on a gleaming wooden floor while wearing their socks at some point. There’s a reason why no one has tried it with a carpet. Friction is created when two surfaces interact, such as when socks rub across a polished hardwood floor.
Friction exists between two surfaces sliding across one other, and it will always slow down the moving object. The amount of friction produced is determined by the materials used to construct the two surfaces; the rougher the surface, the more friction is produced.
When the friction between the foot and the foot cover surface is insufficient to offset the forward and backward pressures experienced when we take a step, a slide occurs.
The slickness isn’t limited to wearing socks. There are numerous reasons why the floor may feel slick. Dirt and debris and a coating such as wax or polish may have turned your hardwood into a potential hazard.
Ways To Get Rid Of Slippery Hardwood Floors
Dust, grime, wax, and polishes can make hardwood floors slick, especially while wearing socks. Your hardwood floor may have turned into a wooden ice rink for various reasons.
In many cases, your cleaning products are to blame, leaving residues that reduce the surface friction of your wood floor. Food surfaces and faded finishes can be affected by the frequent use of inappropriate cleaning chemicals.
Regular Cleaning And Mopping
Keeping slippery floors clean and dry is the most likely, and consequently the easiest, solution. Keeping your hardwood floor clean and free of dust and debris will help lessen the amount of slipping you encounter. Dry pollutants such as powder or dust might make it difficult for your feet to stay on the ground.
They also fill up the natural peaks in the wood, which cause you to slip by providing friction. To avoid falls, hardwood floors must be swept and mopped regularly. In high-traffic areas, sweep the floors at least once a day, if not more.
Every time you prepare a meal, the kitchen floor must be swept. Mopping at least once a week can also prevent sickness by reducing filth build-up. Mopping may only be necessary once a month or less in low usage areas. For the greatest results on hardwood floors, use a microfiber mop head.
To keep your wood flooring in good shape, consider doing a deep clean twice a year. Avoid allowing water to collect on the wood’s surface by dampening the mop slightly and wringing it dry. Excess water or spills should be dried as soon as possible to prevent damage to the hardwood.
Clean The Spills As Soon As Possible
Spills of water can be deadly. Even flat surfaces, like wood floors, have little peaks and valleys that produce friction. Water acts as a barrier between the friction sites, canceling out the friction and allowing topography to be created. You might take a spill, similar to how cars aquaplane on a wet road surface.
Oil-based stains are particularly hazardous, and because wood is porous, oil can quickly seep into the surface, posing a slipping hazard or leaving unsightly stains that are difficult to clean.
Use Carpets And Door Mats
It can be costly to purchase two doormats for each entrance. You may need six or more mats to cover each door, depending on the size of your property. Mats made of rubber or plastic aren’t biodegradable. When your doormats have outlived their usefulness, you might be able to recycle some brands.
Use an area rug on your hardwood flooring in high-traffic areas like walkways. Rugs add a layer of traction to help keep your feet on the ground. Like doormats, they also reduce the amount of dirt that can move around your house. The best hardwood floor area rugs feature a backing to keep them sliding about.
Remove Wax And Polish Residues Over The Time
Over time, wax and polish build-up, making your floors slicer than ever. However, there are a few options for removing this layer. Use vinegar and water mixture to clean these residues. To achieve the best results, mop with vinegar water and rinse the floors.
Alternatively, buying a solution that removes waxy residue from hardwood floors is safe.
Use Anti-Slip Products Or Grippers
For those who have hardwood floors, anti-slip floor coatings are popular. Anti-slip treatments can be applied to various wood kinds, and they work to improve the surface’s protection. The finish creates traction. This product allows you to have gleaming, waxed floors without generating too much slipping.
There are numerous non-slip or anti-slip treatment solutions, from coatings to wood sprays. If you have a dog that slips on the floor’s surface, an epoxy spray could help.
Conclusion
A well-maintained hardwood floor is the pinnacle of timeless beauty. Make sure you know what kind of wood you have and what kind of finish it has and that you use cleaning chemicals and tools that are appropriate for the finish.
The approach you pick to make your wood floors less slippery may be determined by your budget and the amount of elbow grease you’re willing to put into the project. Cleaning your floors regularly is both free and considerably easier than refinishing them. Choose the best option for your home, or try a few other approaches to see what works best.
