Warning! This Common Mistake Can Ruin Your Floors This Winter
Flooring is pretty sophisticated these days, but there’s nothing like the warmth and richness of old-fashioned hardwood floors. If you take care of them, wood floors can last for decades, if not centuries. My old house in Minnesota had wood floors, and they gleamed like the day they were installed in 1900.
Most of the time, all my wood floors needed was a quick swipe with a dust mop and an occasional deeper clean with a floor cleaner formulated for wood. There was one spot in my home, though, that was a constant struggle against scratches, warping and other problems. It happened during winter, and if you live in a cold climate, you probably have the same issue.
Marred wood floors can be a nightmare to fix. You can either live with the damage, try to repair minor scratches or replace the affected planks and refinish the flooror you can avoid all that heartache by following the advice of two seasoned cleaning experts who hail from northern climates. Read on for the mistake you’re probably making this winter, along with how to avoid it so your floors stay in tip-top shape.
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What is the common mistake that damages floors in winter?
If you live in a snowy spot, you’re probably accidentally tracking rock salt into your home. With the recent spate of snow in the lower half of the country this year, this means you too, Southerners, so pay attention!
Of course, when snowy, icy winter weather hits, city officials and homeowners douse the roads and sidewalks with rock salt (aka sodium chloride). The problem? Rock salt melts ice and provides traction for slippery sidewalks and steps, but if it gets inside your home, the brittle salt crystals can easily scratch your floors.
“Salts that are used to melt snow have a coarse texture,” says Dan Deonarain, owner of Galaxy Maids in New York City. They’re not like the tiny grains of refined salt in your kitchen shakerroad salt works best when the crystals are large, so cars (and feet) will grind it into a slushy mix that won’t refreeze. That’s great for road and sidewalk safety, but those chunky salt crystals act like little knives when crushed into your hardwood floors.
Rock salt sticks around for weeks or even months, especially if there’s been minimal rain or snowmelt. That means you may not be off the hook when spring finally rolls around. And it’s not just people who bring salt inside. Your pet’s paws are practically Velcro when walking on rock salt, which (if your dogs are anything like mine) can really hurt their feet! Consider getting some booties for your pup, and use pet-safe deicer on your own sidewalks.
Why else is rock salt so bad for hardwood floors?
A scratched floor is bad enough, but the alkaline residue road salt leaves on your hardwood floor can dull or damage the finish over time, leaving a faded or discolored appearance, says cleaning expert Alicia Sokolowski, founder of Vancouver-based AspenClean natural cleaning products and cleaning services. “If left for extended periods, salt can even leave behind stubborn whitish stains or marks that are difficult to remove.”
Deonarain agrees and says the longer you allow salt and salty slush to sit on your floor, especially if it’s been scratched already, the worse it gets: “Over time, this allows moisture to seep into the surface, which can cause discoloration and, even worse, warping or separating of the floorboards.” (And you know that won’t be cheap to fix!)
What should you do to avoid damage?
Take off your shoes!
Back home in Minnesota, everyone takes off their shoes before entering a houseyours, mine and everyone else’s. It’s such a common regional courtesy that I had to make sure my socks matched before I left for the day, which most people probably do anyway, but let’s not quibble. It’s no surprise then that Deonarain and Sokolowski, both from colder climates, say taking off your shoes will help save your floors.
“The areas where salt damage is the biggest concern are close to entryways,” Deonarain says, as well the common paths taken after you get inside. Taking off your shoes as soon as you enter will keep the salt contained to your foyer or mudroom, which is easier to clean than your entire floor. Ask your family and guests to help you out as soon as they walk in.
To spur compliance, give everyone a place to both wipe their feet and stash their snowy boots and shoes. “Place heavy-duty doormats both outside and inside entryways to trap salt before it reaches your floors,” Sokolowski says. Adding a shoe basket or rack near the door is a great way to encourage shoe removal and limit direct contact with salt on wood floors, says Deonarain.
How to clean floors exposed to rock salt
Even with the best intentions, rock salt will sneak into your home by way of snowy feet, whether yours or your pet’s. Hardwood floors are an investment, and repairing them isn’t easy or cheap. So keep them clean!
Each expert has a preferred method, and we’ve got the step-by-step instructions below.
Clean salty wood floors with vinegar
Deonarain’s go-to for cleaning salty residue is vinegar and water. Warm water helps dissolve the salt, while vinegar’s acidity breaks down alkaline residues and general grime left from your dirty feet.
- Sweep or vacuum your floor to remove larger salt crystals.
- Fill a bucket or bowl with three parts warm water to one part distilled white vinegar.
- Dampen a microfiber cloth with the vinegar mixture, and wring out the excess.
- Wipe the salty residue away, taking care not to allow water to pool. “As always with wood floors, avoid letting moisture sit for too long,” Deonarain says.
- Dry the area with a paper towel or dry cloth.
Clean salty wood floors with floor cleaner
Sokolowski likes using an eco-friendly wood floor cleaner to keep hardwood floors healthy through winter. Of course, AspenClean’s Natural Floor Cleaner makes her listit works on hardwood, laminate and ceramic, and it’s made with all-natural ingredients, but you can use another cleaner in its stead if you prefer.
- Sweep or vacuum your floor to remove larger salt crystals.
- Wet a microfiber mop with lukewarm water. (Use a bowl, bucket or sink if you’re cleaning a large area.)
- Spray cleaner on the salty floor, or apply directly to the mop.
- Mop the floor to remove salt residue. “If the salt residue has hardened, gently scrub with a microfiber cloth, and reapply the cleaner as needed,” Sokolowski says.
- Dry the area well. “Be sure to dry the floor with a clean cloth or dry mop to prevent water from sitting on the surface,” she adds.
How often should you clean floors exposed to rock salt?
How often to clean your floorsand how you clean themdepends on the weather, the amount of foot traffic and your floor’s finish.
“On heavy snow or ice days, it’s best to clean daily or every other day to prevent salt buildup,” Sokolowski says. “During milder winter days, cleaning two to three times a week is usually sufficient.” Likewise, if you’re traipsing in and out multiple times a day, you should err on the side of caution and clean more frequently.
If you can’t see salt residue on your hardwood floor, don’t assume you’re in the clear. Deonarain says you should always clean after a weather event: “Even if there isn’t visible evidence of salt stains on your wood floor, this is a good precautionary routine to follow after snowstorms to eliminate any residue that can build up over time.”
Plus, Sokolowski says, “floors with a matte or satin finish may show residue more easily, so they might require more frequent attention to maintain their appearance.”
How to clean shoes exposed to rock salt
Shoes are the main vehicle carrying salt into your home, so even if you take them off and keep them by the door, it’s still a good idea to clean them off periodically. There’s no set frequency, so use your best judgment as to how often you clean them. (Snow and work boots need less attention than expensive loafers or sneakers.)
Sokolowski offers these step-by-step instructions:
- Shake off excess salt outside.
- Make a solution of warm water and a few drops of dish soap.
- Wipe your shoes with a damp cloth dipped in the soap solution.
- Allow the shoes to air-dry on a rack or bench, not on the floor, to prevent moisture damage.
How can you repair scuffed floors?
If you see a scratch on your hardwood floor, don’t panic. For minor scratches, Sokolowski says to “start by using a wax stick or a hardwood repair pen in a color that matches your floor.” These inexpensive sticks can be found at home-improvement stores or online. Clean the area, allow it to dry and then just follow the instructions on the stick or pen.
“For deeper scratches, apply a wood filler to the damaged area and then refinish it with a matching sealant [to restore its previous shine],” Sokolowski says.
Other tips for protecting hardwood floors in winter
You’ve put down mats and added shoe racks by the door. Maybe you’ve fixed a scratch or two. Now that you’ve got your floors back to their former glory, here’s how to keep them looking great all winter long.
- Clean hardwood floors regularly, according to your winter cleaning schedule.
- Keep your home’s humidity between 30% and 50%.
- Put down rugs in high-traffic areas to absorb moisture and catch salt that makes it past your first-line defenses.
- Shake off umbrellas and coats outside to keep melting snow from pooling on your floor.
- Add a plastic bin or tub under coat and shoe racks to catch drips.
- Clean your dog’s paws with lukewarm water and a towel when coming in from the yard or a walk.
- Seal cracks and add weatherstripping around doors and windows to keep temperature fluctuations to a minimum.
About the experts
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AtReaders Digest, were committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece, Ally Childress tapped her experience as a longtime journalist to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Dan Deonarain, owner of Galaxy Maids; email interview, Jan. 13, 2025
- Alicia Sokolowski, co-CEO of AspenClean; email interview, Jan 13, 2025
- Scientific American: “Salt Doesn’t Melt IceHere’s How It Makes Winter Streets Safer”
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: “Winter Is Coming! And with It, Tons of Salt on Our Roads”
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: “Care for Your Air: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality”
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