Putting up a Christmas tree is one of the most fun parts of decorating your home for the holidays. While you’re focused on the festivities, it’s easy to forget that a tree could potentially damage your floors. Being conscientious about floor care and taking some smart precautions will help you keep your floors in good shape while you have a Christmas tree.
Don’t Drag Your Tree
After you’ve picked out the perfect tree and brought it home, pick it all the way up off the ground as you bring it inside. Dragging either end of a tree across a floor could easily scratch it.
If your tree is over six feet tall, you probably shouldn’t attempt carrying it in your house by yourself. For the most part, setting up a Christmas tree is a two-person operation. Bear in mind that you will need help to secure and straighten a large tree in a stand, so it makes sense to have a helper at-the-ready when you bring your tree home.
Put Something Between the Tree Stand and Hardwood Floors
Ideally, you should have a protective layer between your Christmas tree stand and a hardwood floor. Even if a tree stand has felt or rubber pads on the bottom, it may still leave permanent marks on your floor.
You can get a simple plastic mat or a decorative mat. Either way, it won’t really compromise your tree’s aesthetic appeal. Remember that the presents that you put under your tree could damage the floors. Matting will help to protect your floors as you place boxes there and open them up on Christmas morning.
Mind the Water Level
When you check the water level in your Christmas tree stand, your main concern is keeping it full. However, overfilling the water can leave signs of water damage on just about any type of flooring material, particularly hardwood.
Check a stand’s water level and total capacity before you start filling it. Don’t get distracted while you are pouring. Keep a close eye on it to make sure that the water doesn’t overflow. Also, don’t overfill a container that you are bringing over to your tree to top off the water level. That will reduce the likelihood of little spills as you make your way from the sink to the tree.
Careful With Cords
If you’re going to hang lights on your tree, take care to avoid creating trip hazards. In addition to presenting a safety risk, cords or switches moving around on the ground might make little scratches and scuffs on your floors. Secure cords so they stay in place, but try to avoid using thick tape on hardwood because removing it could cause damage.
Be Smart About Cleanup
Cleaning up a Christmas tree can be a messy chore. Apart from the inevitable litter of pine needles, tree sap and other materials can create sticky messes. After you’ve removed your tree, be careful about your choice of cleaning product. Abrasive chemicals in many popular household cleaning products could mar hardwood floors or damage polyurethane finishes.
Get a gentle cleaning product that is safe to use on your home’s flooring and finishes. For the best results, clean up with a soft pad instead of a stiff broom or scratchy sponges.
This year, deck the halls – don’t wreck the halls. Put some thought and care into protecting your home’s flooring from holiday-related hazards. Contact The Hardwood Giant at (704) 251-7279 for more guidance on caring for your home’s hardwood flooring. Our team can give you good insights about protecting different types of materials or help you get started on planning a new flooring installation to get your home ready for the new year.