- Entryway mats are your first line of defense against bringing outdoor salt into your home.
- Before applying water or solutions, always sweep or vacuum dry salt first.
- Tiles are more forgiving, but they should still be rinsed with water and dried to avoid streaks.
- Ideally, blotting the spot with a cloth dampened in vinegar and water should do the trick.
- Steam carpet cleaning can efficiently remove deep-set stains, as well.
With colder months approaching, housekeeping gets a new set of challenges that homeowners need to worry about. And one of these challenges is salt. While it’s a highly effective way to keep the roads safe and melt away snow and ice, the problem occurs when it gets inside the house. Each time you take a walk, salt can stick to your boots or pets and inadvertently get carried in. And if left neglected, salt can scratch hardwood, dull tiles, and damage furniture.
Fortunately, there are ways your surfaces can survive the winter unscathed. In the following guide, we’ll explore some cleaning methods that prevent salt damage when you’re conducting your house cleaning in Big Lake. Let’s dive in!
What is the best way to clean salt?
When it comes to essential winter maintenance tasks, managing and preventing indoor salt damage can be high on the list of priorities. While flooring is especially susceptible to scratching and dulling, some clever methods and proper care can prevent that. Let’s take a look at some simple tricks you can apply in your daily routine:
1. Use entryway mats
Entryway mats are your first line of defense against bringing outdoor salt into your home. By strategically placing one mat outside to catch salt off your boots and another one inside to catch any particles that still remain, you can drastically reduce the chances of salt getting inside in the first place.
2. Remove loose salt
Before applying water or solutions, always sweep or vacuum dry salt first. It’s important that you collect particles before they grind into the surfaces and scratch hardwood, tile, and laminate floors. Once this is done, it’s time to treat stains.
3. Treat floors correctly
Road salt can leave white streaks on hardwood, dull the tiles, and even cause laminate to warp. A simple solution consisting of one cup of vinegar and one gallon of water can effectively neutralize salt stains across all three types of surfaces. For hardwood and laminate, stick to a lightly damp microfiber cloth, let it sit, and dry the surface afterwards to prevent moisture from settling in. Tiles are more forgiving, but they should still be rinsed with water and dried to avoid streaks.
4. Blot carpets, don’t scrub
Salt in carpets often leaves patches and stains. Scrubbing will only make matters worse and push the salt deeper into the fibers, potentially causing damage. Ideally, blotting the spot with a cloth dampened in vinegar and water should do the trick. If the stain on the carpet persists, sprinkle baking soda to absorb moisture and vacuum once it dries. Steam carpet cleaning can efficiently remove deep-set stains, as well.
5. Wipe furniture regularly
Salt particles can settle on furniture and window sills as well, not just floors. Wiping these surfaces regularly with a microfiber cloth can ensure that salt won’t dull or scratch your furniture, or even spread onto freshly rinsed floors again.
6. Rinse pet paws
Just like our shoes can pick up salt on winter roads and bring it in, pet paws can be a likely culprit, too. Even worse, the particles can irritate your fur friends. Rinsing paws after a walk is a simple yet effective way to prevent salt from coming in and damaging your floor, while ensuring your pets feel comfortable after each walk.
Who offers efficient house cleaning in Big Lake, AK?
Whether you wish to outsource your chores to free up your weekends or book a one-time deep cleaning before winter, White Lilac is the #1 choice in Big Lake and the nearby communities. To ensure safety and comfort, our specialists are screened and background-verified, leaving no room for surprises.
With premium solutions, high-grade equipment, and experience in getting the job done right, you can rest easy knowing that your chores are in the hands of trusted pros. In an unlikely scenario that the team we work with didn’t live up to your expectations, let us know within 24 hours. Our 100% customer satisfaction guarantee means that we’ll return and fix that, no questions asked. Reach out today!