Winter brings in a whole lot of moisture and water. It seems like our floors are constantly wet, muddy, or slippery during the winter. Kids run through the house with snowy shoes which is not only messy, it also causes a little bit of a hazard. There are a couple of things that you can do to prevent muddy snow and water getting into your house so that your floors will stay clean and be less dangerous. Here’s how to prevent slippery floors in your home this winter.
How to Prevent Slippery Floors in the Winter
Leaves Boots Outside
Have your kids get in the habit of taking their boots off outside so that they don’t track in snow and mud. It might be a little inconvenient to stop and take boots off outside but it’ll prevent slippery floors inside. Plus you’ll end up doing a lot less mopping and cleaning. Put a little seat or bench outside for kids to sit on as they take off their boots so that it’s a little easier.
Get a Good Mat
A good anti-slip mat is a great idea for the winter. Anti-slip mats absorb water and mud and provide a great place for wet boots to go. If your kids don’t want to take their boots off outside, then a mat is a good way to go. Put a mat outside and inside the house to really reduce the amount of water that gets in. This way kids can wipe off their boots outside, then take off their boots on the mat inside. There won’t be a mess to clean up and you won’t have any slippery floors.
Can Having Houseplants Help Prevent Slippery Floors in Winter?
Having houseplants indoors can indeed help prevent slippery floors in winter. Certain types, such as snake plants or rubber plants, are excellent choices as no fail houseplants for your home. These plants naturally absorb excess moisture from the air, reducing the risk of water pooling on your floors. Plus, their presence brings a touch of nature, enhancing your indoor environment while keeping safety in mind.
Wipe Up the Water
Ok, this is a no-brainer. When there is water on the floor just clean it up! Water on the floor will definitely create slippery floors where an accident is bound to happen. Cleaning up water on the floor is a lot easier if you keep a towel or a rag near the door at all times. This way you can simply wipe up any water right then, instead of running to find something. Unless the floor is really muddy, you really don’t need anything besides a towel.
Don’t Use Slippery Cleaning Agents
There are a lot of slippery cleaners out there, which really creates a bigger problem. Say you’re cleaning some mud that was tracked in, and you choose to use a soap. That soap might create slippery floors, which will clean up the mud but leave a slippery residue. Instead of helping the situation, you might be hurting it. Simply use a towel to clean up messes, or make sure that the cleaner you are using isn’t slippery at all. You wouldn’t want to create slippery floors for people to walk on.
Summing Up
Having wet, slippery floors in the winter can be dangerous. You could slip on your floors and hurt yourself. Make sure that there is no leftover water or snow on the floor of your home for people to slip on. Leaving boots outside, using mats, wiping up water, and using non-slippery cleaning agents will all help reduce your slippery floors.
