How To Protect Your Timber Floors From Pets

Statistics show 63% of Australian households have pets. And if you are having hairy pets like cats and dogs, chances are that you have to clean your floors regularly so that they are free from hair, dust, and mud.  

If your house has hardwood/timber floors, you have to protect them from scratches and other damages that occur from pets. And pets also bring in dust, germs and mud when they come inside after playing outside. You have to protect your family from these germs by keeping the floors clean and hygienic. 

Today, we will discuss how you can maintain timber floors in pristine condition when you have furry pets. 

Make sure to clean your floors regularly

Always keep the floors clean. Dogs and cats shed hair wherever they roam and you have to make sure to remove the hair as regularly as possible. 

If ignored, the fallen hair can get stuck into your carpets, and doormats, in between the timber planks which makes cleaning difficult. Small insects and germs can also get stuck in the hair making the flooring unhygienic. Eventually, it can damage the flooring as well. 

So, ensure to clean your floors regularly to keep shredded hair and dirt from building up. 

Wax the floors

Dogs get excited when they see you or when you play with them. It makes them run faster or slide on the floors. During that fast movement, their nails can cause scratches on your timber floors. The numerous scratch marks damage the aesthetics of the flooring.

To minimise the scratches, the best solution is to wax the timber floors. Floor polishing will make the flooring resistant to scratches and stain marks caused by your pets. Waxing will make deck cleaning easy and effortless.

When you are installing timber flooring, go a step ahead and wax them to protect its beauty from pet activities. 

Trim your dog’s nails

Another great way to protect your floors from scratches is by trimming your dog’s nails regularly. You can do it yourself or take the dog to a vet. It’s better if a professional does your dog’s nails as cutting them too short will cause them pain. Or you can also let your dog wear claw coverings which can effectively protect your floors from gouges and scratches. 

Use mats or rugs

Add doormats or rugs at your doorways so that you can minimise the amount of dirt that your dog brings in. Most of the dirt and hair can fall on doormats and when your dog comes inside, there will be less hair to fall. The doormats can also clean the dog’s paws from mud and dirt and thus brings less dirt inside the house.

Create a ‘playroom’ area 

Just like you create a nursery for your kids, you should also create a playroom for your dogs. It should be a space where the dogs can do whatever they want. They can create all the mess they want in the designated space. You can train your dog so that it behaves freely only in the playroom. You can place all its toys, its bed, and all its belongings so that the dog can sense its own space. 

Keep water and food away from timber flooring

Whether you have pets or not, you should make sure to keep the water and food away from timber flooring. The wet water can enter into the timber planks damaging the floor beneath even though you wax the floors. 

Dogs show immense love to you without asking for anything in return. You should take care of them while also keeping your house protected from their antics. As flooring is the main thing they roam, you should maintain it no matter if it’s timber, marble, or any other material. You can also call in professionals to clean your floors annually so that it looks pristine and hygienic.