The festive season is one of the busiest times of the year for your home, more visitors, more decorations, and more winter weather being dragged indoors. It’s also the time when floors are most vulnerable to scratches, moisture, stains and general wear.

Whether you have hardwood, vinyl, laminate, carpet or tile, a few simple precautions can keep your floors looking their best throughout December and beyond.

 1. Use Entrance Mats (Inside & Outside)

The biggest cause of winter floor damage is what comes in from outside: water, snow, grit, and salt. Place heavy-duty outdoor mats at every entrance and absorbent indoor mats just inside the door. Together, they trap dirt before it reaches the floors.

Top tip:
Choose mats with rubber backings to prevent slipping and moisture seepage.

 2. Create a “Shoes Off” zone

Wet, muddy boots are flooring’s worst enemy. A designated area for shoes, paired with a waterproof tray keeps the mess contained.

If a full no-shoes policy isn’t possible, offer slippers for guests to encourage clean walking indoors.

3. Protect floors from furniture scratches

Moving furniture to fit the Christmas tree or seat extra guests can easily scratch hard flooring.
Add felt pads to chair legs, tables, and anything you might slide around.

For dining areas, use floor-safe glides on chairs to minimise friction during Christmas meals.

4. Guard against spills & stains

Parties mean drinks, food, and accidents.

On wood or laminate, wipe spills instantly to stop moisture damage. On carpet, blot, don’t scrub and keep a stain remover on hand. On vinyl or LVT: spills won’t stain easily, but sticky residues can dull the finish if left too long.

 5. Keep a regular cleaning routine

With more foot traffic, your normal weekly clean might not be enough.

Aim for quick daily sweeps or vacuuming to remove grit that can scratch flooring surfaces.

Avoid harsh detergents, especially on hardwood — they can strip protective finishes.

 6. Maintain indoor humidity levels

Cold weather and heating can dry out the air and cause hardwood floors to shrink or gap.

Use a humidifier to keep indoor levels around 35–55% to protect timber floors.

7. Protect floors under your Christmas tree

Whether real or artificial, Christmas trees can expose floors to water or scratches.

If you have a real tree:

• Use a waterproof barrier under the stand.
• Mop up spills from overfilling the reservoir.

For both:

• Place a tree skirt or rug underneath to protect from dropped pine needles or ornament breakages.

 8. Look After Pet Paws

Winter paws can be wet or covered in grit, salt and mud — all abrasive to floors.

Keep a towel by the door to wipe paws before pets wander inside.

 9. Use area rugs in high-traffic zones

Hallways, kitchens and living rooms see a surge of activity in December.

Rugs and runners protect the floor beneath and add a cosy festive touch.



We hope these tips come in handy over the festive period and we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all at Maltby’s of Chester.