Every scratch, scuff, and stain on your home’s floor tells a story. And usually, they’re the result of something silly that happened at a gathering – a birthday party, playdate, or the Super Bowl.
But at a certain point, especially when you invest in beautiful hardwood or classy ceramic tile, you’ll want to avoid adding any more stories.
Unfortunately, you can’t keep friends and family from walking, playing, or partying on your floors forever. And sometimes, you simply need to scoot a couch from one side of the room to another. That’s why it’s important to learn how to protect your floors temporarily.
If you can keep your home’s floors presentable for the long term thanks to temporary floor protection, you’ll never worry about the stress caused by the chaos of everyday life. Let’s teach you how.
Pre-Event Prep
Long before a single guest arrives, take the time to set your floors up for survival:
Clean Your Floor First
The cleaner the surface from the start, the less likely it’ll suffer damage. Think of all that dirt and debris like sandpaper – especially if there’s a crowd grinding it into your floors. After looking over your manufacturer's guidelines, you can sweep, vacuum, and mop beforehand to remove those tiny, pesky particles.
Emphasize the No-Shoes Policy
Nobody wants to be the no-shoes household – at first. But once you realize how little cleanup you’ll have to do afterward, there’s really no reason not to. Make it feel a little less awkward by providing a shoe rack or basket near the entrance. While you’re at it, try and get your friends and family to follow suit with their homes. Maybe you’ll start a trend!
Target High-Traffic Areas
Hallways, entryways, and around the dining table are typical spots for your guests to move and mingle. That means they’re the hot zones for wear and tear. Spot them early and plan to add temporary floor protection like rugs or runners. Such a measure will help save your floor and tie the room together nicely.
Protective Shielding for Your Floors
Even the smallest efforts to add temporary floor protection can go a long way. There are a range of coverings you can use to save your floors from the inevitability of scuffs, spills, and the shuffle of foot traffic:
Foam Mats
If you have children, you’ll want a designated area for playdates. Use foam mats or interlocking foam tiles (similar to gym flooring) – they’re both excellent for protecting your floors and keeping your little ones safe. Super easy to set up and remove, this padding will protect your flooring from tumbling block towers, arts and crafts mess, and their stomping little feet.
Plastic Sheeting or Drop Cloths
For much larger events or sizable dining areas, plastic sheeting or drop cloths provide a low-effort, affordable solution. These come in extra handy if your planned activities are particularly messy or involve multiple children. All you’ll need to do is roll them out, tape the edges down, and enjoy your stress-free gathering.
Rugs and Runners
The more well-placed your rugs and runners, the better your peace of mind. Plus, they can double as a statement piece. Decorative rugs in high-traffic areas – especially those with non-slip backings or an anti-slip pad underneath – can be literal and figurative lifesavers.
Repurposed Items
Sometimes, you already have the very best solutions to your problems. There’s a good chance you have a few old blankets, towels, or even flattened cardboard boxes lying around. Any of these can be used as temporary floor protection, no matter how makeshift they might seem. They provide a quick, zero-cost shield against messes and damage. While they might not be the most stylish option, you’ll end up with less waste and create a smaller environmental footprint.
Fixture and Furniture Safeguards
No matter how sturdy or heavy your furniture, it can still shift around and scrape or dent your floors. Just imagine one enthusiastic guest sitting down a little too heavily on a chair – you can hear the grinding, can’t you? Fortunately protecting your floors from furniture damage is pretty straightforward:
Felt Pads
This temporary floor protection method can also be a permanent one. Attach felt pads to the legs of chairs, tables, and any other piece that might get shuffled around. The pads act as a soft buffer to reduce friction and keep your floors safe. But remember to check them regularly – they wear down easily over time.
Furniture Sliders
If you’re having a big party, you might need to make some space for your guests to hang out. This usually means rearranging furniture. Place furniture sliders – small discs that fit under furniture legs to make them glide smoothly across the floor without causing damage. Keep these on hand at all times!
Strategic Furniture Placement
And if you do need to move furniture, think carefully about where it ends up. Heavy items should stay away from high-traffic zones. Sofas, armchairs, pianos, etc. This way, you’ll reduce the chance of scratches, dings, and dents while also creating more room for free and easy movement. It’s a temporary floor protection measure, though, because you’ll need to move them back. Remember your furniture sliders!
Post-Event Maintenance
The party’s over. It’s time to assess the aftermath. Your tools and strategies might have done most of the heavy lifting, but you’ll need to give your floors a little TLC to keep them in top condition:
Check for Damage
Your first step should be a quick walkthrough. You might not have to get on all fours, but turn on all the lights and examine your floors for scratches, scuffs, and stains. Some might have gotten through your defenses. If you have hardwood floors, you can sometimes buff out scratches with microfiber cloths or a touch-up pen matching your floor’s finish. If you spot any carpet stains, use a gentle cleaner and the blotting technique to restore its original color. As long as it’s within your manufacturer’s guidelines.
Perform a Deep Clean
Even if you remove your temporary floor protection and it feels like the gathering never even happened, you should still give your floors a thorough cleaning. Start with checking your manufacturer’s guidelines. Then, slowly vacuum carpets and rugs to remove hidden debris. If you have hardwood, laminate, or tile, sweep or vacuum first then follow up with a mop appropriate for your flooring type. Your floors will look great, and you’ll prevent any long-term wear from leftover grime.
Tackle Any Minor Issues
Maybe you found some small issues with your floors, like scratches or stains, that can’t be easily fixed. If so, you want to address them quickly before they become much bigger headaches. Reference your manufacturer guidelines. Use wood filler on deep hardwood scratches, or call in a professional cleaner for more stubborn stains. You’ll save yourself a lot of time and money down the road with a more proactive approach.
Store Your Supplies
Any reusable items (like rugs, runners, foam mats, and cleaning supplies) should be stored for future use. They should also be cleaned if they got a lot of use during the event. By properly maintaining these items, they’ll be ready to keep your floors in the best possible shape the next time you need them.
Protecting Your Investment
Keeping your floors in pristine condition isn’t that hard after all. We all know that life happens – and sometimes, it can be downright messy. But with these strategies in place, you can enjoy your life and the moments you share with loved ones without stressing over every step.
The next time you’re getting ready to host in your home, spend some time on temporary floor protection. Your floors shouldn’t be an afterthought – after all, they’re the stage for every celebration or gathering, big or small. We believe that’s worth protecting.
Want to learn more tips and strategies for protecting your home’s flooring? At the Empire Today® blog, we’ve got you covered with dozens of informative, engaging articles designed to help you keep your floors safe and beautiful for the long haul. And if you’re interested in a flooring upgrade before your next big event, schedule a FREE in-home flooring estimate with a member of the Empire® team today.
