The holiday season has arrived! America’s favorite season of the year. Has anyone else been watching the Holiday Baking Championships on the Food Network in a nonstop marathon session? Or is it just me? I was thinking you may want to know a few tips on how to protect your floors from the Christmas tree as I watch bakers compete.
I get so excited when it’s finally time to bring out the Christmas tree and start decorating it. After getting a real Christmas tree for the first time in one year, I vowed never to do so again. We neglected to measure the height of my ceiling and purchased a tree almost two feet taller than necessary; as a result, the tree scratched the surface of my ceiling. Looking back on the situation, I can laugh about how much of a mess it created, but I was not amused at the time. I’ve already committed to purchasing a Yankee Candle with a Pine Scent! We were pretty fortunate in that we could protect our hardwood flooring—at least for that year.
Protect Your Floors From The Christmas Tree
You, too, can prevent your Christmas tree from causing damage to your floor by providing it with the appropriate protection. In a normal situation, I would name hardwood flooring as one of the types vulnerable to harm from a Christmas tree; nevertheless, many different types of flooring can become damaged by your tree. Unfortunately, while fixing my 12-foot artificial Christmas tree, which is VERY HEAVY, the year before, I scratched the marble floor tile. I don’t think it’s necessary to say that I was upset, but I want to share with you a few precautions I should have taken the previous year and that I unquestionably will take this year. Let’s protect your floors from the Christmas trees correctly the first time!
Avoid Getting the Container Too Full of Water.
It is of the utmost importance to ensure that your actual Christmas tree is well hydrated, as a dried tree poses a significant risk of starting a fire. Some families ignore watering to prevent spills, but it’s not the best option. Be careful not to overwater the tree, as this could result in water running off and damaging your hardwood floors. The effects of water on hardwood include warping and buckling. It can also discolor, causing the finish to peel and chip. If some overwatering occurs, wipe it up immediately. You may be interested to know some water resistant flooring options we wrote about in our blog.
Sliding the Tree
Do not slide on the floor to adjust the tree stands unless there is a soft safety barrier! However, even with a weak protective barrier, debris on the floor could potentially harm the stand. It is what resulted in scratches on my floor over the holiday. I moved the tree later on in the next year. I like putting one up more than taking one down! So we didn’t see the scratches on it until after I took it down! If I took the tree down on January 2 then I’m sure the scratches wouldn’t have been SO BAD!. You may be able to replace the hardwood boards that were damaged if you purchased extra of your floor as we recommend for a situation like this. Replacing hardwood boards is a process though, and it is likely to be a project that you weren’t planning for.
Place a Safety Barrier Between the Stand and the Floor.
You might make use of a cushioned mat, some towels, or a pan that is watertight and similar to the one that is placed underneath a washing machine. Under a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, a protective barrier may be an eyesore; nonetheless, tree skirts will do the trick in covering anything you do not want to see in this situation. Safety first! Decorations second!
Can You Add Felt Pads?
It is possible that felt pads will not look or work out the best with your Christmas trees or its special specific spot in your home. This depends on the stand you are using. The free cheap ones are usually the well-known offenders in the floor damage game. I strongly suggest for you to use a felt pad if possible. Because it is so gentle, felt resists both scratching and denting. Your hardwood floors would thank you for this addition.
Take Measurements First!
Take a tape measure and measure how tall of a Christmas tree your home can handle. I recommend you measure it twice! A too-tall Christmas tree can damage your ceiling. What falls from your ceiling can damage the floor! Measure how tall a tree can be without hitting light fixtures or anything else hanging from the ceiling!
Check that your house can accommodate the tree you want to bring in to prevent any harm to the ceiling. It may seem an undeniable issue but believe me when I say that we eyeballed the tree height one year and discovered that my ceiling had a 12-foot-long scratch after the tree was brought inside. Also, ensure that the breadth of your tree is compatible with the space in which you intend to plant it. It’s not uncommon for the branches, whether fake or real, to scratch the surface of the walls.
Use A Dry Mop To Remove Needles Regularly From Your Hardwood Floors
While using a tree skirt may catch the majority of falling needles l from your trees as time goes on, we also need to remove loose needles from the floor. Use a microfiber mop to easily remove needles from your floor, plus any water that might have spilled.
Place A Walk Off Mat At Outside Doorways
Place a walk off mat at any doorway to the outside. Most department stores will have an inexpensive mat with a holiday greeting of some sort on it. My favorite message reads, "Happy Birthday, Jesus". These mats will provide years of service as they protect your floors by trapping dirt, dust and other abrasives from the bottom of your shoes. All of that extra traffic for the holidays can leave alot of dirt on your floors, so protecting it is important.
Consider the following essential parts to prevent damage to your floors from your Christmas trees. Make sure your floors are been clean and mop them up well. Don’t even think about putting up the Christmas tree before this crucial step! It will ensure no dirt is present beneath your protective floor barrier. Dirt and debris make for a scratch-happy floor; therefore, please ensure that you clean the floor first.
I wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas, a Happy Holiday Season, and the blessing of how to protect your floors from the Christmas tree! And a Happy New Year! As always, if you have any questions about great value flooring, please email us at [email protected] or call us at 1-800-253-2728. We look forward to serving you.
