O’ Christmas tree, o’ Christmas tree, how lovely are your… floor damage risks? With Christmas right around the corner, it’s time to buy a tree. The last thing anyone wants under the Christmas tree is a damaged floor, so we’ve compiled a list of helpful tips to prevent and protect your floors from harm.
Who Made Our Naughty List?
Water – If you’re not careful, water can pool underneath your tree! This can lead to warping, staining, and water damage.
Sap – This definitely isn’t the kind of sappy you want to be during the holidays. Natural Christmas trees contain sap, which can drip on to carpet and make for a stubborn stain to remove.
Pine Needles – Like any sort of debris, pine needles can leave scratches in engineered hardwood and laminate floors.
How You Can Prevent Damage
There are things you can do to prevent floor damage before your tree even comes inside! Thoroughly cleaning the area your tree will be in before purchasing will remove any dirt or debris that may rub into the floor underneath the tree. Once you purchase your tree, make sure you shake off the tree outside to remove any loose needles. This prevents needles from falling throughout your home as you position your tree. You can also ensure less needle loss by keeping your tree thoroughly watered.
How You Can Protect Your Floors
Once your tree is inside, you can still protect your floors. One of the best things you can do is create a physical barrier between your tree and the floor. You can do this by placing felt pads underneath your tree stand. This will prevent scratches in your floor in the event that you decide to shift your tree’s position. You can also use a tree mat to prevent water and sap damage. Don’t use a towel or blanket! These will hold water and can cause mildew and water damage. You can also prevent floor damage by cleaning fallen pine needles regularly. The longer that pine needles remain on the ground, the more likely they will scratch your floors.
Whether you’re naughty or nice, Team Natural or Team Artificial Tree, everyone deserves damage-free floors. We hope these tips help you this holiday season! From our family to yours, we wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!