April showers might bring beautiful May flowers, but they also bring messy mud and slippery water trails inside our homes. Whether you have children, pets or frequent guests over, keeping your floors clean can be tricky business during the rainy spring season.
Thankfully, there are several solutions for avoiding those rainy day blues your flooring may be having. Here are our favorite tips to help your floors stay dry during nasty weather.
1. Use a Mudroom
Having a designated area for your raincoat, umbrella, shoes and boots will help reduce the total amount of water that enters your home. Don’t have a special room for mud? You can always hang a coat rack and place a shoe tray next to your entryway for a simple solve.
2. Limit Entryways
Kids like playing in the rain, as do some dogs. Limit their access inside. By designating one doorway for entering and leaving, you’ll drastically limit the foot and paw prints in your home.
3. Mats and Rugs
It’s pretty simple: mats on the outside, rugs on the inside. That’s the golden rule for effectively keeping your shoes clean and ultimately your floors clean. Go for a heavy-duty mat with thick bristles for outside entryways, and an inexpensive throw rug for inside entryways that can be thrown (literally) into the washer. Once a week should do the trick.
A clean dog is a good dog. To keep those muddy paws clean, invest in a dog paw washing cup. You simply place your dog’s paw inside the cylinder, twist the cup a few times and the soft bristles will collect the dirt and mud. If that doesn’t work, you can always order a pair of adorable dog booties. They might not like it, but your floors will
5. Keep Towels by the Door
Towels are your best friend after a torrential downpour. Always having a basket filled with old towels next to an entryway is a convenient way to wipe off your clothes when an unexpected storm hits.
6. Cover your Porches and Patios
Thinking about installing an awning or sunroom over your patio or porch? Go for it. Your kids will thank you since they won’t have to take off their shoes in the rain before coming inside.
7. Install Gutters Near Doorways
Without gutters near your doorways, there’s a higher chance of standing rain water. Why welcome guests to a black lagoon? Installing a gutter by your door will help ensure water is diverted properly, away from the welcome mat. Just make sure you routinely clean them to remove any debris that may be obstructive.
Bonus Tip: Invest in Waterproof Laminate Flooring
If you’re starting to see warping, splitting, cracking or discoloration on your floors, it might be time to replace them with a more durable flooring solution. Pergo offers two waterproof laminate flooring options: Pergo TimberCraft +WetProtect™ (exclusively at Lowe’s) and Pergo Outlast+ SpillProtect™ (exclusively at The Home Depot).
Both of these laminate flooring options are perfect for families with children and pets.
Featuring advanced technology, each floor is completely waterproof when installed properly (see warranty for details) and practically made for the rainy seasons. Plus, the easy-to-install locking system requires no glue or nails, making installation simple for both of these laminate floors.
You’ll also feel confident knowing every Pergo floor comes with a limited lifetime warranty. And with a wide selection of styles, colors and textures available, you’ll have no trouble finding the floor that matches your home’s look. The best part? Cleaning and maintaining these floors is a cinch.
