Although many interiors experts are likely to suggest you shy away from wood flooring if you have pets, there are plenty of things you can do to make sure you can have both your pets and your preferred wood flooring! The biggest issue with animals when it comes to wood flooring is their claws and the damage they cause to the surface of the floor. Thereafter there’s the fact that they’re normally coming in and out of the house with a great degree of regularity. When they do this, they are somewhat less likely than us humans to wipe their feet (or paws!), and as a result, bring in a whole host of dust and debris that increases the potential for damage. After scratching with claws and dust and dirt, if you’re unlucky, you’ll have the risk of fleas and urine accidents to contend with.
So, here’s our checklist for pet-proofing your flooring:
Choose a hardwood rather than a softwood. Hardwood will stand up to much more wear and tear than softwood and, although more expensive at the start, will last longer in the end. The likes of walnut, ipe or maple should stand up well to the challenges it’ll face in a pet-populated home.
Choose solid hardwood, not engineered hardwood, because solid wood will allow you the luxury of sanding away any deep scratches more often than engineered wood.
Make sure your floor has a hard-wearing finish to help withstand the risk of scratching and damage from claws and dirty paws. While a lacquered finish has a gloss surface, so to some extent, will show up scratches from claws and paws, there is little doubt that it is the most hard-wearing and the easiest to clean, because the dirt brought in by your four-legged friend’s paws will stay on the surface. If you want an oiled finish to allow you to retain the natural look of the wood, you should find that the scratches seem less apparent, but you may find that you need to re-oil your floor more regularly than those homeowners who don’t have pets.
When it comes to little urine accidents and fleas, it’s important, in both cases to act quickly. In actual fact, getting rid of fleas from your hardwood floor isn’t too difficult. All you’ll need to do is vacuum thoroughly and keep doing so until there are no traces of flea left. You need vacuum repeatedly because the lifecycle of the flea is relatively long, thanks to the eggs that are laid by the living fleas, which then hatch and so on. Although clearing your floor of fleas is relatively simple, you’ll also need to remember to treat your pet and to thoroughly vacuum, and where possible wash, your rugs and soft furnishings until they are flea-free.
For little urine accidents, again it’s important to act with speed. If at all possible, mop up the accident as soon as it happens and you’ll have little need for further action. If, however, the accident happens either overnight or while you’re out, you may need a slightly more thorough cleaning regime. Here’s how to go about it:
Cover the whole of the affected area with dry paper kitchen towels.
Spray the kitchen towels with hydrogen peroxide until they’re completely soaked and then leave for a couple of hours.
Remove the kitchen paper and cover the soaked area with baking soda to draw out the moisture and any remaining trace of urine scent from the floor.
When the floor looks dry, remove the baking soda and leave the whole area to dry out thoroughly.
If necessary, lightly sand and re-finish the area if you find that either the urine or your treatment has damaged the finish.
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FAQ
1. Can I have wood flooring if I have pets?
Yes, you can have wood flooring if you have pets. However, pets can cause damage to the surface of the floor with their claws and by bringing in dust and debris from outside. You may also need to contend with fleas and urine accidents. There are several strategies you can use to mitigate these issues and make your flooring more pet-proof.
2. What type of wood flooring is best for homes with pets?
Hardwood, particularly solid hardwood, is a good choice for homes with pets because it can stand up to more wear and tear than softwood. It also allows for sanding away deep scratches more frequently than engineered wood.
3. How can I protect my wood floor from scratching and damage from claws and dirty paws?
Ensuring your floor has a hard-wearing finish can help it withstand scratching and damage from claws and dirty paws. A lacquered finish is hard-wearing and easy to clean, while an oiled finish may make scratches seem less apparent.
4. How can I remove fleas from my hardwood floor?
To remove fleas from your hardwood floor, vacuum thoroughly and repeatedly until there are no traces of fleas left. You should also treat your pet and thoroughly vacuum, and where possible wash, your rugs and soft furnishings until they are flea-free.
5. What should I do in case of urine accidents on my wood floor?
In the case of urine accidents, act quickly and mop up the accident as soon as it happens. If the accident is not immediately noticed, you can follow a cleaning regime that involves soaking the affected area with hydrogen peroxide, using baking soda to draw out the moisture and any remaining urine scent, and then leaving the area to dry out thoroughly. If necessary, you can lightly sand and re-finish the area.