A wood floor can become slippery over time due to dirt, debris, wetness, and wax building up it and become very dangerous to walk on it. However, knowing how to make wood floors less slippery can help you add extra grip on its surface and avoid potential consequences.
In this case, you can clean the floor regularly of moisture, wax, or spills and use rugs, carpets, and various types of anti-slip products.
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Some Effective Strategies To Follow To Make Wood Floors Less Slippery
A slippery wood floor is dangerous for everyone. A clean wood floor shouldn’t be slippery. However, a hardwood floor can become slippery due to something on the finish like water, too much wax, and a thin layer of dirt or soil. If so, you can simply make the wood floor less slippery by removing these materials.
1. Clean Wood Floors Regularly
Ensure your wood floor is clean and free of spills, moisture, dirt, and dust as these can make the floor slippery. Regularly sweep your floor using a hardwood floor cleaner and vacuum it to remove debris and make it less slippery. You can also prevent moisture buildup by cleaning spills immediately. When cleaning the wood floor, sweep it properly in all areas including under the toe kicks and up all bases.
Then clean the floor using hardwood floor cleaner. Don’t pour water on the floor. Rinse the floor often using a damp mop and change water if it gets soiled. Then pick up all the dirty water using a large towel to make the floor dry. This way you can keep the floor from getting sticky and becoming dirty and keep the floor clean for a long time.
2. Clean Wax Buildup
Wax buildup can also make your wood floor slippery. If so, use a floor wax stripper to clean wax buildup. However, you may need to check a local flooring store, or janitorial company to decide if you can clean wax on your own or need professional help. You can also use a mixture of vinegar and water to remove wax buildup from your wood floor. To prepare a proper solution, mix one-part vinegar with two-part water. Make sure the vinegar you are using doesn’t have any UV-curing, Oil-modified urethane, or varnish.
3. Remove Moisture Residue
Moisture residue can make your wood floor slippery and it’s a bit difficult to prevent moisture even after cleaning the floor regularly. This is because, after cleaning, you need to stay off the floor until it gets dry completely. Kitchen and bathroom floors mostly become damp. So you should clean these floors immediately after getting moisture. You can also use a towel, or fan and keep the windows open to make the floor dry quickly.
4. Scuff Sanding
If you don’t mind altering the appearance of the wood floor to make it less slippery, you can scuff the floor lightly. This will create a subtle texture on the wood floor to provide a better grip. However, this can change the appearance of the wood permanently and you should be very careful while scuffing the floor.
What Can You Apply To Make The Wood Floor Less Slippery?
Wood floors aren’t naturally slippery. But if it becomes slippery, you can improve its traction by applying the following products:
Install Area Rugs Or Carpet
If you want to make the wood floor less slippery easily and quickly, simply put a rug or carpet on it. In this case, you should place the area rugs in high-traffic places like the kitchen, entrances, living room, and bathroom to get better traction. Area rug is a low low-impact solution for slippery wood floors. Placing a rug on the wood floor will also improve visual appearance and safety.
Area rugs or carpets can also reduce various damages like stains, scratching, or dents to wood floors. However, you should choose rugs with nonslip or rubberized backing to prevent them from sliding around. This type of area rug will reduce slipperiness more effectively and provide additional grip.
Wear Non-Slip Socks Or Slippers Or Shoe Traction Devices
If you have children and older adults in the house, encourage them to wear slippers or socks on the wood floor to make them feel less slippery. You can also wear rubber-soled or slip-resistant shoes on wood surfaces to prevent slipping.
Use Non-Slip Rug Pads
If your wood floor already has runners or rugs, you can place non slip pads under them to feel less slippery. Non-slip rug pads can grip both the rug and the floor. It can also keep rug in place and reduce the chance of slipping.
Apply Anti-Slip Floor Coatings
If you are looking for permanent solutions to make wood floors less slippery, apply anti-slip floor treatments on the floor. In this case, you can use wax-based or water-based coatings to make textured surfaces on wood floors and improve its traction. Some anti-slip floor coating also comes with a high gloss finish while others offer a matte finish. These coatings also contain additives that can increase friction on the wood floor to prevent slipping.
Use Penetrating Sealers
There are plenty of penetrating sealers available in the market that soak into the wood and make a microscopically textured surface on the wood floor. So by applying penetrating sealers on the wood floor, you’ll feel less slippery even without changing the appearance of the wood.
Use Non-Slip Tapes Or Strips
If you want to make highly risky wood floor areas like stairs less slippery, apply adhesive strips or non slip tapes on them. These will add extra grip on the wood floor to reduce the chance of slipping.
Apply Non-Slip Chemicals
If you want to make the wood floor less slippery without blocking its appearance, apply non slip chemicals to it. In this case, you can consult with the local home station to find the right non slip treatments for your slippery wood floor.
What You Should Not Use To Make Wood Floors Less Slippery?
Below are some products that you should use on wood surfaces as they can damage the wood floor and its finish:
Vinegar
Though many people recommend using vinegar on wood floors, you should use it. Vinegar contains acidity that can cause etching in hardwood floors and make them dull.
Ammonia
Ammonia can deteriorate, dull, and discolor the finish of wood floors. This is because ammonia is a powerful chemical and can dissolve the wood lignin.
Wet Mops
Wet mops can ruin the finish and damage the hardwood floor. If you still need to use a wet mop, apply slightly and wipe standing water from the wood floor to avoid damage.
Steam Cleaners
Steam cleaners are mostly suitable for carpets. If you use it on a wood floor, it can cause cracking and peeling on it. This is because steam cleaners can leave excessive heat and water on wood floors which can cause long-term damage.
Glass Cleaner
Glass cleaners like Windex aren’t suitable for hardwood floors. Some glass cleaners contain abrasive ingredients like ammonia that can damage wood floors and leave rough spots.
Sandpaper
Sandpaper can damage the finish of the wood surface quickly. It can hurt the beauty of the hardwood floor and make it prone to damage easily. If you want to clean sticking spots on the wood floor, run the area using floor wax and steel wool or a toothbrush.
Safety Considerations Before Making Wood Floor Less Slippery
Though wood floors are solid and durable, they can easily get damaged or become more risky if you overlook safety considerations. To avoid consequences, choose a solution that is compatible with your wood floor’s type and finish. Then consider the impact of the solution on your wood floor. This is because some anti-slip coating requires regular reapplication. You should also choose a solution for wood surfaces that don’t damage the overall look of the floor.
The reason is that some anti-slip treatments can change the appearance of wood floors. Another important safety consideration is to apply the solution on a small mount in a discrete area of the floor before applying it on the entire surface. You will imagine the result of applying the solution on your wood floor.
FAQs on How To Make Wood Floors Less Slippery
How Do You Stop A Wooden Floor From Being Slippery?
Clean your wood floor regularly and use door mats, area rugs, and nonskid print to prevent the floor from being slippery. You can also use anti-slip tiles and remove wax residue to protect it from becoming slippery.
How Do You Fix Slippery Wood Floors?
If your wood floor becomes slippery, remove debris, wax, and dirt from its surface to fix the slippery problem. Then install anti-slip strips, rubber outdoor grip mats, and anti-slip tape to get extra traction.
How To Make Wood Floors Less Slippery For Dogs?
To make wood floors less slippery for your dogs, trim their nails and wear their paw pads. You can also use paw wax and get them non-slip padding and keep wood from being slippery.
Final Words
Hope you get enough tricks to make the wood floor less slippery and walk on it safely and comfortably. After making your wood floor less slippery, clean and maintain it regularly to avoid further problems. Finally, don’t apply any solution that can damage your wood floor or hurt its appearance.
