Driving on snowy and icy roads is hazardous, but it’s also a necessity for local residents. Road salt is spread across roads to create extra friction and help you maintain control of your vehicle. It also lowers the freezing point of water, so snow and ice can melt more quickly.
Unfortunately, this salt can also be corrosive inside your home, leaving stains on all types of flooring. How do you remove stubborn salt stains from your floors?
Common Causes of Salt Stains on Floors
Road salt has a high pH balance that makes hard-to-remove stains on the floor. These white and often streaked stains don’t simply wipe off with a damp cloth, and your typical household cleaners won’t work on them either.
When the residue from road salt is not cleaned properly, you’ll wind up with a sticky and often smeared mess. Both the salt and your efforts to clean the floors are responsible for making salt stains on your flooring.
How Salt Dehydrates Wood and Floor Finishes
Salt stains impact carpet, vinyl, and other types of flooring. On wood, the salt absorbs essential moisture. More than that, the abrasive calcium chloride crystals actually damage the finish. This causes wood to get discolored.
Once the finish is ruined, excess moisture can actually seep into the wood and cause warping and water stains. Wood isn’t the only type of flooring damaged by road salt. The finish on vinyl, linoleum, and other surfaces can also be damaged. This impacts appearance and leads to faster wear.
Why Regular Mopping Often Doesn’t Remove Salt Stains
While routine mopping is the perfect way to keep your floors clean most of the year, removing road salt stains requires special effort. This is because of salt’s high alkaline properties.
Most of the cleaning products used on floors won’t break down the salt residue. Instead, it’ll actually make a bigger mess. To remove salt stains, the alkaline salt must be neutralized.
The Safest Way to Remove Salt Stains from Floors
Removing salt stains from floors should be done with great care. You don’t want to damage the floor by scraping salt across the finish.
At the same time, you don’t want to make a larger mess than what you started with.
- Before attempting to remove salt stains from floors, it’s important to first run a vacuum cleaner over the floor. This will remove the loose salt and minimize scratching from the abrasive salt crystals.
- Then, you’ll need to choose a special cleaner that will neutralize the salt. Before using any cleaner on the floor, carefully read your floor manufacturer’s instructions to avoid unintentional damage. There are two popular options for cleaning salt stains from many types of floors. These include a pH-neutral cleaning product purchased at the store or a diluted vinegar solution.
- Ensure your cleaning solution won’t damage the floor by testing a small, concealed area of the floor.
- Use your mop and preferred cleaner to remove the salt. As you work across the floor, frequently clean the mop head using warm water.
- If you still notice streaks after mopping, you’ll need to repeat the process a second time to fully remove the salt.
Preventative Measures to Avoid Salt Stains
The best way to deal with road salt inside your home is to stop it from entering it in the first place. Remove your shoes at the door after each trip outside. Place a doormat at the door and wipe your shoes as you enter the house.
Even with this effort, some salt will still enter your home. It’ll initially be confined to your front or garage entryways, but this residue will work its way farther into your home over time. Because of this, it’s best to clean the residue as soon as possible and before it works its way farther into your house.
Road salt is essential for your safety on the road in the cold weather season, but you don’t want it inside your home. While it’s almost impossible to keep it from entering your home, you can eliminate stubborn salt stains on your floors with the right strategy and effort. If your home is marked by salt stains and more, the easiest solution is to contact Better Clean. For professional cleaning for your home, schedule your first service with us today.
