HOW TO PROTECT HARDWOOD FLOORS

how to protect hardwood floors (and rugs) when you have dogs

I saw fresh scratches on our refinished floors from Elliott. It is impossible to get upset for his enthusiasm for breakfast when he charges down the stairs. If my husband had scuffed the floors it would have been grounds for an extended separation with me on a beach and wifi.

I ordered this rug to slow down his momentum, but Elliott’s rugby-like base takes anything in his path with him.

Elliott requires a wide turning radius and he literally has a blind spot in one eye.

HOW TO PROTECT WOOD FLOORS

1.The first line of defense for protecting hardwood floors is the entry and exit doors. Think about it this is where dogs are the most excited either to get outside for tinkle time or a w-a-l-k.

Every entry in my house has a dog-friendly rug. Not too fancy but gets the job done. And, if I can shove them into my washing machine even better.

2. Until we rescued Elliott I never thought much about a rug pad for the entry rugs.

But with his solid base, our wood floors need the added cushion to absorb his impact.

I found this Made in the USA brand rug pad.

If you are a follower of Everyday Edits you know I love to support Made in USA brands and companies.

When we installed our Dutch door we opted for a more industrial rug since the dogs are in and out this kitchen door dozens of times during the day.

I found this one with rubber backing at Target for under $20.00

3. Next up is the puppy gate. I find that a gate is a great way to control access and contain some of the enthusiasm.

I found this one at Homegoods when Elliott was a puppy. Because of our home’s layout (#brownstoneinthesuburbs), I ran down a bought a second one for the basement.

Finally, I got this idea from my contractor when we remodeled the family room fireplace. I was impressed at how well the cling wrap-like plastic adhered to the stairs.

No, I did not roll it down the stairs, but I strategically added it to the corner of my new sisal rug in the dining room. I ordered it here and love it so much!

We all have one of those rugs that gets all the foot traffic. It’s not the most attractive, but it works great with the paw prints paddling through the dining room on their way to the kitchen.

It’s kinda subtle.

And finally, I keep a stash of dog-friendly cleaning products in the entry closet to keep floors clean and paw print-free. This was one of my favorite organizing ideas.