Taking The Right Steps To Save Your Stairs

For whatever reason, the stair treads in our homes always seem to look worse than our hardwood floors.

I suspect the reason has to do with the force our feet grind the grit on the bottom of our shoes into the finish. While we would not dream of scratching any finish with a piece of #36-grit sandpaper, take a look at the bottom of your shoes sometime and tell me that’s not what we are doing.

The problem is compounded by the moisture that comes into our house on the bottom of those same shoes. A little snow, a little ice, a little morning dew - individually they don’t seem very harmful, but when the clear finish weakens and is worn away, that collective moisture can penetrate the oak - and quickly turn the wood grey or black.

It is important not to wait until your stair treads need a complete refinishing (see top photo for what to avoid doing). That quickly becomes a major project. Instead, do the following:

1.) Clean the treads to remove dirt and grime.

2.) Lightly hand-scuff the existing finish with a piece of #150-grit or #180-grit sandpaper to give the new finish tiny scratches to cling to. Vacuum up the dust.

3.) If you know what kind of finish was applied to your stairs, brush on a fresh, thin coat of the same brand. Let it dry, then apply a second.

4.) If you do not know what kind of finish is on your stairs, use a cloth to rub on a coat of Minwax Wipe-On Poly. Let it dry, then apply a second coat according to the directions on the can.

Warning: Never apply any kind of wax or polish to stair treads. This makes them dangerously slippery for you, your guests, your children and your pets.

How can you prevent or slow it from happening again?

1.) Place a rug or mat on either side of the nearest exterior door.

2.) Clean or change it often.

3.) Encourage everyone to remove their shoes when coming into the house.

4.) Sweep or vacuum the stair treads often to remove the grit on them.

5.) Give the dog away (only kidding, Jasper!)

Have a great week!

- Bruce Johnson