An Akron winter brings about 47 inches of snow, 120 freezing nights and months of salt on the floor. Here is how to keep it near the door and out of the rest of the house.
Most of what goes wrong with a floor in Akron goes wrong between December and April. Snow is only part of it. The real trouble is the mix of salt, sand and melt that comes in on boots and gets walked through the house for months.
This guide covers what winter does to a home here, how to handle it yourself and what a professional visit can add when TotalCare Cleaning comes to Akron.
Normal seasonal snowfall is 47.2 inches, with January the snowiest at 13.4, then February at 12.0 and December at 8.9. March still brings 7.6 and April 1.7. About 46 days a year have at least an inch on the ground. That is significantly less than the snowbelt closer to Lake Erie, although winters here bring a mix of rain, sleet and snow with occasional icing. Stow, in the secondary snowbelt, gets heavier lake effect snow when certain winds prevail.
The cold lasts. Akron-Canton averages about 120 nights at or below freezing and about 40 days when the high stays at or below freezing. January has a normal average of 27.9 degrees and a normal low of 20.3. The median last freeze falls on April 24, so the furnace season runs long.
Nearly all winter dirt comes through one or two doors, and most of it can be stopped right there. Think of the entry as a small airlock. Older Akron homes may not have much of a mudroom, but even a small hall can work. A few minutes of setup in November saves a lot of mopping by February.
Road and sidewalk salt leaves a white film that dulls floors and can damage finishes if it stays there. On sealed hardwood, wipe it up quickly with a barely damp cloth, and dry the floor. On tile, a mild cleaner works. On old, thin finishes, go gently, since about 34 percent of the city's homes predate 1940 and their floors may have been refinished many times already. Skip the steam mop on old wood.
Carpet on the stairs takes the same abuse. Vacuum first to lift grit, then blot any salt marks with a damp cloth. If you can, leave boots at the bottom. Basement stairs are easy to forget, and they often lead straight to the laundry, where wet clothes add to the mess.
January dew points near 21 degrees leave indoor air very dry. Static holds dust on screens, blinds and plastic, and a dry cloth tends to push it around. Use a slightly damp microfiber cloth. Change the furnace filter on schedule and vacuum floor vents and return grilles. If you have radiators, vacuum behind them with a soft brush, and do not soak them.
Closed-up homes also recirculate cooking smells and dust. Run the kitchen fan, and wipe the top of the refrigerator and the range hood now and then. A clean humidifier can make the air more comfortable, but keep it from wetting windows and walls, and check the sills for condensation on the coldest mornings. Wipe up any you find, as that water can damage old paint.
When TotalCare Cleaning comes to Akron, a recurring plan will handle the steady grit of winter, with entries, floors and bathrooms covered on every visit. Bi-weekly is the usual choice for a busy household in the snow months, and it can change when spring comes.
A One-Time Deep Clean makes the most sense at the end, once the median last freeze of April 24 has passed. It includes hand washed baseboards, where the salt line tends to sit, along with window tracks, blinds, fans and vents. It does not cover burst pipe damage, mold or debris. If a pipe bursts, call a plumber and a restoration company first, and bring in a cleaner after they finish.
The questions Akron homeowners ask most often about this topic, answered plainly.
TotalCare Cleaning will service Akron and surrounding areas with background-checked cleaners and is insured up to $1 million. Re-clean guarantee: if we missed something, tell us by the end of the next day and we come back to fix it. Beyond Clean. TotalCare.
