Ultimate Guide to Carpet Care: Keeping Your Carpets Looking Fresh

Nothing can wreak havoc on your home over the holidays faster than a houseful of festive guests! This is especially true if you have soft, beautiful carpet. No matter how disciplined you are in caring for your carpets by diligently vacuuming crumbs and dirt, some stains and mess just can’t be avoided, and there are times you have to choose your battles. After all, who wants a stressed-out host? Sometimes you just need to relax, let the chips (and other spills!) fall where they may, and deal with the aftermath after the festivities fade. Keep reading for a handy guide to stress-free carpet care for the holidays, or anytime.

Preventative Carpet Care

As impractical as it may seem, prevention is the best cure for holiday carpet woes. With winter comes all manner of messy weather in the form of snow and ice and as a result, salt and grit, all of which can cause damage to carpets. If at all possible, invest in small, affordable area rugs or runners to protect entry ways and high traffic areas. This will keep the aforementioned messes off your carpets.

If you feel comfortable, provide a shoe rack by the door and encourage partygoers to leave their shoes behind and enjoy the festivities in a pair of fun holiday socks instead! This will keep whatever debris that has been picked up on shoes from staying at bay and not transferring to your carpets.

Properly Vacuuming Carpet

Let’s face it, vacuuming is an extremely important pre-party activity. As a host, you’d probably prefer to spend your time wrapping scallops in bacon or at least cutting up carrots into sticks for the crudités. However, when it comes to carpet care, vacuuming just before guests arrive and also soon after they depart are both crucial. This step will help remove those chips that fell where they may and also call to attention any dribbles that require immediate care. Obviously, you should avoid vacuuming wet spills or droplets. Instead, blot them as soon as you notice them, then treat with an approved stain remover. Noticing small problems before they become ground or set in will go a long way! Your carpets will be easier to clean, and you can better prevent permanent stains.

Professional Carpet Cleaning

Are your carpets in need of a post-holiday refresh? While winter is not the most ideal time for cleaning carpets, one advantage is that you will most likely have your pick of appointments, as other people choose to wait for spring to do a deep clean. For practicality, schedule having your carpets professionally cleaned after any events you might be hosting. Then, once the cleaners leave, be sure to run fans and space heaters, if necessary, to facilitate the drying process and prevent any ill effects. Dampness invites the development of mold and mildew, and nobody needs that.

Is it time for a flooring upgrade? If you realized over the holidays that your carpets are no longer serving you by putting their best foot forward, visit our helpful staff at Signature Flooring. We can help you review your budget and design ideas, and make some great recommendations for new carpets, or something different altogether. Soon, you’ll be on the path to having new floors this new year!