Clean carpet in a home entryway
Willowbrook Carpet Cleaning: Preparing for Holiday Guests
The holidays always seem to highlight areas of our homes we never noticed before. There’s a trail of muddy shoes in the hallway, the carpet in the living room looks dirty after being stepped on by guests, and the stairs seem to have lost their luster over the summer. We want the floors to be spotless when the holidays start. This article will walk you through the process of preparing for holiday guests room by room.
How Long Before the Holidays Should I Prepare?
Start cleaning early. Carpets take time to dry, especially during the winter, so waiting until the night before guests arrive will leave you with wet carpets. Scheduling your Willowbrook carpet cleaning a few days in advance will give you enough time to address any tough spots.
Walk through your house and identify problem areas. Look beyond just stains. Are there odors lingering around? Do some areas appear darker than others? Has the carpet been worn down in some places? Take note of these things before the cleaning takes place.
Some things to prepare for the carpet cleaners include:
- Move small items off the floor, such as furniture, toys, and lamps
- Put away breakables and cords
- Mark any spots you’re worried about
- Vacuum the floors if needed
- Clear hallways and passages
Entryways
The entryway gets the most wear and tear throughout the year. Boots and shoes leave behind dirt, water, and salt. Even vacuuming can’t remove all of these things from the carpet. Give this area the most attention because it’s where most of the outside world comes into contact with your home.
Once the area has been cleaned, make sure you have a place for shoes, so they don’t bring new dirt inside. You could even put a doormat at the entryway to catch moisture from the boots. This will keep the area looking clean longer.
Living Rooms
Spills happen in the living room, and it’s usually the easiest place to clean them up. There’s likely a stain somewhere near the couch, and crumbs in the corners of the room. Pet odors are likely to linger around the pet’s favorite spot. When the furniture is moved, it becomes easier to notice these things. And holiday lighting tends to make everything brighter.
Don’t scrub stains before the carpet cleaners arrive. Scrubbing can push the stain deeper, which is explained well at cnet.com/home, into the carpet. Just let them know what caused the stain so they know how to clean it. Different substances require different cleaning techniques.
Odor control is important as well. Many people use air fresheners to mask pet odors, but these products only temporarily cover the smell. They don’t actually get rid of the odor-causing particles trapped in the carpet and padding. Carpet cleaning removes the cause of the odor, instead of covering it with another smell.
Professional cleaning of carpeted floor
Stairs
Stairs are one of the most heavily trafficked areas in the house. They get dirty quickly, and they’re often overlooked when people think about cleaning the house. Carpet fibers in high-traffic areas like stairs get packed down, and they collect dust and grime that is difficult to remove without professional equipment.
Make sure there aren’t any baskets, decorations, or other items around the base of the stairs before the cleaners arrive. Once the stairs are done, keep everyone off them until they dry. If you have to use them during this time, try to limit foot traffic as much as possible. Or, clean one flight of stairs at a time and keep the rest of the stairs closed until they are completely dry.
Guest Rooms
Guest rooms tend to go unused for long periods of time. The carpet can get dusty and lose its vibrancy. Make sure to vacuum around the bed (click for more), and clean around the closet before the cleaners arrive. Old stains that have been covered by furniture might still be visible once the furniture is removed. Cleaning guest rooms early allows them to dry completely before anyone uses them.
With clean bedding and good ventilation, guests will feel right at home. There’s no need to add perfume or air freshener; clean carpets and sheets speak for themselves.
Wrapping Up
By following these tips, your house will be ready before the holidays start. It’s much better to clean before the guests arrive, than to wait until the very last minute. Just remember to start cleaning early, and give yourself enough time to finish. By focusing on the entryway, living room, stairs, and guest rooms, you’ll be able to make your house look beautiful, without having to deal with a big mess afterwards.
Let it dry completely before placing furniture back where it belongs. Wooden legs can leave stains on damp carpet, and metal feet may leave rust marks if placed on wet carpet. The little protective tabs or blocks you put under furniture can help avoid this.
Also, open interior doors and turn on some fans to help circulate air while the carpet dries.