4 Tips for Cleaning Carpets and Upholstery After the Holidays
Last year, we wrote a blog on tips to prepare your carpets and upholstery for the holidays. This year, we are writing about tips to get your carpets and upholstery clean after the holidays. No matter how much you may prepare for company in your home, there will almost always be an accident or spill to put a damper on keeping the festive mood going. After all your guests have gone, it’s time to clean your carpets and upholstery after the holidays.
Spot Treatments
If you’ve been reading our blogs for a while, you know that we are big fans of spot cleaning right after a spill. Spot treating spills or accidents right after they happen can make the difference between an easy stain to clean and a difficult stain that stays for a long time. When cleaning the mess, pick up or vacuum any solids and blot the cleaner into the area. Some cleaners require it to sit for a couple minutes to pick up the stain, so be sure to read the directions on your cleaner.
Unique Stains
The holidays bring specific kinds of stains that might be a little different to clean than other common stains. To make sure your carpets and upholstery make it, use the unique treatments to treat these specific stains:
Candle Wax. Candles set the cozy mood, smell great, and are a festive part of some holiday celebrations. When wax spills on the floor, it can stain from the dyes used to create the candle. The best way to clean up wax is to make sure it is dry. You can do this by freezing it or waiting for it to dry if the wax is not dyed. Once the wax is solid again, scrape it up with a spoon or dull side of a knife and vacuum the leftover wax. If there is any stuck to the carpets after this, lay down a paper towel where the wax is spilled and use an iron on low to medium heat over the paper towels to melt the wax. The paper towels will absorb the now melted wax, leaving you with a clean carpet or upholstery.
Red Wine. While it may seem like red wine is a bigger deal than other drink and food stains, the cleanup is similar. The main difference is how quickly you need to tend to the stain. Red wine should be cleaned as soon as possible. Remove any excess liquid with a dry paper towel, dabbing the area lightly to not push it further into your carpet or upholstery. Then, clean the area with cleaner as you would other stains.
Pine Needles. Fortunately, pine needles and water don’t leave stains on carpets or upholstery. As an extra layer of protection from damage caused by water, lay down a towel or rug under the tree. When cleaning up after the holidays, vacuuming is enough to pick up the pine needles. Any pine needles that are stuck to the carpet can be picked up with a little duct tape.
Shake Out Rugs
In our blog about protecting your carpets and upholstery to prepare for the holidays, we suggested putting down rugs in high traffic areas to protect the carpet. After the holidays, you’ll want to take all of your rugs outside to shake them out before vacuuming or washing them. Be sure to spot treat any stains that occur before shaking them out to avoid the stain setting into the rug.
Vacuum
Another commonly recommended way to clean up is by vacuuming both your carpets and upholstery, and we are recommending it again here. Vacuuming not only gets rid of the crumbs and dirt on the floor, it picks up allergens, dust, and particles that can damage your carpets and upholstery over time. It’s also helpful picking up those pesky pine needles from your Christmas tree.
Professional Cleaning
When all is said and done, the professionals know how to not only get everything deep in your carpets and upholstery, but they also know how to make them look and feel brand new. Professional cleaners have the equipment to get further into the fibers of your carpets and upholstered furniture to clean out the things your vacuum can’t reach.
Professional carpet and upholstery cleaning is a great way to start the new year after all the celebration is done. If you are interested, the first step is to request a quote. We are happy to refresh your home with clean carpets and furniture.