Holiday gatherings are the perfect time to enjoy good food, fun with the family, and catch up with relatives you don’t see very often. It’s also the perfect time for accidents, like spills and stains to take place. ServiceMaster Cleaning By Simons offers these quick fixes until our trained professionals can provide carpet cleaning services in your Lakeview home in Chicago, IL.
Plan Ahead
If your family is the one hosting the party, we recommend having a few supplies on hand before the guests arrive. Arm yourself with paper towels, clean dishcloths, a carpet stain remover, a vacuum, dish detergent, white vinegar, and extra garbage bags. All of these supplies can be found at your local grocery store or department store. Some stains and spills will require additional cleaning supplies.
We also suggest asking your guests to help you lower the chances of carpet stains by storing their shoes in the mud room or garage, and keeping food and drink in the kitchen and dining areas. Of course, accidents may still happen, no matter how hard you try to prevent them.
Here are some quick carpet cleaning tricks for the spills and stains you may encounter this holiday season:
Beverage Spills
Red wine and coffee require some extra carpet cleaning attention to prevent your carpets from discoloring. Immediately blot the spilled red wine or coffee dry with paper towels. Mix together two cups of warm water, one tablespoon of dish detergent, and one tablespoon of white vinegar. Use this mixture and a clean cloth to soak the stain. Blot the mixture with a dry dishcloth. Pour some cold water onto the affected area and blot the carpet dry again. Repeat as needed until the stain is lifted.
Pet Stains
Carefully pick up any solid waste with gloves and a plastic bag. Use paper towels to blot liquid waste until the carpet is dry. Rinse the area with cold water and blot it dry with paper towels. Apply a carpet stain remover following the cleaner’s instructions if traces of a stain remain. You may also want to have a pet odor neutralizer on hand, which can be found at your local pet store.
Road Salt Stains
Road salt and slush can follow you farther inside than the entryway. Start by allowing the salt stain to dry, vacuum the area to pick up any loose salt particles and mist the affected area with an equal mix of white vinegar and water. Let the mixture set for about 10 to 15 minutes, then blot the area dry and repeat as needed until the stain is lifted.
These quick fixes will minimize the damage to your carpet, so you can enjoy your holiday gathering stress-free.
After the holidays, be sure to call the professionals at ServiceMaster Cleaning By Simons to clean your Lakeview, Chicago, IL home. We will deep-clean and groom your carpets and bring you peace of mind.