Protecting Your Carpet From Holiday Guests
The holidays are a rough time for your flooring — the weather is getting worse, so there’s more snow and mud getting tracked in, and you’re likely to be hosting guests for the holidays so you’re going to be getting a lot of extra foot traffic.
That doesn’t mean you have to be a party pooper and keep everyone out of your house, but no matter whether you have hardwood, laminate, or carpet, you can take steps to minimize the damage done to your flooring. Here are a few tips.
Doormats
The number one culprit for damage done to your flooring is dirt and debris, tracked in on people’s shoes. It’s especially bad in the winter when mud and salt are all over the sidewalks. Burly, heavy-duty doormats on the outside to remove big debris and softer, more absorbent ones on the inside are your first line of defense.
Rugs
Use area rugs and runners in the busiest areas of your home. You can even use carpet remnants that will match your carpeting for a subtler form of protection. Hallways, dining rooms, and anywhere else you host large numbers of people are a great place to put extra rugs.
Take Your Shoes Off
Easy, right? Socks will do a lot less damage to your flooring than shoes will, and it’s a simple matter to set your shoes aside when you get home. It’s good for relaxation too — getting your mind out of work mode and into home mode by slipping into a comfy pair of slippers will help you unwind.
A thick pile rug in a dark color or a rubber boot mat near the door is a great option for extra-messy shoes, or for large numbers of guests. If you have hardwood floors, you’ll want to use something absorbent like a piece of carpet or a thick towel to keep water from damaging them.
Make Sure Extra Surfaces Are Available
If you have guests over, they’re likely to have plates of food and drinks on hand, and we all know what red wine can do to a carpet. If they don’t have anywhere to set down their food and drinks while they’re sitting and socializing, they’re going to put them on the floor.
Trays, tables, coasters, and other hard surfaces should be plentiful so spills can be avoided.
Maintain Your Carpet
Vacuum regularly! One of the best things you can do to keep dirt from getting embedded in your carpets and scratching your floors is to simply sweep and vacuum frequently. If you keep up your regular routine, or maybe do it a little more often, your carpets will look good as new for years to come.