Tips for Keeping Carpet Clean in the Winter

If I asked you to close your eyes and think of a winter scene, what do imagine?  For me, I imagine looking out my front window at snow peacefully falling through the air.  I see the bushes and trees in my yard covered this glistening ice, and snow drifted along the road and driveway.  It’s white and beautiful and clean.  And yet, all this beautiful, white, clean snow somehow translates into something entirely different in my house.  Inside, I see rock salt glaring at me from every corner and wet, snow-covered boots taking over the entryway, and dirty gray spots popping up all over my carpet.  What a mess!  This is the reality of life in Indiana for at least a few months every winter.  So you may ask “What can be done to protect my floors during this beautiful (and messy) season?”  Here are a few tips.

Take Care of Your Outside

We don’t always realize how much the immediate outdoor surroundings of our doorways can affect the cleanliness of our indoors.  If your porch or front step is soiled or cluttered with leaves or other debris, this can easily be tracked in on the shoes of your family or guests.  Keep the path into your home as clean as possible and minimize the dirt that might get dragged inside.

Mats, Mats, Mats

I repeat this in triplicate because just one is not enough.  You certainly need a good, sturdy outdoor mat that your family members and guests can use to wipe or stomp any loose snow or dirt off their shoes before entering.  Then your entryway should have another mat or rug to stand on while either removing shoes or at least inspecting them.  Additionally, you should also consider having a walk-off mat or a longer rug to use only in the winter for high-traffic areas.  This will protect your carpet from all the dirt and grime that comes off shoes.

Go Shoeless

A great habit to get into in the winter is always removing shoes upon entering your house.  This will greatly reduce the amount of staining and wearing that your carpet must endure.  Kids can be trained to take shoes off at the door, and if you provide a basket or a rack, it is even possible to keep this area neat.  You might also consider investing in indoor slippers that you can offer to guests as you ask them to remove their shoes.  This will make your visitors feel cared for while protecting your flooring at the same time.

Have a Plan for Your Pets

Dogs present a special problem to floors in the winter.  They are often excited and in a hurry when they come indoors from the cold, and they tend to run off throughout the house before you get a chance to wipe their paws.  You can’t really expect them to respect your desire to have nice, unstained carpets as people do.  Therefore, you need to have a plan for dealing with your four-legged friends.  Maybe put up a gate that keeps them on a mat until their feet can be cleaned. Or set up an area in your garage where they can get cleaned up before entering the house.  You know your dog and what will work for him or her.

Vacuum and Spot Clean More Often

You probably have already noticed that your cleaning schedule needs to get bumped up a little in the winter.  Salt, dirt, and even slushy stains require you to be more diligent.  As you notice more mess coming in, make sure you clean it up before it becomes a bigger problem.  Vacuuming dirt away will guard against ground-in stains, and regular spot-cleaning will keep stains from setting in.

One of the great things about living in Indiana is that just when you think you’ve had all the winter you can take, just when you feel like throwing in the towel and letting the snow and slush and salt take over, you wake up one day to the first signs of spring.  As warmer weather sets in, you can take up some of your mats, be a little less diligent about shoes and paws, and assess the damage.  This is a great time to get your floors professionally cleaned by Langenwalter Carpet Cleaning.  Just remember that you’re not the only one anxious to dispose of the accumulated spots and stains of winter.  For this reason, it’s a good idea to call early to get on our schedule before it fills up.  Call us at 317-876-9944 or check out our current money-saving offers.