Floors go through a lot during the winter months in Germantown, TN. Mud and rain are tracked in from boots and jackets. Holiday party guests spill food and drinks. Protect your floors during this busy time of year to keep them looking new all year round.
Wood Floor:
Doormats
Place doormats that are at least three strides long in front of all entrances into your home. This will capture excess dirt and moisture before guests enter your home.
Area Rugs
Place durable area rugs in high traffic areas like hallways and entranceways. This will limit damage and help collect tracked in moisture. Make sure the area rug you choose does not have a rubber back as this will block proper floor ventilation.
Furniture Protectors
Use furniture protectors under all of your furniture to limit scratches on your wood floor. This is especially important for furniture that is moved often like chairs. If you don’t already use furniture protectors, the holiday season is the perfect time to start.
Wipe Up Spills
Wipe us spills and moisture immediately. This includes tracked in moisture from guests’ shoes and coats. Keep a microfiber mop near doorways to quickly collect moisture after guests arrive.
Mop with WoodGlo Neutral Cleaner
Mopping is an easy way to keep wood floors clean and looking their best. However, you shouldn’t use oil soap, wax or any other household cleaners while mopping. Instead, you need a wood cleaning product that follows the manufacturer’s recommendations. We suggest our WoodGlo Neutral Cleaner. If interested, contact your ServiceMaster technician.
Carpet:
No Shoe House
Encourage a no shoe house this holiday season by placing a shoe rack and bench in your entranceway or mudroom. This way, your family members and guest have no excuse to forget to take off their shoes before walking on your carpets.
Avoid Mold
Allow carpets to fully dry when exposed to moisture. Stagnant moisture can cause carpet mold growth within hours.
Treat Stains Immediately
As soon as you notice a spill, blot up right away to avoid long term damage. After you clean up the excess moisture and debris, spray a gentle stain remover over the affected area. Once the stain remover has had a chance to saturate the spill, blot up with a cloth. Make sure you don’t scrub or rub. Allow area to dry fully.
Vacuum Slowly & Often
Vacuum often especially over high traffic areas. When vacuuming, don’t rush. Allow the vacuum to collect as much dirt as possible. If debris is left on your carpet, eventually it will ground into the fibers and be difficult to remove.
Supplies
Keep supplies on hand that will help you treat stains quickly and easily. Make sure you have a cloth, gentle stain remover and carpet brush. Before holiday parties, store these items close by in case a guest spills or tracks in the mud.
Tile and Grout:
Clean Grout
Mix a bleach solution and scrub grout with an old toothbrush. After bleach has been applied, mop up with water and let dry.
Seal Grout
Once the grout has been cleaned, apply grout sealant to prevent future staining.
Protect High Traffic Areas
Use furniture protectors and place throw rugs over high traffic areas to prevent scratches.
We hope you enjoy the holiday season with fresh carpets, shiny hardwoods and clean tile. If you decide you need a professional cleaning, contact us at 901-854-6225. ServiceMaster of Germantown is available for tile, floor and carpet care services.
