Snow can be a wonderful thing. There’s nothing quite like waking up to a world all covered in pure, pristine white flakes falling from the sky, making your street look like a snow globe. As beautiful as it is, snow can make housekeeping a more difficult task than it was in the summer, especially if you have carpets in your house. Snow, as you’re aware, is frozen water that turns into puddles when it comes indoors. It’s often laden with mud, sand and plant fragments, none of which you want tracked onto your carpets. Here are some ways to keep your carpets clean when the great outdoors seems determined to ruin them.
Invest In A Doormat
Your first line of defense against the forces of dirty snow boots is a doormat. A cute little square of rubber that says “Welcome” won’t do. You need something to contain the mess as it comes into the house, because no matter how careful people are, tracking snow through the doorway is something that can’t really be avoided. Get something that covers your whole entryway, that won’t let water soak through onto your carpet, and that’s easy to clean without having to take it outdoors.
Set Some Boundaries
Getting a doormat is a great idea. Being a doormat is less ideal, especially when it comes to defending your carpets from messes and puddles. Make some clear rules for your family members and guests. Let them know that you expect them to take their shoes off when they come into your house. Although if they’ve grown up in a snowy climate, it may be second nature to do that anyway. Putting up a friendly sign can help remind people not to leave their shoes or boots on as they enter your home. You’ll find that most people are more than willing to help you out.
Business As Usual
Unfortunately, no matter how hard everybody tries to keep the floor clean, floors are always going to get dirty, no matter which season it is. Even with a mat to contain the mess at the doorway, you still need to sweep, mop and vacuum as usual. Pay special attention to problem areas, like dining room carpets and bathroom rugs. With diligent cleaning, you can keep your carpets in good condition so that you won’t have to feel overwhelmed by a winter’s worth of dirt when spring cleaning rolls around.
When Winter Is Over
Everyone’s house gets a little bit dingy over the winter—don’t worry, it’s not just you! It simply isn’t doable to open up all the doors and do a spring cleaning before springtime. When it is time to clear out all of the winter muck, treat your carpet to steam cleaning from AmSteam, just to get the last few trouble spots out and your carpet looking as fresh and soft as new. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of finally getting to walk barefoot, unless it’s the feeling of walking barefoot on a freshly cleaned carpet. We can help you with that!