Even though we think of wintry weather as an outdoor occurrence, somehow, winter always seems to make its way indoors. Home carpeting takes a real beating in the winter months up north. Between holiday visitor traffic, Christmas trees, parties, snow days and snow boots, home carpeting needs a bit of assistance to maintain a clean and fresh look. Carpeting keeps a winter home warm and welcoming so a little care and attention will go a long way.
Bringing Winter in the Front Door
The most obvious winter carpet problem is inviting the weather right in the front door. Every time the door is opened, snowy, wet boots with salt and mud drag in winter and deposit it on the carpet. Why not place a snow rug on top your carpet in the entryway and have everyone remove their foot gear at the door for added protection? A snow rug is more durable and is designed to take whatever the weather dishes out. Have an outside welcome mat for outdoor foot wiping and an indoor snow rug for whatever is left. And don’t forget to leave slippers at the front door so everyone has something warm to slip into.
Oh, Christmas Tree
For some of us, nothing makes the winter season as bright as a Christmas tree, but the essential tree brings with it a few avoidable carpet woes. First there is the dragging in of the tree itself. Nothing beats stepping on a pine needle in your stocking feet – so vacuuming goes without saying. Wrap your tree in a plastic sheet when bringing it in from the outside to avoid trailing in ice and mud. The Christmas tree is kept in a water stand and this spells potential trouble from leaks and water damage as well as rust. Make sure the tree stand is placed on a protective, waterproof surface and beware of leaks which can cause mildew and also ruin carpet dyes.
Humidity Regulation
Another winter home carpet challenge often overlooked is humidity levels. What may begin as ice and snow entering the home ends up as water and humidity in your carpet. This promotes mildew and mold and deteriorates the carpeting over time. If there is any additional humidity in the air, it can cause moisture and dampness to linger in carpeting. Remember to keep heat normalized and controlled to absorb humidity and to prevent water from inviting mildew.
A Saltly Problem
Salt and other ice control treatments used in winter really degrade a carpet when they find their way into your home. Their chemical properties go deep into the sub layers of carpeting and erode the structure. Chemical residues can even be absorbed deeply into the latex backing and fundamentally destabilize carpeting. Frequent vacuuming is a must and a good maintenance solution, but even frequent vacuuming cannot fully remove these chemicals. A proper steam cleaning extraction can help eliminate the residue.
Your winter home can stay warm and delightful with bit of care. Have your home carpeting professionally cleaned at least once in the winter season. With proper maintenance, you’ll be able to enjoy it longer than just a season. Let High Quality Carpet assist you in keeping your home a warm and welcoming place in which to live. Contact us using our online form or by phone at (732) 400-5255.