How to Prevent Your Carpet From Snow Damage
When the weather outside is frightful, the damage to your carpet can be intense. Snow tracked in on boots moves throughout the house, and the mud that mingles with it is quickly ground in. You will spend the next several hours discovering patches of freezing cold carpet, and the moisture is damaging to the carpet fibers over the long run. Fortunately, there are some easy steps you can take to protect your carpet from the damaging effects of bad weather.
Thick Carpets at Entry Points
Invest in natural fiber doormats to help people dry off their shoes before they walk into your house. Encourage the kids to wipe their feet, and send them back outside to handle the chore if they forget. Special boot cleaners that will clean the bottom and sides of shoes are also effective for keeping the snow and dirt out of your house.
Thick Welcome Mats Inside the Home
Whether you have tile in the foyer or carpet, invest in a thick carpet where people can stop and take shoes off. The carpet should be sizable because people will need space to get out of their shoes while remaining safely on the rug. If the rug is machine washable, then that is an added bonus as it will be easy to keep clean. These rugs should be at every exterior door including the front door, garage door and patio.
Invest in a Rubber Mat with Sides for Drying
As the snow melts off boots, it melts into puddles that spread everywhere. Look for a large rubber mat with raised sides and raised treads inside the mat. When shoes come off, they should go onto the mat until they dry. The sides will contain the spreading, melted snow, and you can put a towel inside the mat for easy cleaning. Once the shoes are dry, have the kids move them to their room or the closet for storage.
Consider the Dog
Your dog cannot take his feet off when he comes in, but you can be prepared to clean his paws. Keep a towel by the patio door, and start teaching your dog to sit and let you wipe off the paws as she comes in the house. It may take a little training for your dog to get used to having her paws wiped dry, but it is worth the effort to save your carpet.
Be Prepared for Messes
Invest in a small hand-held carpet cleaner for the inevitable winter mess. Someone will forget to take their shoes off, and you will soon have a melting pile of snow in the living room. Use the hand-held machine to pick up the water and ice before it compresses the carpet fibers and causes damage.
Plan on having your carpets professionally cleaned at least once in the winter. Limiting how long dirt is allowed to sit in the carpet prolongs the life of your carpet and keeps it looking great. Contact High Quality Carpet to make an appointment with us to have your carpets cleaned and refreshed.