5 Professional House Cleaning Tasks for Your Post-Holiday Home

After an especially joyous and busy holiday season full of home-cooked meals, family gatherings and candle-lit evenings, your home may be in need of some major TLC. One of the best gifts you can give the home that has served you well throughout the season is to invest in professional house cleaning.

1. General House Cleaning

If you don’t normally hire a housecleaner to keep your home clean, it doesn’t take long for dirt to build up in spaces you don’t pay attention to. Not to mention, the holiday season brings in a whole other host of problems, such as Christmas tree sap getting into flooring and clothing, excess food crumbs from meals, and mud and debris tracked in from snowy or rainy weather.

Hiring a professional to take care of your house cleaning can help you take a breather after the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, and sets your house on the right foot going into the new year. Then sticking to a house cleaning checklist or periodically paying for cleaning services in the months that follow can help keep your home fresh and healthy for your family, pets, and any guests who enter your home.

2. Carpet Cleaning

In addition to regularly vacuuming all the carpets in your home, having your carpets professionally cleaned can extend the life of your flooring and create a healthier environment with less allergy-causing contaminants in the room. It is recommended to hire a carpet cleaner at least once every 12 months. Having your carpets cleaned at the beginning of every year is a good routine to start this year.

Depending on the condition of your flooring and the size of your budget, there are several services that may be included when getting carpets cleaned:

• Dirt inspection and extraction
• Pet urine and odor removal
• Water damage restoration
• Steam cleaning
• Special material handling
• Protectant application

From UV light to powerful extraction machines, carpet cleaners have a wide range of professional tools in their arsenal they use to thoroughly remove dirt, food, and stains from every type of carpet. For homes with young children and pets, you may also want to invest in carpet protection for the accidents that are bound to happen.

3. Upholstery Cleaning

With how much time you spend on your couch, favorite recliner and other cushioned chairs in your home, it’s no wonder they’re magnets for unwanted dirt and stains. Add kids and pets to the mix, and your lounging spots may be housing more crumbs, bacteria, and allergens than you want to know. Having your upholstery deep cleaned keeps your furniture looking like new for longer and lets you rest peacefully without fear of what dirt is lying underneath.

Trying to clean your upholstery on your own can be a tricky process and may even result in you accidentally damaging your much-loved couch. Working with upholstery cleaning professionals keeps your furniture in top-notch condition by keeping the texture, colors, and cushions in the best possible shape. Protectants can also be applied to prevent stains and scratches in between cleanings.

4. Curtain Cleaning

While you may not be in direct contact with your curtains as much as your carpets or upholstery, they are another common home for bugs, dust, bacteria, and other allergens. These pieces of cloth often hang right next to a sliding glass door or window, which are the main point of entry for unwelcome dirt. If not well maintained, curtains can become dull and dingy, resulting in them needing to be replaced. However, when kept clean, they bring life and color to the room.

For this reason, it is best to have your curtains cleaned at least every three to six months. However, it can be a frustrating process to remove your curtains, and some materials require dry cleaning or special cleaning processes to preserve their original condition. Curtain cleaners know the ideal method for each type of material and can handle removing and reinstalling your curtains for you.

5. Bed Cleaning

You spend about eight hours every day in your bed, so it stands to reason that keeping it clean should be a top priority. You should also make sure to clean bedding in the guest bedroom, especially if you had any out-of-town guests stay at your house for the holidays. While you may be able to clean most sheet fabrics in your washer or dryer on your own, you should get some help from a professional cleaner for delicate comforters and mattresses.

If you aren’t sure whether or not your comforter needs to be washed or dry cleaned, the washing instructions on the label are the best place to check. In general, down and synthetic comforters should be washed in a machine large enough to accommodate them. Down-alternative comforters depend on what materials are being used. Wool and silk should always be dry cleaned.

Having your mattress professionally cleaned, typically using steam cleaning, can kill bacteria and allergens living deep inside. The cleaning process also often involves vacuuming, deodorizing, and extraction. Applying a mattress protector after the cleaning is over can help preserve your mattress until the next session, which should be about four to six months later.

Get Help With Your Post-Holiday Cleaning

Tackling house cleaning after the holidays on your own can put a real damper on the season, and you’re bound to miss a few essential spots. Working with professionals to get your home in tip-top shape allows you to soak in more precious moments with your loved ones and start the new year on the right foot.

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