Upholstery Care and Maintenance During the High Traffic Holiday Season Doesn't Need To Be a Grind

Online, December 23, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Pam Garner of Speed Cleaning Tips and Secrets at wwww.cleaningsecretsinfo.com advocates the following holiday tips for upholstery care so that you can spend your time playing with your 'new toys' and relaxing instead of searching for the best upholstery cleaner you can find.

Getting Ready:
Many people put slipcovers on their furniture during the holiday season because of the heavy traffic they receive. This is certainly an option for upholstery care, but if it doesn't interest you, simply rotate your cushions before or after the event to keep them looking fresh. You should also make sure you dust and vacuum all of your upholstered furniture before your guests arrive. Without this step, the dirt and tiny crumbs from the hoards of people in your home over the holidays will become imbedded into your furniture, possibly putting complete removal beyond the reach of even the best upholstery cleaner.

Another tip -- if you have not applied a stain protector to your furniture in over a year, the holiday season might be the time to do it. A good protector can be bought at retail stores and once dry it will help repel spills and block stains. On leather furniture you should use a leather conditioner.

Tablecloths are must easier to clean that treating damage to your dining table, so pick one that you like and keep it out throughout the holidays.

Be Prepared at the Door:
Have a mat at the front door for people to take off their shoes. If you don't want to make people take off their shoes, at a minimum have a mat for them to wipe their feet. This not only protects your floors, but it also avoids shoe muck from getting on your furniture when people pull their feet up onto the couch after dinner.

Also have a designated spot for coats and other weather paraphernalia. This keeps people from draping their outdoor clothes over the furniture, which can otherwise undo your efforts at upholstery care.

During the Festivities:
Make sure you have plenty of table room around your furniture so that people are not tempted to put their glasses or plates on the furniture or anywhere that could spill. If the table option is there, people will use it. Stock up on coasters and napkins for all the tables, too.

If you are planning to do a gift exchange, have a trash bag on hand to catch the trash as it is ripped from the presents.

After the event:
If you took the preventative measures outlined above, there shouldn't be much to take care of after everyone leaves. Make sure to dust and vacuum all of your furniture again within a few days after the holiday, throw the tablecloth in the laundry. But give yoursef a chance to relax and enjoy the season first.