Getting Your Carpets Ready for Holiday Guests: A Simple Timeline

Hosting Thanksgiving or a holiday gathering? Clean carpets and furniture make the whole house feel ready. The trick is timing: too early and the floors get dirty again before guests arrive; too late and you're scrambling for an appointment in the busiest stretch of the year.

4–6 weeks out: book the cleaning

November and December fill up fast. Book now and pick a date one to two weeks before your gathering. That gives carpet plenty of time to dry and settle, and leaves room to reschedule if the weather or your plans change.

2 weeks out: the cleaning

• Do carpet, stairs and the couch your guests will actually sit on in the same visit.
• Point out problem spots — the dog's favorite corner, last year's wine spill — so they get extra attention.
• Pick a morning appointment so carpets have the day to dry.

The week before: protect the investment

• Put mats at the front and back doors, inside and out.
• Set up a spot by the door for shoes and boots.
• Vacuum high-traffic areas every couple of days.

During the party: spill first aid

Keep a small kit handy: white cloths or paper towels, a spray bottle of plain water, and a little clear dish soap. For any spill:

1. Blot immediately — don't rub.
2. Blot with a little cool water.
3. Follow up with a mild detergent solution if needed, then blot with plain water.

Our stain removal guide has step-by-step help for red wine, coffee, gravy (grease), candle wax and more.

After the holidays

If the gathering left its mark, a January cleaning gets out food spills and the salt and slush tracked in through the season. Read our holiday cleaning guide for the rest of the house.

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