With the end-of-year holidays approaching, are you planning a home party with your loved ones? Sparkling tableware and delicious food are important, but the comfortable and clean atmosphere guests feel when they enter your home is paramount. Fabric items like rugs and sofas are key elements that define your home’s impression.

According to the ‘Home Hygiene Report (2023),’ the average living room rug contains 200,000 bacteria per square inch—a figure that is approximately 4,000 times more than a toilet seat. This means a rug is not just a decorative item, but a critical part of your home’s hygiene that directly impacts your health.

Here are three critical mistakes many people make during their pre-guest deep clean.

1. Scrubbing Rug Stains Vigorously: When you spill wine or coffee, scrubbing the stain aggressively can push the soil deeper into the fibers and damage the rug’s pile, making it impossible to restore.
2. Tossing Curtains in a Standard Washing Machine: Depending on the material, this can cause severe shrinkage or discoloration. Blackout or silk curtains, in particular, require professional care.
3. Ignoring the Size of Sofa Covers: It’s a common story: a sofa cover shrinks after washing and can no longer be put back on. Always check the care label before washing and see if it requires dry cleaning.

Don’t spend your precious holiday season stressed about cleaning. Leave the bulky and hard-to-manage rugs, curtains, and sofa covers to the Home & Living Care experts at Southwood. While we restore the elegance and health of your home, you can focus solely on preparing for your party.