A house party means fun, laughter and good food. But in its aftermath, it leaves behind dirty dishes, food leftovers and most annoyingly, stubborn stains on carpets and furnishings. These stains can be pretty hard to remove.
It is said that prevention is better than cure. But, you cannot possibly keep an eye on every guest who graces your party; so there is no way you can prevent somebody’s barbeque sauce from making its way to your expensive couch or a tipsy guest from spilling her wine on your rug. However, what you can do is provide protection to your furniture and carpets, and reduce the chances of accidents taking place.
As the hostess, you may be torn between the eagerness to create the best ambience for your guests and the necessity to keep your carpets and upholstery safe. But, if you plan beforehand and are a bit innovative, you can make both happen.
Here are a few tips for you:
Clean Your Carpets, Rugs and Upholstery
This may seem counter-productive, but a spick-and-span home forms a psychological barrier in the minds of your guests. They notice that you have taken pains to maintain an inviting and immaculate home, and will try to keep it that way.
So, if you have a major event or party coming up, call in professional cleaners to spruce up your home and leave your furnishings looking gorgeous.
Request Guests to Leave Shoes Outside
This can be a bit tricky and you may be unsure of whether this is the right thing to do. But, remember that if your carpets and rugs are expensive investments, then it is wise to be safe than sorry later on.
You can place a ‘please remove your shoes’ sign at the entrance or request guests to wipe their shoes on the doormat before stepping in. This will prevent mud and dirt from being tracked inside.
If you’re not going to allow your guests to wear shoes inside your house, make it a point to inform them about this in advance. This way, they will be prepared with their outfit choices or inform you if there is an issue.
Plan Menu Carefully
There are stain-causing foods and there are the more innocent varieties. It is important you get a good idea about the types of food, drinks and condiments that lead to nasty stains, and avoid them as far as possible.
Barbeque sauce, melted cheese, berries and tomato-based sauces and gravies, mustard sauce, curries, and oily dishes are prone to cause staining. Even if you spot the spills in time, they are very hard to clean or blot off.
Red wine is a major culprit as far as household stains go. Dark sodas and juices also cause sticky and hard-to-clean stains. So, for your upcoming party, stock up on an assortment of light-colored drinks like white wine, flavored water and spritzers to make cleaning easier. You can try new recipes and mix-up cocktails to improve serving options as well as keep your guests happy.
Another tip is to plan a dinner party. This way, your guests will be centered at the dining table, and all wine and food consumption will happen there.
Cover Your Prized Possessions
If you are hosting a big party, it makes sense to invest in area rugs, throws, carpet runners, and couch covers. They will ensure your expensive furniture is protected.
Snug slipcovers that fit over a range of furniture, including sofas, recliners, love seats and chairs are easily available. Choose sturdy covers that can be tossed into the washing machine after the party. It is not practical to use them everywhere, but you can slip covers over stain-prone and expensive furniture in high-traffic areas.
San Diego modern area rugs and carpet runners ensure that heavy foot traffic does not cause damage to carpets and expensive rugs. They protect carpeting and costly rugs from stains that result from heavy footfall.
If you own antique or specialty rugs, roll them up and keep them far away from the merrymaking crowd in your house. This is because oriental, Persian and silk rugs are very hard to clean at home. In many cases, stains do not come off even with professional care. So, taking a chance with heirloom rugs should not be on your party to-do-list.
Move Expensive Artwork
Delicate showpieces, ceramic collectibles and valuable artwork should not be kept in rooms where guests are figured to gather. You cannot possibly expect guests to gauge the value of precariously placed items and stay away from them. So, if pricey knickknacks or antique items are in potential danger zones, move them to the safety of your cupboard or garage.
Limit Areas of Use
If all rooms in your house are accessible to guests, you will find it hard to organize and manage the party. It’s not easy to serve food and drinks, and ensure everyone has a good time when your guests are scattered in different rooms. Keep a few rooms locked so that guests will congregate in the available rooms. In this manner, you will also be able to keep an eye on spills and accidents, and clean up messes in time.
Keep Felt Pads Under Furniture
When hosting a large crowd, you will have to move furniture to accommodate guests. Chairs will be pushed in and out to make better seating arrangements. This can mean scratches and dents on your hardwood floor.
Sticky felt pads come in various sizes and you can also get them cut to the desired sizes. Just stick them under the legs of tables and chairs to avoid any damage to your floor.
Conclusion
It’s hard to party-proof a home completely. There will be spills, stains and accidents that you will not be prepared for. But, you must not sweat over them. These are things that happen when you own expensive décor items and at the same time, enjoy a lot of friends, both of which are quite desirable. So, have your humor about you and enjoy the party.