You held a really great event at your home last night, but today you are left with a big mess that needs to be cleaned up. Aside from the garbage that needs to be taken out and the dishes that have to be washed, there may be some stains on your flooring that need attention. It’s a good idea to clean up these areas as soon as you notice them. The longer you let them sit, the worse the stain will become. Depending on the type of flooring that needs to be cleaned, there are some different methods to consider.

Carpet

Don’t panic when you see that somebody spilled something on your carpet (even red wine). You don’t have to head to the local carpet store to pick out a replacement. Grab a couple of simple products from your kitchen to make quick work of a carpet stain. Baking soda can be a good substance to pretreat carpet stains. Mix it with water to create a fizzy cleaning material and scrub the affected areas. You can lightly scrub the area with a towel. Never use a hard-bristled brush that could damage the texture of the carpet. After you scrub, use clean water to remove the leftover baking soda.

Hardwood Floors

Depending on the type of flooring that you have, most spills should be able to be mopped up once you notice them. Best Maids recommends adding a half cup of vinegar to a gallon of water can make a cleaner to wipe hard surfaces and keep them shiny. Resist the temptation to use stronger products. Products that aren’t approved for use with wood floors can ruin the finish, which is a significantly more difficult problem to solve. If all else fails, local professional cleaners probably know which products are safe for your floor’s finish.

Linoleum and Vinyl

Linoleum is typically a very durable flooring option. However, there are products that can stain linoleum. You can even experience a small tear in the linoleum. You have to be careful with this type of flooring. You could end up stripping the finish off of it. Use a mixture of soap, baking soda and vinegar to wash the spot, but don’t leave the concoction on the floor for any length of time. Make sure you wipe the area clean with water when you have finished. According to Networx, tears in the flooring can be sealed up with a special linoleum sealant. 

Parties can cause quite a mess of your home, but don’t be discouraged from having family or friends over. Planning ahead can prevent a lot of messes from occurring. If you’re serving wine, opting for white wine instead of red is a good start. Serving food in the kitchen or dining room helps prevent stains on your furniture or living room carpet. However, you should still be prepared to clean up with some commonly used cleaning products that are safe for the flooring in your home.