5 Ways To Get Your Home Ready For Your In-laws

The holidays are just around the corner, bringing with them so many great things like food, gifts, and cheer. But the holidays bring something else as well: in-laws. If you want to minimize judgmental whispers and family drama, then you know how important it is to make sure your home is almost perfect for the holidays. Luckily for you, the home health experts at Chem-Dry can help you know what you need to do to get your home in shape for your less-than-eagerly-awaited family visits.

1. Dust The Areas That Get the Dirtiest

Dust is one of the biggest things that makes a home look dirty. Fortunately, it is also one of the easiest things to fix. If you have a feather duster or a Swiffer, then use that to remove the dust. If not, don’t worry. Just get a rag wet, wring it out, and go to town. Of course, some places seem to gather dust more than others, so focus on these places first. These places include:

• TV’s
• TV Stands
• Shelves
• Countertops
• Computer Screens
• Refrigerators
• Anywhere else that you find dust

Be aware that there may be some places that are less obvious, but are still important to dust. Places like window blinds and light fixtures aren’t an obvious culprit of making our home dirty, but since they are easy to forget about, they rarely get cleaning and are often very dirty. Plus, don’t underestimate the extra brownie points that clean blinds can get you if your in-laws notice.

2. Clean Those Dirty Dishes In the Sink, Then Clean the Sink

Dirty dishes can make any kitchen look like a mess, but what is worse is that they often STINK! If your home looks clean but smells like old, soggy food, your in-laws will definitely not be impressed. So, get those dishes in the dishwasher and do a load. If you don’t have a dishwasher then clean them the old-fashioned way. I know that it’s a pain, but cleaning dishes can make a world of difference.

After you have cleaning the dishes, then get a wet rag, some all-purpose cleaner, and wipe down your sink. This will hopefully get rid of any lingering smell and make your sink shine like it’s new again. If your sink still has a lingering smell even after all of this, you can actually freshen up its scent by putting lime slices in the disposal and grinding them up. The limes are soft enough that they won’t harm your disposals blades, but the fresh lime smell with help get rid of your sinks yucky smell.

3. Clean Your Carpets & Couches

Dirty carpets and couches can really make a home seem neglected, whether or not that’s true. Grab your vacuum and start with a thorough once-over. Don’t neglect the stair. Remember to use the vacuum attachments to get the nooks and crannies between your couches cushions.

As great as vacuums are, they can only do so much. If your carpet or couches still look dull, discolored, or dirty even after you have tried to vacuum them, then it might be time to get professionals involved. Professional carpet and upholstery cleaners have specialized equipment that lets them remove the dirt that is embedded in the fabric, which causes the discoloration. If you’re in a pinch and don’t want your in-laws showing up to damp carpet and upholstery, Chem-Dry might be a better option than traditional steam cleaners. Chem-Dry uses carbonation to clean, allowing them to use less water, so your carpet and upholstery will dry in 1-2 hours.

4. Try to Get Stains Out the Best You Can

Even once carpet and upholstery is clean, stains can make it look dirty. The way to get a stain out depends on the type of stain that you have, but try removing most stains with water first. If that doesn’t work, then try stain or spot removal products. A popular and effective DIY method is a combination of white vinegar and dish soap. Put 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 1 tbsp. of Dawn dish soap in a spray bottle and fill it with water. Spray the stained area and let it soak for 5-10 minutes and then proceed to blot the spot with a clean, dry towel until the stain is removed.

If you still can’t get your stains out after all of that, then it might be time to call a professional. Chem-Dry offers professional stain removal products for just about any stain your carpet could have. Wine, fruit punch, coffee, marker, ink, nail polish, lipstick, and more have been removed by our trained professionals.

5. If You Have Pets, Get Rid of Their Smells

No creature on Earth will love you more than your pets will, but they can make your home smell. Keeping the animal smell out of your home is definitely an ongoing process of cleaning up hair, urine, and whatever other messes your pets make. Vacuuming, wiping, and bathing your pets will help keep their smell at bay, but sometimes, even after all that effort, their smells remain. Pet urine is one of the most difficult stains to remove and one of the stinkiest. That is because urine dries and turns into crystals, embedding in the carpet fiber. If pet urine odor is your problem, then the only way to get rid of it is with special treatment from professionals. Many people make the mistake of trying to mask the urine scent with a candle or spray, but that almost never works. What smells worse than cat pee? Cat pee and ocean breeze.  

Chem-Dry offers a pet urine treatment that dissolves urine crystals and allows them to be removed for good. It works by first finding your urine stains with a blacklight. Next, the area is cleaning with a carpet cleaning process, and then the pet urine remover is added. Once the pet urine remover dries, the smell is gone for good!

Do It Yourself, Or Get Some Help

Cleaning your home well enough to earn the respect of your in-laws can be a lot of work. Depending on how dirty or how big your home is, it may seem overwhelming. You may decide that you want to roll up your sleeve, use some elbow grease, and do it yourself. If you decide that it seems like too much and you would like some help, Chem-Dry is here for you. Give us a call and we can set up a time to help you get your home ready for your in-laws.