If you’re having a lot of people over to your place, it can be exciting, nerve-wracking, and a bit overwhelming. There are a lot of details you need to think about. You’ll want to consider your menu plan, how you’ll send out your invites, if you’ll have a theme, who you’ll invite, and so much more. There are also other things to think about, like how you’ll keep your floors from getting damaged.
As much as you may love your friends and family, you know that having a lot of people over can come with some consequences. A lot of people means a lot of foot traffic. Not everyone will be as careful as you are. There could be spills, scuff marks, scratches, and more. It can be a challenge to keep things in good condition when there are so many people treading through your house.
The good news is, that doesn’t mean you can’t invite your friends and family over for a big to-do, it just means you might want to take some preventative measures. In this blog, we’ll discuss some of the things you can do to help protect your flooring, so you can better enjoy your party without having to worry about whether your floor is going to get damaged.
1. Contain the trash
Putting trashcans in all the main areas can help encourage guests to throw out their trash promptly so that it’s not sitting somewhere that it could be easily knocked over. Also, having multiple trashcans helps to avoid them from being overfilled and spilling over onto your floor.
2. Put down floor protectors or use a protectant spray
There is a clear protective film that’s temporary which can be applied to the flooring to help protect it from being damaged. Another product on the market is a protectant spray that is applied to carpets and rugs.
3. Offer a marker for their beverages
Guests will often leave beverage containers laying around because they don’t remember which one was theirs. That can lead to some potential spills. If they know which drink is theirs, there is less chance of beverages being left behind.
If you’re serving up water or soda bottles, you can write numbers on the bottle caps so that it identifies them. You can also provide a permanent marker for bottles, cans, or plastic cups. In addition, they sell wine markers that can be used on glasses. These are removable and wipe off.
4. Request that people remove shoes
You know how many people you’re inviting and who you’re inviting, so it’s up to you if you want to go this route. But, having guests remove their shoes prior to entry into your house can help protect your floor and keep dirt from getting inside. If you do request that people remove their shoes, it can be helpful to add a sign at the door so that guests know what you prefer. Also, have a place where guests can place their shoes so they don’t just pile up at the entryway. To make this more fun for guests, consider adding a party favor like fuzzy socks, slippers, or flip-flops for guests to use in the house.
5. Put welcome mats at every entry point
You never know what guests will bring into your house from the outside. Putting welcome mats at every entry point can help clean their shoes a little before they come inside. You can also add a sign at the entryways that ask guests to please wipe their feet.
6. Close off certain areas
You may choose to close off certain areas to help better protect your flooring and that is perfectly okay. It’s your house, close the doors to any rooms that you don’t want guests to venture into.
7. Try to contain the food in certain locations
Encourage guests to eat in certain rooms if you’re concerned about guests spilling their food or beverages in specific areas. Serve the food and offer tables in ideal locations.
8. Have an outdoor party
If it’s a nice day, throw the party outside so that there are fewer people traipsing indoors.
9. Put pads under furniture legs
Protect your floor from being scratched by adding pads to all of your furniture legs. You can’t guarantee a guest will lift their chair before moving it.
10. Serve clear liquids
If you’re able to, stick to clear liquids to help protect your floor from bright red or dark brown stains. This may require a little creativity but it is possible.
11. Place rugs in high-traffic spaces
Use rugs to protect areas where people will be in the most. You can place these down hallways, in the center of your kitchen, under your dining room table, or even over your carpet.
12. Keep stain removers handy
Have stain removers on hand in case they’re needed. The quicker you can tackle a stain the better.
13. Create a cleaning plan
Before you even host the party, have a plan in mind for how you’ll clean up. Will you hire a professional cleaner afterward, will you shampoo the carpet if needed, etc.?
14. Evaluate the property immediately afterward
Right after the party is over take time to inspect it. You may feel tired and want to save the mess for the next day, but to help better protect your flooring, it’s a good idea to take a quick survey. Check to see if there are any spills that need to be cleaned up or stains that need taken care of in a timely fashion.
You can see that there are plenty of ways to protect your flooring even when you’re set to have a big gathering. It just takes a little know-how, planning, and prevention. We hope you enjoy your next big to-do.
If you’re looking for new flooring or area rugs to help protect your flooring, please come see us at Carpets America.