As soon as December arrives in Ottawa, I notice a big shift in the homes we care for. The windows are closed, the furnace is running more often, boots are coming in wet and salty, and everyone is spending much more time indoors. It’s cozy, but it’s also the time of year when carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture are put under the most stress.

That’s exactly why I see December as the perfect month for a full deep clean. Before winter really settles in, I like to help families across Ottawa, Barrhaven, Kanata, Nepean, Orleans, and Manotick reset their homes so they can enjoy a cleaner, healthier, more comfortable space all season long.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through why December is ideal for carpet and upholstery cleaning, what I focus on when I come to your home, and how a proper deep clean protects your investment and improves your indoor environment.

Why I Recommend December for Deep Cleaning

Many people assume spring is the best time for a big clean, but in my experience, December has a special advantage. Here’s why I encourage Ottawa homeowners to book before the heart of winter:

  • You’re about to live indoors much more. Once the snow and wind pick up, most of your time will be spent inside. Clean carpets and upholstery make a huge difference in how your home feels day to day.

  • Salt and grit are about to become daily visitors. Entrances in Ottawa, Barrhaven, Kanata and surrounding areas get hit hard with road salt and sand. If carpets are already dirty when that starts, the abrasive particles cause even more wear.

  • Holiday traffic is on the way. Family gatherings, dinners, and overnight guests mean more foot traffic, more spills, and more wear on your fibers. It’s much easier to maintain clean carpets than to rescue badly soiled ones in January.

  • Your home is sealed shut. With windows closed, indoor air quality depends heavily on how clean your soft surfaces are. Fibers act like filters, and they need to be cleared out once in a while.

By taking care of a deep clean in December, you start the snow season on the right foot instead of fighting an uphill battle позже.

What Winter Really Does to Carpets and Upholstery

Ottawa-area winters are beautiful, but they’re tough on everything under your roof. Here’s what I see carpets and upholstery battling year after year in Ottawa, Nepean, Orleans and Manotick:

  • Road salt & sand: This combination gets ground into entrance carpets, area rugs, and hallways. It doesn’t just look bad; it literally scratches and wears down fibers.

  • Moisture from boots: Melted snow leads to damp spots that can cause odors or, in worst cases, contribute to mold and mildew if not properly dried.

  • Dry indoor air: Heated indoor air is often dry, which can make fibers feel rough, attract static, and hold onto dust.

  • More everyday use: Sofas, sectionals, and area rugs get far more use in December, January, and February than they do in July and August.

If we don’t step in early in the season, all of that activity works its way deeper into the fabric and backing. A December reset removes the earlier buildup and gives your floors and furniture a much better chance of staying clean through the cold months.

How I Approach a December Deep Clean

When I visit a home in Ottawa or nearby areas for a winter-prep cleaning, I follow a step-by-step process. My goal is always the same: clean deeply, protect fibers, and leave everything as fresh and comfortable as possible.

1. Walkthrough & Inspection

First, I walk through the home with you. I like to see:

  • Which areas get the most daily traffic

  • Where pets spend their time

  • Any visible spots or stains that are bothering you

  • Stairways, hallways, and entrances in places like Barrhaven or Kanata that see the worst of the winter mess

This lets me build a cleaning plan that focuses on the areas that matter most for you and your family.

2. Thorough Pre-Vacuuming

Before any water or cleaning solution is used, I spend time on dry soil removal. This step is critical and too often rushed through. I use slow, overlapping passes with a quality vacuum to pull up:

  • Fine dust

  • Grit and sand

  • Loose dander and hair

I pay special attention to transition areas: front doors, garage entries, and the main routes from room to room. In homes across Nepean, Orleans and Ottawa, these transition zones are where most of the dirt and debris settle.

3. Spot and Salt Treatment

Next, I focus on visible problem areas:

  • Salt lines or white marks near doorways

  • Drink and food spills in the living room

  • Pet accidents in favorite lounging spots

  • High-traffic gray lanes down hallways

I use fiber-safe solutions designed for the type of carpet or upholstery you have. The aim is to loosen and lift the contamination, not simply fade it or push it deeper into the backing.

4. Deep Carpet Cleaning

Once preparation is done, I move on to the main cleaning. Depending on the carpet and your home’s conditions, I use methods like:

  • Hot-water extraction for deep soil removal and rinsing

  • Low-moisture cleaning when fast dry times or delicate conditions are a priority

Both approaches are designed to:

  • Remove embedded soil that vacuums alone can’t reach

  • Rinse away residues so fibers feel soft and natural

  • Help reset the carpet so it’s easier to maintain for the rest of the winter

In homes from Kanata to Manotick, I’ve seen this single step change the entire feel of a space.

5. Upholstery & Soft Furniture Care

Carpets get a lot of attention, but upholstery is just as important. Sofas, love seats, armchairs, and dining chairs absorb:

  • Skin oils

  • Pet hair

  • Fine dust and crumbs

  • Odors from cooking and daily life

I pre-vacuum the fabric, treat individual spots, and then clean the upholstery using the appropriate process for the material. Afterward, furniture not only looks better, it feels more comfortable and smells fresher. During winter, when you’re curled up on the couch in Ottawa or Barrhaven most evenings, this makes a huge difference.

6. Drying & Post-Grooming

Drying is part of cleaning. I make sure carpets and upholstery are set up to dry quickly and evenly. That may involve:

  • Setting fibers in the right direction (grooming)

  • Encouraging airflow with fans or open interior doors

  • Offering guidance on how long to wait before moving furniture back or walking on certain areas

The result is clean, comfortable surfaces without that damp, heavy feeling.

How a December Clean Changes Your Winter

When we finish a December deep clean in an Ottawa or Kanata home, homeowners usually notice some changes right away:

  • The home smells neutral and fresh, not perfumed or heavily scented.

  • Carpets feel softer and “lighter” underfoot, especially in living rooms and bedrooms.

  • Upholstery looks brighter and feels cleaner, which makes the whole space more inviting.

  • Everyday vacuuming becomes more effective because soil and grit aren’t already packed deep into the pile.

Most importantly, families tell me they feel more comfortable having guests over and more relaxed about kids and pets spending time on the floor.

Simple Winter Habits That Help Maintain the Clean

After I leave, there are a few simple habits that help you keep your Ottawa-area home in great shape through December, January, and February:

  • Use proper entrance mats at each exterior door and keep them vacuumed. They catch a surprising amount of salt and grit.

  • Make shoes-off the norm. This one change is a huge help for carpets in Barrhaven, Nepean, and beyond.

  • Vacuum high-traffic areas weekly. Focus on hallways, stairs, and the paths between rooms.

  • Wipe up spills right away. Blot gently with a clean cloth instead of scrubbing.

  • Rotate area rugs once or twice over the winter to spread out wear.

These small steps turn your December deep clean into a strong foundation for a cleaner winter.

Why I See This as an Investment, Not Just a Cleaning

After working for years in homes throughout Ottawa, Kanata, Barrhaven, Nepean, Orleans, and Manotick, I’ve watched what happens when carpets and upholstery are regularly maintained versus when they’re ignored until they look really bad.

Routine professional cleaning:

  • Helps carpets last longer, delaying expensive replacement

  • Keeps upholstery from becoming tired, discolored, or permanently stained

  • Supports healthier indoor air, especially during long heating seasons

  • Makes homes more pleasant and welcoming for family and guests

December just happens to be the perfect time to get all those benefits right when you need them most.

Professional Call-to-Action

If you’d like to start winter with a truly fresh home, I’d be happy to help.

Book your December deep clean today and get your home winter-ready.
I’ll take care of your carpets, rugs, and upholstery so you can enjoy a cleaner, more comfortable space all season long.

📞 Call 613-733-7250 or ✉️ email admin@cleanit.ca to request your free estimate.

I proudly serve Ottawa, Barrhaven, Kanata, Nepean, Orleans, and Manotick.

Family Pride in Every Job.