Just running a vacuum over your carpets isn’t enough to clean all of them all the time. Often a more focused cleaning is necessary. And dirty carpets are one of the most instant turn-offs for guests.

It’s important to have a well-stocked arsenal to deal with most any carpet cleaning challenge.

One of the worst is urine on carpets. Heaven knows how it happens so often but it does. General cleaners sometimes have difficulty fully removing urine stains, since they’re designed to remove the water soluble components of urine (urea and urochrome) but can’t really deal with the uric acid crystals, which remain long-term and are what turn into urine stains and odours.

Environmentally-safe custom carpet cleaning products such as “urineFREE” get rid of urine from not only carpets but other other surfaces as well. It (or another product like it) belongs on pretty much every hotel housekeeping cart.

Be careful not to use chlorinated super-cleaning products designed for urine, vomit and other difficult water-based spills. They will damage your carpets. Make sure the product specifically says it’s intended for use on carpeting.

Instead of simply running a vacuum over carpet that doesn’t require any special cleaning treatment, give your housekeepers a deodorising powder to shake out on the carpet every so often, designed to get rid of odours and give the entire room that fresh smell that guests appreciate.

Finally, it pays off to have at least a compact carpet washing machine designed for heavy-duty hospitality industry work. Look for one that your staff can carry relatively easily, especially up and down stairs, otherwise it will sit unused. They’re invaluable for the kind of spot cleaning that saves entire carpets, and there are models available that can be stored easily in your housekeeping area.