Allow us to continue to introduce you to your Ritz-Carlton Chicago family.

As 16-year veteran carpet cleaner, Willie House has stripped, sealed and shampooed his way through over 300,000 square feet of carpet, marble and hardwood floors at The Ritz-Carlton Chicago, recently named “Best Hotel In The United States” by Condé Nast Traveler for a record seventh year.

Armed with his “portable office” of over 100 cleaning solvents and brushes, House patrols the hotel lobby and restaurants several times a day, looking for unwelcome scuffs and stains.

He also maintains the Hotel’s 435 guestrooms – including over 100,000 yards of drapery and fabric-upholstered furnishings - with his expert care.

“I love the challenge of getting stains and scratches out,” says House, “Sometimes I try several chemicals and treatments before I am successful. I have to diagnose the problem first.”

Coffee stains are his most frequent adversaries. It can set quickly in carpet, so he blasts it with a neutralizer to stop the stain from spreading and becoming permanent, then removes it by applying a coffee stain remover.

Red wine is a close second and House combats it with the “transfer method.” A pre-oil carpet spotter is applied, then a damp white cloth is placed on top of the stain and a hot steam iron is placed atop that, transferring the stain to the cloth.

House has developed a conscientious carpet and surface-cleaning program for The Ritz-Carlton Chicago. Most cleaning products are odorless, allergy-sensitive, pet-friendly and minimize any lasting residue.

On your next visit to The Ritz-Carlton Chicago, be sure to say hello to Willie House. He'll be the employee looking down in his job.