Your carpets represent a sizable investment. It would make sense to take measures that would extend the life of your investment. With routine cleaning and basic maintenance, a quality carpet can last 20 years or more.
The life and beauty of your carpet depends on many factors. The texture and color will partly determine how much soil shows, but the two most important factors for soil and stain control are the density of the fibers in the carpet and the types of fibers. If the carpet is dense, it will be more difficult for spills or dirt to penetrate deep within the carpet.
Some carpet fibers resist dirt better or are easier to maintain:
Carpet manufactures suggest that owners should vacuum heavy traffic areas every day to prevent dirt and soil from being ground into the deeper parts of carpets. Given the busy world of today, however, it is difficult to do this. Just note that even 2-3 times per week will help maintain the beauty and durability of your carpet.
The key to handling spills is to clean them up immediately. Even carpets with a stain-resistant treatments will work better if the spill is addressed immediately. Spills left unattended will begin a chemical reaction with the carpet fibers and make it extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible, to remove.
Again, the most important step is to act quickly. Remove any solids in the spill and blot up as much of the liquid that you can. Test a spot removing chemical on a carpet scrap or an inconspicuous area before applying to the stain. Once verified that the chemical will not discolor your carpet, apply the spot removing chemical with a towel or a sponge. Be careful not to over wet the area with the chemical. Work from the outside edge toward the center so that you don't spread the stain. When the spot is removed, blot up as much of the moisture as possible. Place a thick stack of paper towels over the area and apply pressure. When the carpet is completely dry, vacuum to restore the carpet fibers to their upright position.
Blot spill immediately. Apply detergent and vinegar solution. Rinse and blot dry. Apply dry cleaning fluid if needed, let dry. Repeat if necessary. Brush pile.
Blot spill immediately. Apply dry cleaning fluid. Blot dry. If necessary, apply detergent solution (see Spot and stain removal kit). Rinse and blot dry. Repeat steps if necessary. Brush pile.
Blot liquid immediately. Apply several applications of clean, lukewarm water. Then apply vinegar/water solution (see Spot and stain removal kit). Blot and allow to dry. Apply the detergent solution. Blot dry. Reapply vinegar solution and let stand for about 15 minutes. Rinse, blot and allow to dry.
