1. Ounce of prevention: vacuum every day!

Every day, people and pets deposit small amounts of dirt impossible to see with the naked eye, but these particles have rough edges which can actually cut into individual fibers, releasing them from the yarn and giving your carpet a worn, fuzzy look in high-traffic areas. Vacuuming every day also prevents dirt from being ground into the fibers, making your carpet easier to deep clean when the time comes.

2. Out, darn spot!

To remove a fresh spot, use cold water and a white towel. Get the area wet, lay the folded towel over the spot, and weigh it down. In fifteen minutes a lot of the stain should have transferred to the towel. Keep repeating with a fresh towel until the towel comes away clean. If the stain remains, or is not water soluble to begin with (like ink or grease) call the professionals. They have the training to use solvents properly and the experience to know if it's a lost cause.

3. Hot, Hot, Hot!

Go for the hot water extraction method of professional carpet cleaning. Most carpet is made of durable synthetic fibers. These carpet fibers are heat-set, which means that as the yarn was twisted in the factory, heat was applied to “set” the twist. Everyday foot traffic can crush these fibers, allowing the twist in the yarn to relax, leaving the surface of the carpet with an uneven, worn look. A truck mounted carpet steamer, the kind used by professional carpet cleaners, heats the water to the hottest temperature and also carries a powerful vacuum unit. The heat of the water will activate the fiber's “memory”, allowing it to re-twist to a like-new appearance. The vacuum will extract most of the water, along with the soil, leaving your carpet fresh and renewed.

4. Do-It Yourselfer?

If you are looking to save money, it is possible to buy or rent a carpet cleaning machine and get excellent results. Make sure the unit has an on-board heater and always follow manufacturer instructions in regards to the type and amount of cleaning solution. Extract the water from the carpet until it feels almost dry. Soaking the carpet can cause the breakdown of the latex that holds your carpet together. This is called delamination, which is a condition that cannot be fixed.

5. If you put it on, take it off!

Any product, whether you purchase it for your own use or if it is offered by the professional cleaner, needs to be rinsed off of the carpet. That means you, or the pro, need to clean the carpet twice, the second time with plain water, to remove any residue. Detergent residue will make your carpet sticky, causing it to hold on to dirt and look soiled and worn much faster than before. So make sure it gets rinsed, and then your carpet will stay cleaner longer.