Preventive Maintenance:

• Walk-off mats should be used at all entrances to absorb soil and moisture, and mats should be cleaned regularly so they don't become sources of soil themselves, especially during inclement weather. Try to keep your sidewalks and entranceways free of excessive dirt and substances which can be tracked into your home.

• The most important step in caring for your carpet is vacuuming. Vacuum thoroughly and frequently, particularly in high-traffic areas. Bear in mind that walking on soiled carpet permits the soil particles to work their way below the surface of the pile where they are far more difficult to remove and can damage the fibers. Frequent vacuuming removes these particles from the surface before this happens. For rooms with light traffic, vacuum the traffic lanes twice weekly and the entire area once weekly. Up to three passes of the machine will suffice for light soiling, but five to seven passes are necessary for heavily soiled areas. Change the vacuuming direction occasionally to help stand the pile upright, reduce matting, and for the maximum soil removal. Up to 79% of all carpet soil is removable with proper vacuum maintenance

Spot and Spill Removal:

• No carpet is absolutely stain proof. Some carpets have stain resistant treatments to improve your ability to clean up stains, not prevent stains.

• Carpets with soil resistant treatments reduce the rate of soiling, but all carpets require regular care and maintenance.

• It should be noted that there is often confusion about the difference between soiling and staining, and the majority of stain components are actually soil-related.

• For example, many sugar-based spills, such as soft drinks and coffee, leave a sugar residue after removal; this sticky residue readily attracts soil from ordinary shoe traffic, and the resulting discolored area appears to be a stain. The same thing happens when spills are cleaned with a detergent solution and the area is not sufficiently rinsed with plain water, leaving a sticky detergent residue.

• It is important to rinse thoroughly with water and blot dry after removing any spill Prompt attention to spots and spills is essential. No carpet is stain proof, although many are stain resistant, which allows time to act. 

• Remove as much of food spills as possible by scraping gently with a spoon or dull knife.  Absorb wet spills as quickly as possible by blotting repeatedly with white paper or cloth towels. 

• Always blot; never rub or scrub abrasively, as a fuzzy area may result. When blotting, work from the outer edge in toward the center of the spot to avoid spreading the spill.  Always follow up with water to remove detergent residue that may become sticky and cause rapid re-soiling. 

• Draw out any remaining moisture by placing several layers of white towels over the spot and weigh them down with a heavy object that will not transfer color, such as a plastic jug of water.