Regular carpet cleaning is a very important task. Neglecting the carpet causes dirt, dust, mold and mildew to collect in the carpet fibers. This causes your carpet to break down and shortens its life span. Worse, the dust and mold in the carpet can actually make you sick, especially if you have asthma or allergies. Luckily, it’s not difficult to keep your carpet clean, whether you use carpet cleaning machines or carpet cleaning services.

Normal Carpet Cleaning

Regular carpet cleaning and maintenance is key to keeping your carpet looking fresh and new. Clean spills as soon as they happen–the longer a stain sits, the harder it is to get out. Do not use liquid shampoo during a carpet cleaning. It’s very difficult to rinse thoroughly, and leaves a residue that attracts more dirt. Dry carpet shampoo is fine.

Vacuum your carpet regularly. If you’re in a pinch, a carpet sweeper does a passable job, but your carpet needs regular thorough vacuuming to get rid of the dirt before it destroys the carpet fibers. The best vacuums have dual motors and a beater bar to loosen dirt. If you spot indentations from furniture in the carpet, move the furniture and allow an ice cube to melt in the indented spot. The moisture helps the carpet fibers puff back up to their normal position. A steam iron held above the carpet works in this situation, too. However, don’t let the iron actually touch the carpet fibers.

Deep Carpet Cleaning

Your carpet needs a deep carpet cleaning at least once a year. Steam cleaning is the most effective way to do this. This method uses a combination of hot water and suction power to loosen the dirt and mildew from the carpet.

Some homeowners choose to hire carpet cleaning services to do this job. Professionals near you may offer carpet cleaning coupons to cut down on the price. The obvious benefit to using carpet cleaning services is the convenience. However, others may opt to do the carpet cleaning themselves by buying or renting carpet cleaning machines.

If you choose to do the carpet cleaning yourself, move your furniture into a different room, if possible. Vacuum the floor thoroughly, then begin going over the carpet with the steam cleaner. Try to only pass over the floor once so the carpet doesn’t get soaked. Allow the carpet to dry thoroughly, and then vacuum one more time to get out the last remaining bits of dirt.

Green Carpet Cleaning

Many people don’t like to use harsh chemicals on their carpets during carpet cleaning because of environmental concerns. If this is an issue for you, try these eco-friendly, green carpet cleaning tips:

• Clean spills using club soda. It works on most stains, including red wine.
• Hire green carpet cleaning services that don’t use products containing butyl cellusolve (a toxic chemical often found in carpet cleaning products).
• Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet a few minutes before vacuuming. It naturally deodorizes and refreshes the carpet.