Carpets are a great flooring option for a home, but they require regular maintenance just like tile floors and hard surfaces. This includes vacuuming to remove surface dirt and debris and spot stain treatments, such as using commercially available carpet cleaners, if needed.

Despite your best efforts, dirt and stains are bound to accumulate on your carpet over time. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to make your carpets look and smell great.

The first step is to vacuum the entire carpet to remove loose dirt and debris. Depending on the number of people and pets in your home, you should vacuum about once a week or more.

Vacuuming can help prevent a lot of common carpet problems such as pet dander, dust and even dirt trapped between carpet fibers. It also helps to remove crumbs that may become stuck on the surface of your carpet, which will reduce the likelihood of your carpets becoming stained from those crumbs.

Another way to clean your carpets is by using a professional cleaning service. These professionals use professional grade equipment and techniques to deep-clean your carpets. They can remove ground-in odors and stains, as well as extract water and solvents from the carpet.

A professional cleaner will also use a method called hot-water extraction, which uses a high-pressure wand to spray the carpets with extremely hot water. This process dissolves dirt and mud, making it easy to extract from your carpets.

This method is often used to clean areas with high traffic, but it can also be used on areas that aren’t prone to stains or dirt buildup. It’s also an effective way to remove pet odors and urine.

Regardless of the method used, the final step in carpet cleaning is to thoroughly dry your carpets. Lingering moisture can lead to mildew and mold. If your carpets are left damp, they can also trap more dirt and odors.

Once your carpets are completely dry, you can walk on them again. Be sure to move furniture and other items that could become damaged or dirty during the drying process.

Baking soda can be used to pretreat spots and stains on your carpets. It’s a great natural cleaner and can help to remove any spills, oily stains or odors.

A baking soda-and-salt mixture can be sprinkled over your carpet and then spritzed with steam to help loosen soil and stains. You can use table salt or Kosher salt, and you should mix the solution in a bucket or small bowl.

It’s important to use the right amount of baking soda in order to ensure that it doesn’t over-wet your carpet. If you do use too much, it can actually cause stains to set in.

Lastly, be sure to test any cleaner you are considering on a small area to ensure that it won’t harm your carpet in any way. This will give you a better idea of how it will perform in your home and make you more comfortable with the results before applying it to the entire carpet.

How to Keep Your Carpets Looking Great and Smelling Fresh

How to Keep Your Carpets Clean