Keeping carpets looking their best and extending their lifespan is simple with the right care and upkeep.

Taking care of carpet shouldn’t be rocket science, but it’s getting that way — there’s so much misinformation out there.

What type of carpet is easiest to clean?

Wool is the standard for carpet, but many of the new types are made primarily with nylon. When I moved into my home I had nylon wall-to-wall carpet installed and it was awesome with stain removal. It cleaned up fast and easy. But, although nylon has a little more stain resistance than wool, wool will wear much better. So, your wool carpets may not be as easy to remove stains but it handles traffic better and colors don’t fade as quickly. Either way, don’t expect your carpets to last more than 5 years – some say 10 years but don’t believe them. With our family of 5 (and 2 dogs) 5 years is it. But your mileage will vary.

What about the color and the pile?

The color matters less than you’d think. The type and quality are what matters. It’s not that hard to keep white clean, and it doesn’t show dust. The darker the color the more you see dirt or dust. The type of pile isn’t as important as you may think either. Cut pile is easier to clean than loop pile, since loops have places to hide dirt, but loop pile doesn’t get matted down and crushed by traffic. Berber carpets don’t show the traffic as much, but still clean up easy which is why they’re popular.

What can I do to keep my carpet nice and clean?

It’s definitaly best to have a no-shoes policy. But keep your socks (or slippers) on. Walking around in bare feet leaves behind natural oils that attract dirt. Vacuum frequently. Use a top-load vacuum, so the dirt falls inward, and HEPA filters. I have a Dyson vacuum and it does very well, but it needs frequent cleaning. If your vacuum is a Kirby, or other type with a bag, change the vacuum bag often or the dust just falls back on the carpet. If you have cut pile, use a beater-bar attachment to break the surface tension and loosen dirt. But don’t use it on loop pile — you don’t want to break the loops.

I’m a pet lover, so have 2 dogs and 2 cats. Hair can create an odor in the carpet if pets shed so brushing pets often is the best thing you can do. Wet paws are also trouble, so having a towel by the door is handy to wipe their paws in the winter months. And, if they have a “mistake” on the carpet – don’t panic! Paper towels work best to absorb the urine. Then a bit of water on a towel to wash it out. But, avoid dousing the floor or area with perfume, fresheners, or scents. These can push the odors deeper into the carpet, or even damage it.

What do I do in case of a spill?

Act quickly. Blot and blot, pushing down with a white terrycloth towel or paper towel. Don’t rub, or else you’ll cause ‘nap distortion.’ Scrubbing really hard will cause the fibers fray. It’s also good to invest in a spot extractor to have on hand. It could cost around $100, but may be worth it if your carpets cost thousands. Use a little neutral soap in the extractor like Woolite, don’t over-wet the spot, extract as much rinse water as you can, and dry the spot with a hair dryer. Again, don’t panic and start using harsh chemical stain removers. They can fade the color and damage your carpets.

How do you recommend protecting carpet from heavy furniture feet?

It’s not so much the indentations you should be concerned about, it’s the wear and tear from chairs being moved around a lot. Above all we recommend putting a plastic chair mat under your desk chair.

How important is carpet padding?

Very! Padding is sometimes the most overlooked component when buying wall-to-wall carpet. Padding absorbs shock, and reduces wear considerably. Quality padding also makes the surface more inviting to walk on. What we recommend is that it’s more important to splurge on padding than carpet.

Are there different cleaning methods for the different kinds of carpet fibers?

Always clean with hot-water extraction. That means bringing in professionals to prespray the carpet, agitate it to loosen the dirt, work in the soap, and really rinse and extract the wastewater. Any treatment less thorough will leave behind a soapy film, which will dry and then keep cleaning the bottoms of the shoes and feet of everyone who walks past — leaving dirt that adheres to the carpet.

Is it okay to clean with one of those shampooing machines you can rent?

Renting a carpet steamer can be a great idea. But, no shampooing! Lots of people use the term “shampooing” to refer to any carpet cleaning. But let’s be clear – do not use soap on your carpets. It never completely comes out, and when it drys dirt sticks to the soap residue.

How do I choose a good cleaning service?

It’s important to find a reputable company with insurance and some IICRC qualifications — that stands for Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification certifiedcleaners.org. If you’re unsure it might be a good idea to ask them some technical questions, like “What’s the maximum pH you’ll use in a cleaning solution?” (answer is 10 for nylon or 8.2 for wool). You should expect to pay around $.50/foot for cleaning, but not more than $1/foot. Lower estimates may be a red flag, but don’t be afraid of smaller services that charge a bit less. Some of the larger services offer coupons like “2 rooms for $50”, then try to up-sell you on other services. Keep an eye out for that, and don’t hire these high-pressure services.

How often should I call in the professionals?

Cleaning your carpets three or four times a year is about right, for a room heavily used by young kids. The less trafficked areas can be cleaned once or twice year, and you could get away with every 18 months for a bedroom. Once you see that your carpet’s dirty, you probably should have it cleaned. Not mainly for the appearance, but for health reasons — getting rid of dust, mold, bacteria, and mildew, the pollutants that get trapped in soft surfaces.