Dirt on the floor isn't just unsightly; it's the prime cause of premature wear on floor materials. Dust and grit scratch smooth floor finishes, remove wax and protective coatings, and crush carpet fibers and backings. The solution: simple daily care routines that keep them clean and avoid the need for elbow grease down the road.

Caring for Carpets
The three keys for clean and healthy carpets? Vacuum regularly, treat spills and stains promptly, and have carpets deep cleaned once a year. First rule of carpet care: vacuum regularly, even if the carpet doesn't look dirty. The vacuum delivers a one-two punch: combining suction, which pulls free dust inside the vacuum bag or dirt cup, with agitation from a beater bar, which fans carpet fibers, raising them and releasing dirt and soil. For high-traffic living areas, daily vacuuming keeps carpet dirt under control; less-used rooms, such as guest rooms, still need weekly or bi-weekly attention. Here's how to vacuum carpet for best results:

Inspect the area to be vacuumed. Remove any small objects that could be sucked into the vacuum.

Check the vacuum. Straighten kinked hoses, and empty the dirt cup or vacuum bag if needed.

Plug in the vacuum, and go to it! To save your back, vacuum in short strokes, moving forward across the room. Overlap strokes for even coverage of the carpet.

Work in alternating directions. For best cleaning and to raise carpet nap, make passes across the room in alternating directions. After covering the carpet, turn 90-degrees and vacuum again in a perpendicular direction.

Finish with baseboards and wall edges. Use an extension wand and crevice tool to clean dust from these areas.

Treating Spills and Stains
Speed is of the essence when removing spills and stains from carpeting. The longer stains stand, the more chance that the substance will soak through the carpet backing and pool up in the carpet pad beneath.

To treat liquid spills and stains:

• Blot up as much of a liquid spill as possible. Use clean white cleaning cloths or white paper towels to avoid dye transfer. Continue to blot gently, using fresh cloths, until no more liquid can be absorbed.
• Don't scrub or brush the stain.
• Apply an appropriate carpet spot remover. Spot-test the product in an inconspicuous place before using.

For solid or semi-solid spills:

• Use a spoon or spatula to scrape up as much of the spilled material as possible. Don't use a knife, even a blunt one, as it can harm carpet fibers.
• Allow the spill to dry, then brush gently to release it from carpet fibers. Vacuum up as much of the spilled material as possible.
• Treat any remaining stain with an appropriate spot-remover.