A massive number of rooms in American homes are covered in carpet, and if they aren't upkept it can really take away from the overall appearance, aesthetics and the entire feel of the home. Carpets & rugs have a way of holding onto messes that accumulate over the years which can be a deposit for dust, allergens, dust mites, bacteria, pet stains from dirty paws, urine & fecal matter, etc. Follow these easy steps to improve the living quality in your home for you and your family.

1. Usage of Entry Way Door Mats

Dropping a mat on the carpets at each entry point is a great way to keep the outdoors elements from tracking into your house. You can use a cheap and simple clear plastic mat or decide to splurge a bit and get a nice ornate rug. Either way, the mess will be confined to that area which is a lot easier to clean up than tending to a permanently affixed carpet.

2. Regular Vacuuming

Vacuuming with a central vacuuming system is a great way to pull most of the aforementioned substances from your carpets & rugs. The spinning brushes combined with strong suction can pull up to 80% of the filth and send it to a centralized bin at the motor & fan location. One safety factor to consider when using a central vacuuming system to to ensure the bin does not become too full. This is especially a concern when furry dogs or cats are in the house that shed a lot. If overfilled, the fur can compress and if the air isn't being pull through the filter properly the bin can overheat, possibly resulting in a fire. So ensure your bin is checked and emptied at least once a month.

3. Quick Clean-Ups

The longer a fresh spill sits on carpet, the more difficult it will be to completely get the stain. If something, such as red wine makes contact with your carpet, ensure it's attended to as quickly as possible. There are great products with which if they are applied immediately there won't even be a hint that there was ever a spill in the first place. A product commonly used in by a company called Resolve. They have liquid and powder cleaners, the choice if yours.

4. Carpet Treatments

There are several products on the market which create a hydrophobic layer between the fibers of your carpets and the surrounding air. If liquids of any kind make contact with the carpet, with these products applied, the liquids will run off the fibers like water off a duck's back. These types of products can be applied by yourself or with the help a professional carpet service. One of the major products on the market is primarily comprised of Teflon. Shop around and see what options are available in your area.

5. Steam

There's no better way to pull dirt, grime and bacteria from carpets than steam cleaning. The high temperatures and pressures kill almost all trapped bacteria and dust mites while using the properties of steamy hot water combined with a powerful truck-mounted vacuum to suck out any remaining filth not captured by conventional vacuuming. It's recommended to use this sort of service annually or bi-annually.

6. Rented Units

While not as effective as hiring a professional carpet cleaning service which uses steam technology, rented units are far superior than vacuuming alone. The price comparison between renting a unit and hiring a service really isn't that far apart. The peace of mind knowing the job is done correctly and not having to go to the local grocery store, lug the unit home then have to clean it afterwards and return it on time is worth the cost difference in my personal opinion.