How to Avoid Carpet Stains

If you are so fortunate as to have new carpet in your home, then you know how unnerving it is to see a spot on your new investment. Yes, carpets are made much more stain resistant now than they used to be, but stains still show up. Knowing a few tricks can help avoid getting stains in the first place.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. 

   Avoid spilling food or drinks on the carpet. Children should eat in another room. If serving food, use a tray that can catch any spills. Don't use wine glasses with stems as they tend to tip easier. If serving coffee or tea, use a napkin under the cup to catch any drips that may be on the side or bottom of the cup.

2. 

   Keep dirt outside. So much dirt can be avoided simply by placing a door mat outside the entrance to the room as well as a door mat on top of the carpet as you enter the room. These little mats can be picked up and vacuumed or shaken outside to remove loose dirt. If you have a room that has through traffic then consider using a runner, it is far easier to replace than the whole carpet.

3. 

   Use a protective coating on the rug. There are spray on coatings that will protect your carpet by not allowing stains to penetrate the fibers of the carpet. This can be done professionally at the store where you buy the carpet even before it comes to your home, or you can have a professional do it in your home or, of course, you can apply it yourself.

4. 

   Keep a bottle of peroxide-based carpet cleaner handy. Any time something falls on the capet, wipe up the excess and then spray it with the peroxide cleaner. There is no soapy residue with this method and the stains never have a chance to set. The peroxide in this spray is stronger than simple hydrogen peroxide found in the drug aisle. It is useful for wine, tomato, dirt and most any other unknown stain. If you can tell a stain is greasy, a little dish detergent should break the grease with a little scrubbing. Just be sure to rinse it with a damp cloth and then blot dry.

5. 

   Keep your carpet vacuumed. This is so important. Dirt will end up on your carpet but if it is lifted before it has a chance to settle down into the carpet your carpet will stay much cleaner. After weeks and months of dirt settling into the fibers the color will actually change in the carpet, losing its freshness. Invest in a vacuum cleaner that has good sucking power, preferably without a bag that will get filled up and slow down the performance. Just make sure to keep all the filters clean for best airflow.