Vacuum on a weekly basis to clean away dust and the grit brought in from outside as if left it will play havoc with the fibres of your carpet, and do it twice a week in those areas with high traffic, paying attention to the area nearest the entrance doors.

A vacuum cleaner is your valuable aid to keeping your carpet looking fresh between cleanings so purchase the best you can afford… the adage “You get what you pay for” is very true in the case of Vacuum Cleaners so do your homework.

Try to get your carpet cleaned every 18 months or so. The time between cleanings will depend on the state of your carpet.
There are different cleaning methods and a reputable professional carpet cleaner will be able to help you with this. Ultimately your decision depends on a few other things such as:

• The condition of the carpet.
• Importantly are there any allergies maybe to the chemicals that might be used, yours and perhaps those of pets or children.
• Also, how long will the rooms be out of use? The duration of the cleaning and drying process is an important consideration with children or pets in the household.

DIY cleaning method can save you money. Either hire a good machine for this or buy one if you plan to continue doing this yourself. Before you start pick up as much dirt as possible with your vacuum cleaner. For the DIY enthusiasts ensure you use a good quality cleaning agent for the job but do keep in mind that there can be a few problems associated with DIY if you do not follow directions very carefully.

Over wetting can be one of the problems and could encourage mould and mildew to grow on the backing of your carpet. Be careful of the cleaning solution you use also, especially if you have pets in the house. A safe inexpensive solution to use in place of chemicals is distilled white vinegar that you mix as you would any cleaning solution, or purchase a gentle cleaner.

After DIY cleaning there might be a little residue left so make sure you thoroughly go over your carpet with a good quality Vacuum Cleaner as soon as it is dry to lift what remains because if it is left it will increase soiling over a short time.