To many households, carpet cleaning is a source of worry. Carpets indeed add beauty and comfort to any house where they are spread. This is because they make people feel comfortable and relaxed. However, keeping the carpet in prime shape so as to retain their original look is what most people don't know how to do.

Some homeowners use a portable vacuum-like steam cleaner on their carpets, while others call in the professional carpet cleaners to take care of it. Obviously the professional cleaners have the expertise and more powerful equipment to do the best job, but sometimes you might need to clean just one spot or need a little touch up between deep cleanings. Here are some simple tips to guide you in taking the best care of your carpet.

• First, do not walk on the carpet wearing your shoes. Doing this will definitely help reduce the amount of dirt getting onto the carpet. If you must walk into the rooms with your shoes on, make sure you remove the dirt and debris that may cling to your shoes. Keep a good quality door mat at the entrance.

• Daily vacuuming of the carpet will help reduce accumulation of dry soils. If you have trouble vacuuming often, there are programmable robotic vacuums for your convenience.

• Make sure you clean any stain or spill on the carpet as soon as possible. The longer you allow this to linger, the harder it is for it to be removed. Odors can also come from untreated spills.

• When trying to get rid of a stain, do not rub on the carpet in a fast motion. This will only cause the dirt to spread and also weaken the fibers of the carpet itself.

• Do not use harsh chemical cleaning substances while trying to spot clean a stain. Rather, use a mild, low residue cleaning solution to take care of it. Even a plain water rinse is helpful.

• When a cleaned stain reappears at the same spot, then you know that wicking has taken place. This is as a result of the pool of liquid that was used to clean the spot not drying quickly enough. To avoid this when trying to clean a spot with any liquid, make sure you extracted as much of the liquid as possible. Placing a fan near the wet spot will help it dry more quickly.

• Do your best to steam clean your carpet regularly. At least every six months-more often if you have multiple people/pets in your home. You can hire professional steam cleaners or do it yourself if you have the equipment.

• If you like a fresh scent on your carpet, there are a multitude of deodorizers that can be used, although they're not necessary.

Some of the above carpet cleaning processes may seem cumbersome. But the most important things you need to do to keep your carpet looking nice are to vacuum often and spot clean as soon as possible when needed. Then you can hire a professional when you're ready for a deep cleaning.