Carpet cleaning sometimes feels like a bigger task than what it really is. We've all reached that point in which we've used the line, “I'll get to it tomorrow,” but before we know it tomorrow turns into next week and next week turns into next month. Hopefully next month doesn't turn into next year, but no matter when you embark on your carpet cleaning endeavors; carpet cleaning doesn't have to be an astronomical task.

First, you want to start with the vacuuming phase of your carpet cleaning. If you have wall-to-wall carpet that needs to be vacuumed, then divide the carpet up in quadrants rather than go wherever the vacuum takes you. Perhaps this first step can be the beginning of a new relationship with your rug. You can then expand upon this relationship by creating a schedule in which you and your carpet have “private time”. That way the job gets done on a regular basis.

You want your routine or “private time” to take place at least once a week because you're not only reducing dust accumulation in your carpet, but you are also prolonging the life of your carpet. You also want to vacuum first if you're going to shampoo because it gets rid of the loose dirt, lint, and other oddities that can get in your way while cleaning.

But the key to making your carpet cleaning tasks easier is to clean up spills when they happen. This can help you avoid an entire shampooing of your carpet for quite some time. You want to do things such as:

A wise first step to cleaning spots and spills is testing an inconspicuous area of your carpet to make sure no discoloring of the carpet occurs.

You then want to scrape or blot the area of the spot or spill before you use a carpet cleaning solution for easier removal.

You don't want to rub the area because you may spread the problem to another area.

To avoid spreading the stain, work your way from the outside of the stain to the inside with the cleaning solution.

Use a white bath towel to dry the carpet.

If you must shampoo the entire carpet, you want to follow the spot cleaning steps above and then test your shampoo on an inconspicuous area of your carpet. You also want to remove all of the furniture you can to avoid staining of the furniture and to allow even cleaning. Most importantly, follow the instructions of your carpet cleaner to ensure optimal results and make sure the room is well-ventilated.

So how can you stick to your carpet cleaning routine? All you have to do is simple things such as using door mats, cleaning up accidents immediately, vacuuming at least once a week, and using things such as carpet runners in high-traffic areas. By using these care methods and following a routine, your carpet will look great for many years to come.