Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to keeping carpets clean. The first tip may be inconvenient for some families, but it will guarantee a longer life for your carpet; don’t eat in rooms with carpet. While adults can generally keep from being too messy, children aren’t always as careful. Besides, adults can have accidents too.
However, if your family has become accustomed to eating in the family room on movie night or on other special occasions, there is no reason you have to eliminate the routine completely. You can cover the carpet. A flannel backed vinyl tablecloth works great. Turn it so the flannel side is up, to absorb spills, and the vinyl is against the carpet to protect it. A shower curtain will also work, or even a sheet if you’re just having popcorn or other snacks that won’t make wet or sticky messes. Carefully roll up the tablecloth or other covering when finished and carry it outdoors to shake it out. Then, just toss it in the washing machine (cold water) and hang it up to dry.
Good maintenance also helps extend the life of carpet, so vacuum regularly. Start with a fresh vacuum bag or empty receptacle and vacuum thoroughly. Clean up spots and spills before they set into stains. Even if you don’t notice something right away, spot cleaning is generally more efficient and convenient than using products or equipment that wet the entire carpet.
If you need to clean the entire carpet, it may be worth investing in your own steam cleaner or other carpet cleaning tools and products. Having it done professionally is nice but can add up quickly if you have your carpets cleaned often.
If your carpet is heavily soiled, it may be best to hire a professional carpet cleaning service until you can get your carpet back in good shape. Then, regularly clean and maintain your carpet so you can clean it yourself as needed.
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