When it comes to maintaining your carpet, high traffic areas are the most critical. Dirt must be removed on a regular basis or it will cause excessive wear to the carpet fibers. The second most concern is spot removal. Danger spot -- red wine, red beverages, urine and blood -- require immediate treatment or can cause permanent stains.
Vacuum your carpet often - once or twice weekly before the carpet appears soiled. Vacuuming removes the abrasive dirt particles - most of which isn't visible - that cause premature wear. Food, leaves, pieces of crayon, bugs, etc. can cause spots.
As a general rule, have your carpets professionally cleaned annually by a certified firm. Extremely heavy traffic areas may require more frequent cleaning. Proper cleaning will not leave behind a sticky residue and can be done safely as many times per year as needed. In fact, many stain-resistant warranties require professional cleaning every 2 years. Warning: Uninformed carpet cleaners may void the warranty using unapproved cleaning methods. Be very selective.
Immediate spot removal is key to a clean carpet. Great care also must be taken in how spot cleaning is performed. When a carpet is new or has sufficient protector on it, plain tap water will remove many spots. However, for those spots that will not move easily with water, you must use a spot cleaner. A professional certified cleaner can recommend an effective spot remover and instruct you on its use. Most over-the-counter spot removers leave too much soap residue and can cause the carpet to yellow. Avoid foam carpet cleaners or any product that is not made specifically for carpet.
Apply spot cleaner sparingly to white terry cloth and gently massage the spot to transfer the spot to the terry cloth. Never pour spot cleaner directly on the carpet. If the product you are using seems to cause the spot to re-soil within a few weeks, discontinue use. Any spot that you're not able to remove and for pet urine or feces, call your professional cleaner immediately.
Residential carpets are treated with stain resistant properties and soil resistors such as DuPont Teflon or 3M Scotchgard™. After a period of 2 to 3 years, some of the soil resistor will wear off. At that point you should consider having a professional carpet cleaner re-apply the treatment after professional cleaning. Soil resistors will help the soil slide off the carpet easier when vacuuming, spots will be easier to remove and professional cleaning will be more effective.
Copies of specific warranties on your carpet purchases are available from your carpet retailer. Stain resistant warranties can vary from 5 to 20 years. All stain resistant warranties require regular cleaning and immediate spot removal.