Most carpeting today is made using synthetic fibers, which are popular because of their lower cost and durability. Synthetics such as nylon, olefin (polypropylene) and polyester are also easy to care for.

 

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Whether your carpet is synthetic — or made of natural materials such as wool, cotton, silk or sisal — regular vacuuming is the single most important maintenance task you can perform. Grit and heavy soil particles have irregular shapes that become abrasive and saw away at the individual carpet fibers. Neglected carpeting wears out much more quickly than fibers that get regular attention. (This is why carpets in some offices and hotels look as good as they do for many years.)

A good rule is to vacuum carpeting once a week. High-traffic areas will need a visit by the vacuum cleaner more often than this, perhaps even daily in a very busy household. Vacuum edges, corners, and carpeting under furniture less often. These areas generally don’t get foot traffic, but still need dust removal occasionally.

The best choice for most cut pile or plush carpet is a vacuum cleaner with a beater bar. Canister machines with a simple suction wand are most practical for edges, corners and under furniture. For a discussion of the merits of differing types of machines, see the HC-Pedia entry Vacuum cleaner. Whatever the equipment, the machine itself needs maintenance to stay on the job and to prevent carpet damage. See the entry Vacuum cleaner maintenance for tips.

Even with careful vacuuming on a regular basis, soil will become embedded in carpeting over time. That’s why most experts recommend the deeper cleaning attainable from a hot water extraction method. During hot water extraction, the cleaning solution is sprayed into the fibers to penetrate and loosen stubborn soil, followed immediately by suction to remove the soil-laden solution from the pile. Hot water extraction is generally not recommended for exotic carpet materials like silk and plant fibers such as sisal, however.

Most carpets can benefit from an occasional touch-up extraction cleaning by a do-it-yourselfer. Many manufacturers offer wet-extraction machines for use by homeowners; see the entry Portable extractor for more details. Even if you do this, most experts recommend hiring a professional contractor as often as annually to clean carpeting deep down. Many professionals use equipment such as a truck-mounted extractor, which offers far greater cleaning power than a portable machine can.

If your carpet is made of silk, sisal or another unusual fiber, however, you’ll need a dry extraction cleaning that can only be performed by a trained professional.

When choosing a contractor, be certain to ask about professional training or certification, and rely on references from satisfied friends and customers. Many carpet mills recommend using carpet cleaners certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).

Accidents happen — sooner or later, spots will get on carpeting. When this happens, you need to act immediately in many cases to prevent the spot from becoming a permanent stain. For specific advice on spot removal, refer to the list of HC-Pedia entries below for the type of spot.

Spot removal topics:

• Blood
• Ink spot
• Juice spill
• Ketchup spills
• Paint spot
• Spills, spots
• Urine
• Vomit
• Wax, candle

For other topics in carpet care:

• Cattle tracks
• CRI: The Carpet and Rug Institute
• Edge cleaning
  
• IICRC: Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification
• Mat
• Wicking