how to keep your home smelling fresh with pets

Putting carpeting into your home is a big decision, especially if you have children. On one hand, the soft surface is more comfortable and it helps cushion falls. On the other, children are not known for cleanliness so you may be worried about the investment being ruined. Fortunately, you can have your carpet and enjoy it, too. The following tips can help you maintain your carpets no matter what your child throws at them.

Tip #1: Choose the right carpet

The first task is to pick a carpet that can withstand the abuse of a child. Avoid carpets with looped fibers in the pile. Kids and their toys tend to snag and pull out these looped fibers. Instead, opt for a low, open pile. Another thing to avoid is light, solid color carpeting, since these reveal all soil and stains. A carpet in a medium color that features a mixture of shades in the same hue spectrum is more likely to hide a small amount of dirt. A textured carpet or a style like the close-cropped berber carpeting may be the best choice. Carpet tiles are also an option; the benefit here is you can replace a single tile if it becomes damaged.

Tip #2: Have the carpet treated

While style and color can go a long way towards hiding stains, a better option is to avoid as many as possible. The simplest way to do this is to have the carpet treated with a stain resistant coating. You still need to act quickly when a spill occurs so it doesn't penetrate too deeply, but generally these coatings work well to prevent surface stains. You may need to have them reapplied periodically to ensure the carpet remains stain resistant. Many carpet care and cleaning companies provide this service.

Tip #3: Set up a cleaning schedule

Frequent vacuuming will remove surface dirt before it can get ground into the carpet and become a stain. At a bare minimum, plan to vacuum at least once a week. If you have more than one child, or pets in addition to children, more frequent vacuuming is a good idea. Carpet shampoos, or deep cleanings, should be done at least twice a year. Common times are in the spring, to remove the mud tracked in over winter, and in the fall, to remove the summer soil. Scheduling regular shampoos ensures stains never have time to become permanent.

For more help, contact a residential carpet cleaning company in your area.