After choosing the right carpet you choose always care for it's appearance and durability. You also consider it's function and fabric. After all, it's a big investment. No matter which texture or surface finish you choose, look for tightly-twisted, even ends and check that the twist has been heat-set to lock it in.
Today's carpets are designed to hide soil and even repel it, thanks to advances in chemical treatments.

Regular Carpet Cleaning has a number of benefits that we sometimes forget:

• It extends the life of your carpet.
• It gives a fresh, clean look to a room.
• It makes a room smell better.
• It eliminates dust and particles that bother people with allergies and asthma.

Maintaining Your Carpet Tips

Here are some carpet cleaning tips from Sunbird Cleaning Services experts

Once you've decided which carpet is best for your application, it's a good idea to keep a swatch of your carpet, the sales receipt, warranty and installation information in case you need to refer to it later. Then, to keep it in the best shape possible, you'll need to follow this simple maintenance routine to protect your investment.

• Vacuum your carpet regularly, especially in high traffic areas. 80% of soil in carpet is dry and can be removed with the vacuum cleaner.
• Use a vacuum with a beater bar and brush, and be sure it's set to the correct height for your carpet pile. If the setting is too high for your carpet you may not be cleaning it effectively. If it's too low, your carpet will get unnecessary wear and tear from the vacuum cleaner. Changing the direction of the cleaner frequently will make vacuuming more effective. This regular maintenance will improve the overall appearance of the carpet.
• Change the bag often to maximize the effectiveness of your vacuum cleaner.
• You'll need to deep clean your carpet about every two years. With today's advanced fibers, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning. You can choose professional or do-it-yourself steam or dry cleaning. If you choose professional cleaning, be sure to use a reputable service and get them to perform a visual inspection of the carpet before giving you a quote.
• High traffic areas will need to be cleaned more frequently by spot cleaning or with a steam cleaner. (There are excellent household steam cleaners on the market that are the size of vacuum cleaner and are ideal for frequent cleaning).
• If you choose a self-cleaning method, be sure follow the instructions provided with the steamer or self-cleaning product.
• Mishaps and stains are inevitable. Your best bet may be to choose a stain-resistant carpet that resists soil and cleans easily. If your carpet is stain treated with a product like Scotchgard, you'll need to follow that manufacturer's instructions for cleaning to avoid voiding the stain warranty.
• Familiarize yourself with how to treat stains before they occur. You'll have the most success if you treat them immediately. Always blot the area to be cleaned. One of the best agents to use on water based spills is club soda. Keep a bottle handy at room temperature for emergencies. After blotting to remove a spill, dribble it on, let it set for a moment, then blot again to remove the stain.
• Blot excess stain or liquid.
• Soak with lukewarm water one minute and blot with sponge or paper towel.
• Repeat until no stain is evident on towel or sponge.
• If stain persists, use 1/2 teaspoon liquid hand/dish detergent without lanolin, mixed with 1 pint water and press into stained area with fingers. Blot excess, rinse with clear, lukewarm water to remove detergent and blot dry.
• If stain persists, add water again, fold paper towel and place over stain with weight. Check towel every five minutes, or until it is stain free (this procedure may need to be repeated with deep stains).
• Brush up pile and allow to dry before walking on carpet.
• Blot excess.
• Apply nail polish remover and blot immediately. Repeat until no stain is evident on blotter.
• Brush up pile and allow to dry before walking on carpet.
• Blot to remove excess stain or liquid.
• Rinse with clear, lukewarm water and blot dry.
• If cleaning method fails to remove stain, have affected area replaced (plugged) by professionals.