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Has your dog tracked muddy pawprints in your living room? Has your child spilled grape juice or mustard on your brand new shag? Are you having a hard time cleaning up after that New Years Eve Party?

When carpet emergencies like these occur, you can keep your carpet clean and fresh by applying a little common sense. So, grab your carpet cleaning supplies, and let's break it down. Here's a handy acronym: C.A.R.P.E.T.

Care for your carpet. Make sure to vacuum frequently, as dirt and dust tend to increase the likelihood that stains will be harder to treat. Besides, it's nice to have a clean carpet, so don't be lazy. Get in the mindset: cleaning carpet stain.

Attack stains as soon as possible. The longer the stain has to sit on the carpet, the more likely it is to bond with the fibers. Any acidity (wines, condiments, vomit, will cause a small chemical reaction with carpet fibers, increasing the likelihood that the stain is permanent. Read over your carpet cleaning equipment to see the best recommended ways to use the products.

QUICK TIP: Douse a stain with a little water to keep it moist; the water will buy you a small amount of time before the stains set in.

Relax when you wipe the carpet. It is a bad idea to vigorously scrub your carpeting - this can damage the fibers and make any residual stain appear to stand out when compared to the rest of the carpet. Take it easy, just wipe gently and let the cleaning happen. Put on some soothing music and relax. Spray your carpet cleaners, and your carpet deodorizer (if necessary) and take it easy.

Push the stain to the center. You do not want to spread the stain out. Make sure to scrub towards the center of the stain and minimize the area affected. If all else fails, it's better to have a small blemish on your carpet rather than a large one.

Extract your carpet when you can. If you have access to a cleaning device (many hardware stores will rent steam carpet cleaners and specialized carpet sweepers) perhaps it's a good idea to use it. Carpets that are generally clean and in good shape are much more repellent to stains and other blemishes.

QUICK TIP: Dogs and cats tend to urinate or defecate in the same place. It's a good idea to thoroughly clean the area to prevent your pet from recognizing your carpet as a litter box.

Test before you treat. Ultimately, you have no idea what that cleaning agent with do to your expensive carpeting before you apply it. Find a small test area and see what happens when you apply the cleaner or spotter before gallivanting to destroy that stain.

Today's modern carpet cleaners are generally environmentally friendly. Most spotters are enzyme-based; these biological molecules eventually break down. The detergents used in most carpet cleaners are surfectant-based; these compounds are very similar to the ones found in laundry detergent. However, you may want to make sure that the packaging on the cleaner is recyclable plastic.

With a little elbow grease and attention to detail, you can make those stains disappear or at least become less visible to the naked eye.

Learn more about this author, Aster C. Lilly.
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