Act Quickly! The longer the delay, the more likely a spill will become a permanent stain.

No carpet is completely stain proof.

Blot liquids with a dry, white, absorbent cloth or white (no printing) paper towels. Semisolids should be gently scraped up with a spoon. Solids should be vacuumed until completely removed.

Do not scrub the area! Continue to use a dry cloth or paper towels until the area is completely dry.

If the spot can be identified, go to The Carpet and Rug Institute website and Search for “spot solver”. www.carpet-rug.org

Pretest any spot removal agent in an inconspicuous area to make certain the solution will not damage the fiber or the dye. After applying several drops to the testing area, hold a white cloth on the wet area for 10 seconds. Examine the carpet and cloth for color transfer, color change, or damage to the carpet. If a change occurs, another cleaning solution should be selected.

Apply a small amount of the selected cleaning solution to a white cloth, allow to sit for about 10 minutes and work in gently. Work from the edges of the spill to the center to prevent the spill from spreading. Do not scrub! Blot, absorbing as much as possible, and repeat if necessary.

Continue using the first cleaning solution as long as there is a transfer of the spill to the cloth. It is not necessary to use all of the cleaning solutions, if the first solution removes the spill. Be patient! Complete removal of the spill may require repeating the same step several times.

After the spill has been completely removed, rinse the affected area thoroughly with cold water, and blot with a dry cloth until all of the solution has been removed. Some cleaning solutions will cause rapid soiling, if the solution is not completely removed. Apply a one-half inch layer of white paper towels to the affected area, and weigh down with a flat, heavy object. Continue to change paper towels as needed.

Vacuum carpet at least twice a week - dirt acts as an abrasive and will wear your carpet down.

Keep the brush on your vacuum clean and replace when worn. This provides better penetration.

Keep hoses and airways clean to provide better suction.

Keep walkways and entries clean.

Use mats at all entrances.

Treat spills immediately.

Rinse away all cleaning agents - residue will collect dirt.

Have your carpet cleaned by hot water extraction every year. Hire an IICRC certified cleaner.

Laminate floors should be damp mopped only. No water residue should remain after mopping.

The three most common fibers used in carpets today are wool, nylon, and olefin.

Wool carpet. If your budget allows it, wool carpet is the best carpet made. It will hold up to everyday abuse by a family better than anything man-made.

Nylon carpet. Nylon is the next best choice. Maintained correctly, it has a life of 8 to 12 years. Nylon can be stained! Nylon fibers are treated with solutions that do a great job resisting staining, but no manufacturer of nylon fibers will say that their nylon fiber cannot be stained.

Olefin carpet. Olefin carpet would be my last choice. Although this product is almost impossible to stain, it generally will become matted or crushed before nylon fibers.

In the order listed above, these are the only fibers I would consider for use in my home.

Carpet pad. Carpet pad is extremely important! When you make a carpet choice, contact that manufacturer to find out their requirement or recommendation of which pad to use. Some offered warrantees may be voided, if you use the wrong pad. Don't trust your salesperson on this issue! The pad will make a difference in how well your carpet will hold up to your everyday use..

When you make your carpet choice. On the back of each color carpet sample you choose, you'll find very important warranty information. Take this sample to a copy machine and make a copy of that information, in case you have an issue later. When a carpet style is no longer produced, your retailer will sell or throw the sample away. By making a copy, you will always have the information you need.

Installation. As an inspector of problem floors, I have to look at all things involved in the installation of that floor. Though many of the homeowners are home during the installation, they rarely take time to watch what the installer is doing. Granted, most people don't know if they're watching a correct installation. But when I'm asking questions about the installation, those people who did watch the installation can make the difference in the outcome of the inspection. Since you will spend several hundred dollars or more for this installation, it's important that you know what was done during the installation.

Some installers do not want the homeowner to watch them while they install a floor. Your salesperson needs to know that it is your intention to watch the installation, so that they send an installer that does not mind someone watching them work.

Find out if the installer coming to your home is trained and certified. Certified installers have been taught how carpet manufacturers require their carpet to be installed.