Other articles by Rosemary Sadez Friedmann:

Strive to reduce indoor pollution High ceilings can challenge decorating You can prepare your home to suit your aging 'New look' in furniture is gentler Changeable sectionals remain popular Bathrooms claim rightful place in home Accessorize creatively to avoid dull room You can paint like a pro Colored light affects mood, productivity Avoid decorating mistakes

General
CORT
Warehouse Supervisor Education
Assessment Technology, Inc
Social Studies Content Writer General
CORT
WAREHOUSE/DRIVER Health Care
Rio Salado College
PA's/Online Instructors Construction
Komatsu Equipment Co
Mechanic

If you would stop to think how much abuse your carpet gets, perhaps you would have a little more compassion for it. After all, the poor thing just lies there letting everyone walk all over it. And it never complains when you track dirt on it or spill things all over it.

I'll bet you will get more loving years of service out of your carpet if you just show it you care. And the greatest care you can give a carpet is to keep it clean.

Professional cleaning — once every year — is the best treat you could shower on your carpet. In between, there is a lot you can do to maintain love and harmony between you and your floor covering. First of all, vacuum regularly. You can't vacuum too often. When vacuuming, use a beater-bar that will raise the pile as it goes across the floor so the trapped dirt will be vacuumed up.

If something spills onto the carpet, blot it up immediately. Blot is the key word — never rub, scrub or brush because you might be grinding the stain into the rug rather than removing it, and this may even cause damage to the carpet fibers. Blot and clean from the outside of the stain toward the center; this helps prevent spreading. When using a cleaning agent, apply the cleanser to a clean, white cloth rather than directly to the stained area to avoid saturating the carpet.

If the spill or stain is oil-based, you may need to purchase a dry cleaning solution available at grocery and hardware stores. For non-oil-based spots, mix one teaspoon of non-bleaching dry powder laundry detergent with two cups of water. Wet that clean, white towel with the mixture and go at it gently but diligently. Remove the soapiness with clear, lukewarm water and absorb the excess moisture with an absorbent white towel.

Press down on the towel, or pile a few books on it, to help it absorb excess moisture that might be deep down. Repeat the rinsing and blotting process until you are sure all the detergent is gone. Finally, place a dry white towel over the area and weigh it down with books or other heavy objects for a couple of hours to finish absorbing the last traces of moisture.

Is it a stubborn stain that just won't go away? Try this: mix one tablespoon of non-bleaching, non-sudsing household ammonia with one cup of lukewarm water. Go through the rinsing, blotting process as described above. Next, you need to neutralize the ammonia. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water and apply this solution using the same procedure as above.

A note of warning: If the stain is from coffee, tea or urine, do not use the ammonia/water cleaning method; the acidity in the former liquids combined with ammonia will play havoc on your carpet fibers.

Remember, if you love your carpet, it will love you back.

● Rosemary Sadez Friedmann is an interior designer