Your new carpet and area rugs are gorgeous.

You really should take a couple of minutes to review the manufacturer’s care instructions. After all, you just spent all that money, so what are a few minutes more?

Now, avoid these other mistakes to prevent problems in the future.

Vacuuming Sloppily Because You’re in a Hurry

Even if you have one of the best vacuums for carpets, poor vacuuming technique isn’t going to get the job done.

Dirt will penetrate down to the backing and grind all the fluffiness out of the nap. Just like unwashed hair, your carpet will look dull and flat.

It’s far better to take an extra couple of minutes to push the vacuum more slowly. Overlap passes.

But first, adjust the beater bar to the proper height. This avoids damaging the fibers.

And check the dust bin as it may reduce suction when it’s too full.

Not Vacuuming Often Enough

You may be concerned about over-vacuuming the new carpet. It’s like your grandma who puts slipcovers on the new sofa. Or those people who refuse to wash their jeans.

This is flooring, for goodness’ sake. It’s meant to be used and enjoyed. Vacuum every day if you want.

Even if you have shag carpet, you won’t hurt it if you use one of the best vacuums for high pile carpet.

Better yet, get a robot vacuum and program it to run while you’re out of the house. You’ll come home to clean floors every evening.

Not Removing Stains

Fido and Fluffy aren’t the only guilty parties. Kids and adults alike track in mud and spill food and drinks.

But where the pets can’t be expected to clean up after their messes, humans can and should.

Get one of the best spot removers for carpets and keep it handy with a few clean white rags.

Then there’s no excuse for not blotting up the stain as soon as possible. The longer it stays, the more trouble you’ll have removing it from the fibers.

Removing Stains the Wrong Way

You’ve got your spot cleaner ready, but do you know how to use it?

Again, take a moment to read the instructions.

In general, scrubbing at stains is a bad idea. You’ll spread it.

The trick is to blot and massage. And if you need to dilute it with water, don’t saturate the area.

Also, you’ll want to soak up anything wet (urine, wine, etc.) before you spray the spot.

Sometimes a stain remover may need a little time to work, so don’t panic.

Removing Stains with Homemade Cleaners

We understand that you feel concerned about your family’s health and the well-being of the environment. We respect that.

But please, before you reach for the baking soda and vinegar to follow someone’s DIY suggestion on Facebook, think again.

Instead of trying to formulate your own cleaners, learn which ones on the market are eco-friendly. Believe us, there are many of them, and it’s not all greenwashing.

When you use a commercial cleaner, you’re less likely to violate your carpet’s warranty. You’re likely to get faster, better results, too.

Not Cleaning Your Carpets Professionally

We’ve recommended steam cleaners to refresh your carpet and carpet cleaning machines to shampoo it. We stand by those recommendations because a conscientious person can do a perfectly adequate job cleaning their own carpet.

But professional carpet cleaners with more powerful equipment simply do better work. They extract more of the water or perform dry cleaning that won’t leave your rugs wet for hours afterward.

Less water left in the fibers means less chance of mold and other problems. It also means you can get back to life as usual as soon as possible.

Conclusion

We’re happy that you are worried about taking care of your new carpet. But take a deep breath and relax.

You’ll find that regular vacuuming, prompt stain removal, and annual carpet cleanings keep your floors in top condition.