Carpet doesn't actually wear out. Instead, the appearance of your carpet loses its luster before the fibers begin to wear down. How long your carpet will continue to look good depends on several factors:

Carpet Construction
First, it is important to choose the correct carpet colors and construction for your home and lifestyle.

Household Traffic and Entrance Mats
Placing walk-off mats inside and outside of each entrance can help trap soil before it enters your home. Soil is the greatest threat to the appearance of your carpet.

Soiling and Stains
Blotting up spills immediately will help make stain removal easier. Never rub, scrub or brush. Always blot. Ask your local ServiceMaster about obtaining a handy ServiceMaster Spot Kit to help in quick stain removal.

Maintenance
Vacuuming regularly is the most important thing you can do for your carpet! Removing dirt particles will reduce abrasion that can dull carpet fibers and help extend the fife of your carpet. Use a vacuum with a beater-bar which will help raise the carpet pile while it removes soil.

Cleaning
Have your carpets cleaned by a professional before traffic patterns begin to show. Refer to your warranty card for recommendations on your particular carpet type. How often your carpet will need to be professionally steam cleaned, a process also referred to as hot-water extraction, will depend on how your carpet is used and cared for. The general recommendation is approximately every 12-18 months. More frequent cleaning is suggested if your carpet is heavily used or a fight color.

Additional Protection
You may also want to consider protecting your carpet fibers with Scotchgard™. Scotchgard™ prevents dirt from clinging to carpet fibers by surrounding each individual carpet fiber with an invisible shield so your carpet comes cleaner when vacuumed. A carpet treated with Scotchgard™ will remain cleaner two to three times longer than untreated carpet. Although it does not "waterproof" your carpet, it does provide improved resistance to water based spills. It gives you time to blot the spill before it penetrates into the carpet.

Also, by having a professional clean your carpets using the extraction process, more detergent will be removed from
your carpet than cleaning it yourself. It is detergent on the carpet which attracts more soil and masks the Scotchgard™. If you choose to clean it yourself, refer to your warranty first. Be careful which equipment you rent, because poor equipment can leave a soap residue that not only masks the Scotchgard™ protector, but actually attracts and holds dirt.

Warranties
The only way to know exactly what is covered by your warranty is to read it carefully before you make a purchase decision. No carpet is completely stain proof. Therefore, there are certain exclusions and conditions that can void your warranty. In fact, some warranties give stain cleaning recommendations. If the stain cannot be removed, they require proof of cleaning within 30 days of the occurrence to validate the warranty. To make a claim on almost any warranty, proof of purchase and maintenance may be required - so keep your sales and cleaning receipts.

There are ways of protecting your carpet investment. Regular vacuuming maintenance is key. There are different types of Scotchgard™ - ask your local ServiceMaster professional which is best for you. Check your warranty. Call your local ServiceMaster professional.

How long has it been since you had your carpets cleaned?