By Leslie Benson

Assuming regular wear and tear, how often should I have my carpet cleaned?

Carpet is not as big of a germ trap as people believe, depending on how you use it.

For large families with pets, vacuum every other day. Otherwise, vacuum at least once a week in common areas and once a month under furniture and in hard-to-reach areas.

For pet stains, use a mixture of 50 percent water and 50 percent distilled white vinegar. The vinegar smell will dissipate after a while. You can also use pet enzyme carpet cleaners from pet stores.

Older polyester carpets are harder to clean, whereas, nylon is the easiest. The more stain resistant the carpet, the easier it is to clean. Always rinse the carpet with water after using cleaning products.

Professionally clean your carpet once a year for normal wear and tear. Also have oriental rugs professionally cleaned. We test them for color fastness and treat them differently.

Rental equipment does not have a way to soak up excess water, so trust professional equipment that does remove moisture from carpet, cleaning at temperatures between 230-240 degrees.

When searching for a carpet cleaning company, seek one with accreditation and a good reputation. Be careful of companies charging bargain basement prices. They may not have been properly trained to use the equipment.

Carpet cleaning looks easier than it really is. We ask that breakables be removed in order for us to safely move the furniture. If you have a pet, vacuum your carpet beforehand. A good vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter will reduce allergens, but you get what you pay for. I recommend the Dyson vacuum or an equivalent.

Coffee, tea or pop spills are the most persistent stains. If your carpet gets saturated with water, we do some carpet restoration, but it has a lot to do with how long the carpet has been wet and its age. The best thing to do in that case is to get a professional assessment on the carpet and the padding beneath it.