Wall to wall carpeting came into fashion during the 1950s and 60s as vacuums and home cleaning solutions became more popular and readily available. These days most homes comes with wall to wall carpeting and people are able to afford having new carpeting installed thanks to special deals and financing available through most carpet outlets. While carpeting may be a cozy mainstay in homes throughout the country, it's still a fairly expensive investment so doing what you can to prolong your carpet will make the investment more worth it.

1. Use Area Rugs
One of the biggest culprits when it comes to diminishing carpet life is the wear and tear incurred by high traffic areas such as front entrance-ways and hallways. Small runner and area rugs can be used in these areas to protect your carpet. These small area rugs can easily be cleaned on a weekly basis in order to help protect the carpet beneath. The areas in front of couches and near the kitchen door can help prevent food spills from hitting your wall to wall carpeting as well.

2. Keep Food Away From Your Carpet.
Though there are many ways of cleaning spots and stains from food the best way to avoid them altogether is to eat in non-carpeted areas. If your kitchen is large enough for a table, consider using that for day to day eating. If your dining room is carpeted take extra care when eating there and follow the area rug tip in number one. A Large rug under your table can help protect your main carpeting from spills.

3. Vacuum Regularly.
Every home should have a standard weekly cleaning schedule which should definitely include a thorough vacuuming of the entire home. Carpets pick up all sorts of dust and debris throughout the week and a simple weekly vacuuming can help keep it looking clean and new for longer. Sprinkling a bit of baking soda over the carpet works as a great deodorizer.

4. Take Off Your Shoes!
Get your family in the habit of removing their shoes as they walk in the door. Shoe racks and all weather area rugs at the door will help keep mud, dirt and outside debris away from your carpet. It may take awhile to get everyone in the habit of kicking off their shoes but this simple tip can help prolong the life of your carpet by a few years easily.

5. Schedule a Professional Yearly Cleaning.
No matter how much you try to avoid spills and clean your carpet weekly, your carpet is bound to see some wear over the course of a year. Most professionals suggest scheduling a professional deep carpet cleaning [http://www.carpet-cleaning-plano.org] once a year. This process allows professionals to come in and clean your carpet more thoroughly than any vacuuming schedule could ever hope to. The solutions they use pull ground in dirt to the surface which can then be cleaned away with their equipment. Many companies offer special around the holidays for homeowners who want to prepare their home for parties, celebrations with family and drop-in visitors.