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Cleaning high traffic area stains

No matter how careful you are not to spill anything on your carpet or make it dirty with outdoor shoes, in areas of high traffic it's inevitable that staining and wear and tear will occur.It's in these areas that new carpet can become prematurely dirty, faded and lose its fullness leaving your once luxurious floor covering looking tired and old.Whether it's in the stairs, entrance hall or walkways between rooms there are some simple cleaning tips to breath life into your high traffic carpet areas:

• Treat stains immediately - blot excess liquid with a paper towel or clean cloth.Only use stain remover if the spill has been absorbed as this can actually ingrain the spill.Colour test on an inconspicuous area first and don't rub or scrub the stain as this wears out carpet fibres - blot from the outside inwards.
  
• Cleaning dirt - simple dirt can be cleaned with a soap based cleaner. The best way to treat dirty carpets in high traffic areas is to invest in a steam cleaner that removes all dirt from the bottom of the carpet pile.
• Safety first - don't use homemade cleaners that contain flammable ingredients.There are many substances, even shoe polish, which can ignite when in contact with some cleaners.
  
• Carpet cleaning shampoo - you can buy many cleaning products specifically for carpets for dealing with small stains.Always apply to a cloth first rather than direct to the carpet to prevent over-wetting of the stain.
  
• Vacuum regularly - the best way to maintain high traffic carpet areas is to vacuum regularly, at least once per week, preferably twice.This prevents dirt particles degrading and dulling the carpet and ensures a better appearance for longer.You can also use rugs to protect these areas.
  
• Don't use too much cleaner or over-wet the carpet - this can create brown spots. Dabbing towards the centre is the key to removing stains.
  
• Book a professional carpet clean at least every 18 months - this will keep your carpets looking as good as new as well as fluffing up the fibres and reversing the look of flatness in well worn areas.
  
• Trim lose fibres and plucks - in high traffic areas particularly, fibres can be accidentally plucked or tuft up.Always trim these to prevent further damage.Never attempt to pull out the lose thread as this could create a run and bald patch.