1 Blot Stains, Don't Rub Them

When a stain or spill first occurs, resist the urge to immediately start scrubbing. That’ll only drive the stain down into the carpet. Instead, gently dab stains with a cleaning solution and a clean cloth, paper towel, or sponge.

"The key is blotting. Blotting puts a small amount of pressure on the stain, so you can soak it up," Tarbox says. "Rubbing causes the particles to get ground into the fibers, which can lead to the premature breakdown of those fibers."

And always blot from the outer edge of the stain inward toward the center; blotting outward can spread the stain further across the carpet.

