Manufacturers are a great source of information on maintaining carptets and other floor cloverings. Here is a very brief and very incomplete list of well-known manufacturer's websites.

 Basics of Carpet Care 

As a cleaning professional you should know the basics of maintaining carpets. This not only includes cleaning them but but preventing other types of damage to them as well.

Use Walk-off Mats
Walk-off mats should be used at all entrances to absorb soil and moisture, and mats should be cleaned on a regular basis so they don't become sources of soil themselves, especially during inclement weather.  Sidewalks and entrances should be kept free of excessive dirt and substances which can be tracked into the home.

Use a Quality Pad
Use a quality pad under your carpet, particularly on stairs. Good pad not only gives better resilience underfoot, but it can also add to the life of your carpet. Some carpets carry warranties with specific density and thickness requirements. Before purchasing your carpet pad, review your warranty.

Occasionally Move Heavy Furniture
Occasionally move heavy furniture to avoid excessive pile crushing. Put coasters intended for use with carpet under the legs of tables, chairs, and other furniture to help distribute the weight and prevent crushing the pile. Do not use chairs or appliances with rollers or casters on carpet without a chair pad designed for carpet. Continued use without a chair pad can cause damage to the carpet.  When moving heavy wheeled furniture (pianos, buffets, etc.), prevent damage by placing a
protective barrier of heavy cardboard or plywood between the wheels and the carpet.

Use Area Rugs
If you use area rugs over your carpet, be sure to remove and clean them regularly. Clean and restore the pile of the carpet underneath. Be certain to check area rugs for colorfastness before putting them back over carpet, as the dyes in some rugs may bleed through to the carpet. After cleaning your carpet, remember to allow complete drying before replacing rugs.

Avoid Direct Sunlight
Protect your carpet from prolonged periods of direct sunlight with blinds, shades, or awnings.

 Vacuuming 

The most important step in caring for your carpet is vacuuming. Vacuum thoroughly and frequently, particularly in high-traffic areas. Bear in mind that walking on soiled carpet permits the soil particles to work their way below the surface of the pile where they are far more difficult to remove and can damage the fibers. Frequent vacuuming removes these particles from the surface before this happens.

Vacuuming Tips
For rooms with light traffic, vacuum the traffic lanes twice weekly and the entire area once weekly. Those areas with heavier traffic require that the traffic lanes be vacuumed daily and the entire area twice weekly. Up to three passes of the machine will suffice for light soiling, but five to seven passes are necessary for heavily soiled areas. Change the vacuuming direction occasionally to help stand the pile upright and reduce matting.

Vacuum Cleaner Recommendations
A good vacuum cleaner is vital to prolonging the beauty and life of your carpet. An inexpensive machine can remove surface dirt but will not effectively remove the hidden dirt and particles embedded in the pile.

Shaw Industries recommends the use of vacuums with a rotating brush or combination beater/brush bar that agitates the carpet pile and mechanically loosens soil for removal by the vacuum. Note that carpet with thick loop pile construction, particularly wool and wool-blend styles, may be sensitive to brushing or rubbing of the pile surface and may become fuzzy. For these products, Shaw recommends the use of a suction-only vacuum or a vacuum with an adjustable brush lifted away from the carpet so it does not agitate the pile. A vacuum with a beater/brush bar can be tested in an inconspicuous location and used if no excessive fuzzing occurs.

Replaceable paper vacuum bags do a better job of trapping the small particles that pass through cloth bags back into the room. High efficiency vacuum bags, also called microfiltration bags, trap even smaller microscopic particles such as mold and mildew spores and dust mite byproducts, often found to be a source of allergies. This type of bag is sold under several brands, such as the "MICRO-LINED" bag available at most vacuum specialty shops, or the "MICRO-CLEAN" bag available at some department and discount stores, and "MICROFILTRATION" and "MICROLINER" brands available at Sears stores. These bags are available under other brand names; verify that these bags trap particles smaller than two (2) microns. All vacuum bags should be checked often and replaced when half full.

Make sure the belt is in good condition and that the brush or beater bar rotates when in contact with the carpet. To adjust the vacuum to the correct height setting for the carpet, raise the beater/brush bar to the highest setting and then lower it until it contacts the pile enough to slightly vibrate the carpet several inches away from the machine, but not low enough to cause significant slowing of the motor.

Change the vacuuming direction occasionally to help stand the pile upright and help
reduce matting.

 Basic Stain Removal  

Editor's Note: a better name for this section might be Generic Stain Removal. For tough stains go to one of the websites listed in this article. You should be able to find specific advice for dealing with specific types of stains: grass, oil, etc.

Step 1 - If the spill is mostly solid, gently scoop up the excess into a paper towel using a blunt instrument, like a spoon. If the spill involves a significant amount of liquid, use a wet/dry vacuum. Then blot, do not rub, with clean, white absorbent cloth or paper towels to remove excess moisture. Try to keep as much of the stained material as possible from penetrating down into the pile of the carpet.

Step 2 - Most stains clean up with warm, not hot, water applied to the stained area. Apply warm water and then blot, do not rub, with clean white cloth or paper towels.  Press down firmly to remove as much moisture as possible.  Do not rub, as rubbing can alter the carpet's texture.
Repeat until no stain appears on cloth or towels.

Step 3 - If the stain remains on the carpet, make a solution of 1 quart warm water and 1 teaspoon of mild liquid dishwashing detergent. Try not use more detergent than what is called for, since excess detergent left in the carpet can cause resoiling; if you use less water, be sure to use less detergent. Then, with a clean white cloth or sponge, apply enough of this solution to cover the stain and let it soak for 5 minutes.

Step 4 - IMPORTANT Blot up the excess moisture, rinse with warm water, and remove the water by blotting thoroughly with a clean white cloth or sponge. Repeat until all the detergent is removed, again because residual detergent may cause resoiling.

Step 5 - Absorb any remaining moisture with layers of white paper towels. Weight the towels with a non-staining glass or ceramic object and leave in place overnight.

- When completely dry, vacuum or brush the pile to restore texture. If stain reappears after the carpet dries, it may be that some of the stain remained deep in the pile and wicked up to the surface. If so, repeat steps 3-4.