There's a good chance that you invested a good amount of money into your area rug. And, even if you didn't, you'll still want it to look its very best and last as long as possible. Well here are three easy ways you can accomplish precisely that:

Vacuum.
Frequent vacuuming, using an upright vacuum with a beater bar, is the key to maintaining a good-looking area rug. This is particularly important if the rug happens to be in a high traffic area. You'll want to vacuum early and often to keep dirt and grime from getting ground down into the carpeting. Mats placed at entrances can also help minimize the amount of dirt that ends up getting tracked inside onto your rug.

Spills.
Cleaning up spills immediately is another critical step to keeping your rug looking as good as possible. In fact, the absolute best chance you have of removing any stain is in the first 48 hours after the spill. Got a spot? Simply refer to our Stain Removal Guide to find out what the preferred method of treating it is. If our tip doesn't do the trick, be sure to call a carpet care professional IMMEDIATELY. Because the longer the stain sets in your rug, the lower the chance is that you'll be able to successfully remove it.

Annual cleaning.
The final step to ensure that your area rug stays clean and beautiful is to have it professionally cleaned once a year. And while all carpet cleaners are not created equal, there are plenty of them that do a fabulous job. Just give us a call at Carpet Exchange, and we'd be happy to recommend a carpet cleaner we know near you who has a spotless reputation.