One of the most important focal points in every room is the rug. You can turn the place into a warm and welcoming part of the home. You’ll enhance the soft feel of your feet touching the rug and appreciate the overall appeal it presents.

It’s safe to say that a rug can give you all the markings of a true home, but only as long as you care for it properly. Here are some smart tips to help you on that quest:

Use a lint roller; Sometimes you may feel that despite your best vacuuming efforts, the carpet still has crumbs and hair on it. This is because these particles are often left untouched by the vacuum, due to the fibers. One solution is to simply use a lint roller. Roll it into the areas with hair and crumbs, and it will do its job well enough without you having to worry about a thing.

Use a pet hair squeegee – One of the hardest things to deal with on carpet is pet hair. Whether you have a dog, a cat, or anything else that is furry and loses hair everywhere, you know the difficulties. What you can use is a squeegee. It’s also weird, but it works pretty well.

Clean stains with your iron: One of the methods to remove stains is to use the heat of the iron. The first step is to vacuum the stained area and remove any hard particles that are there. Then, apply a vinegar and water solution to the stain. Wait five minutes for the mixture to settle. Then take a towel and apply a hot iron. This will cause the stain to transfer to the towel, like an upside-down water tattoo.

Forget rubbing stains – what you should do is always blot and never rub. Blotting means applying gentle pressure to the stain with a cloth or paper towel. This way the stain won’t set, which is exactly what happens when you rub it. Work from the outside of the stained area towards its center.

Baking soda works wonders – You can incorporate baking soda into your carpet cleaning efforts along with a bit of essential oil. Add a few drops of your preferred essential oil to a box of baking soda. Then sprinkle it all over the carpet and leave it like that for a few hours. The odor-absorbing qualities of baking soda will kick in. When you vacuum the area later, all that will remain is the freshness of the essential oil. You can also use baking soda to mask any pet incidents. Apply a generous amount to the stain, let it sit for 15 minutes, then blot. This is a great way to further train a small puppy.

Rubbing alcohol to the rescue: Did you just drop some nail polish on the carpet? While it may seem pointless, many experts recommend rubbing alcohol. It’s a great solution to treat the stain, and it’s harmless to the carpet. First, remove as much of the nail polish as you can, then rub a cloth or paper towel with the isopropyl alcohol. It will soon dissolve and be absorbed by the towel. Repeat this process as many times as you need.

All of these tips work wonders when you use them to clean your carpet. Try them today and you will know this to be true.