How do I keep my carpet clean and looking nice?

[GalesThisMorning]

Hi. I live on the side of a mountain. I have a 5 year old. We are pretty outdoorsy and spent a lot of time walking in mud/ sand/ fields etc. I have a wood burning stove that's in daily use throughout the winter. I also have oatmeal coloured carpet throughout the house, excluding kitchen and bathroom - in retrospect that was clearly a bonkers decision. Don't ask me what I was thinking...

Anyway it's obviously filthy. I vacuum daily, rent a carpet washer once a year, aim for no shoes past the front door... is there anything else I can do? I'd welcome any advice!

Cover it in cling film or always aim to hover above it? Seriously, I feel your pain. I have a similar carpet and bitterly regret my choice. I live in a town with 4 adults who go shoeless indoors but have a similar problem to yours so it’s not the 5 year old, the countryside or the stove that’s causing it.

I am about to move into a house that has cream carpets throughout and I am dreading it. I have a toddler! We can't afford to change it for a while so I'm going to have to try and keep it clean somehow. Big cheapo rugs is my plan, and no food or drink outside the kitchen.

@Dotinthecity my gran had some thick plastic covers that kept her gold velour sofa looking beautiful. I think that is what's needed here...

@alanpartridgefromtheoasthouse be warned that you will wind up with rug shaped clean bits that mean you need to keep the rug in situ forever.
Unlike you I only have myself to blame for this! (Although really I blame my husband)

It has to be shoes off at the front door with no exceptions ever. I have an oatmeal carpet in the sitting room it does need replacing now but that’s because the actual texture has worn down after 22 years use.

There has been many a debate on MN about shoes off at the door, culturally it is the norm as my family are Chinese. I take my indoor sandals with me when I go to friends houses and change at the door.

We never wear shoes inside, our carpets are still like new, I'm guessing that's no coincidence!

I have a carpet cleaner. I use it every couple months. It does help.
I find black socks give nightmare transfer onto light carpets.

buy a vax carpet cleaner the initial outlay will pay for itself the basic one is just over £100 in argos great for spot cleaning and keeping the carpets fresh

Has anyone tried one of those lint scrapers?

I bought a rubber broom after people were raving about them. I expected miracles. Didn’t get them. I have a shark and the bissell so they work well.

I would buy a carpet washer and go over the main areas every couple of months. Renting one is not worth it.

I have 3 DC under 7 with cream carpets on the stairs, landing, bedrooms & snug.
Wood flooring in the kitchen and living area. No food or drink outside the kitchen & living area (adults can😂)
No shoes in the house
I Hoover every day.

Same here. Agree shoes off, food in dining room at table only and carpet cleaner every 3 months.

I have cream carpets, a 7, 5 and 2 year old and a dog. My carpets are clean .
Shoes off at the door. Food only at the table. Same with crafts/play doh etc. Bought a vax carpet shampooer and do the downstairs about once every 6-8 weeks (doesn’t take long).
I don’t have a wood burner though so can’t help with that.

We invested in a vax carpet washer. It's brilliant. and very satisfying emptying the dirty water

I have cream carpets and 2 under 6. In my defence I got the carpets when I was child free. Thinking of replacing them so what colour do we think doesn't look too dark/old fashioned/shit but will last longer from marks and stains?

Hmmm. Thank you for the advice everyone. We do leave shoes at the door... I think my family just have dirty feet! Plus we do carry mugs and glasses of wine through. I will look into buying a vax and keep saving for the day I can afford to replace it with wood!

I have Bissell Revolution, really good and like a pp it’s very satisfying emotions all the dirty water

We have four animals and both work filthy jobs and our carpets are spotless. No DC though.

The carpets are vacuumed at least once a day, sometimes twice.
I steam-clean them once a month or so.
No shoes inside the house, ever.
Dogs feet are wiped before he comes inside, the cats are indoors only.

Do your children eat in the carpeted rooms of the house? Where do they do things like messy play or using felt tips or paint and playdoh?

Can you use the carpet vax on sofas too?