Cream carpet and sofa... Help!

[IneedAwittierNickname]

Hello. I'm a self confessed slattern. House work is not my thing!
However I am trying to change.

I have a cream carpet and sofa, despite using a throw on the sofa, both are filthy. The carpet has marks all over it from where things have been spilt.
I bought a carpet hand shampoo which I've been using, it's made a bit of difference but tbh there are too many marks and this method will take me forever!
Any tried and tested methods?
Carpet shampooer.? Professionals? Or resign myself to it never looking nice?

Professionals and ask about getting stain protection too. They can get things far cleaner than you can, especially if you don't have a carpet cleaning machine of any sort.

What about loose covers for the sofa in a more forgiving colour?

Thanks. I can't really afford to buy covers for the sofa, although I've just replaced the throws with some bigger ones. :)

If you have loose covers on your sofa, dye them. I've done this several times with mine. If you have to use throws, two might be better. Use one for the seats and tuck it right under and the other for the back and arms. This way you have more or less made your own loose covers.