Small children are a lot of fun. Between never knowing what they might say to their endless energy supply, children can bring a lot of enjoyment and love to your home. However, it wouldn't be fair to leave out the fact that children can also bring a lot of chaos to the idea of a clean home. This is especially true when it comes to your carpet. Whether it's tracking in mud or spilling juice on the carpet, when you have small children, preventing carpet stains is a constant struggle.

Choose Products Wisely

Whether you're buying juice for their sippy cup, a snack for snack-time or paint for arts and crafts, think about the stain potential of the product before you bring it into your home. Take paints for example. Look for paint options that are formulated for easy removal.

Child paints are thinner and easier to clean-up than traditional art paints. This lighter formula can usually be cleaned up by wetting the carpet stain with cold water and soaking it up with a paper towel. If the product is highly likely to stain your carpet, you might want to avoid it altogether.

Designate Areas

One of the best things you can do to prevent stains on your carpet is to designate areas. In a nutshell, don't allow your children to engage in stain causing practices on your carpet. Prevent your children from eating, painting or even wearing their shoes on the carpet.

Save these practices for areas of your home that don't stain as easily, such as hard floors. If you don't have any surfaces like this in your home, consider placing a rug over the area to help protect your carpet. It's much easier to replace a rug than it is to replace all the carpet in a room.

When Stains Come

Even with the most diligent effort, if you have small children, you will get a stain in your carpet. However, this isn't the end of the world. The faster you treat the stain, the less likely it is to cause permanent damage. When treating the stain remember to blot and never rub. This will keep the stain from penetrating deeper and destroying your carpet fibers. It's also helpful to have your carpets professionally cleaned at least twice a year. This will help remove stains and refresh your carpet.

A carpet cleaning professional such as Darling's Carpet & Floor Care cannot only come to your home and clean your carpet, but also provide you with valuable tips to keep your carpet safe in between cleanings.