Whether using the wrong cleaning product or cleaning too often, here are some carpet cleaning mistakes to avoid.

Liquid spills sink into carpet quickly, so if you don't act fast, the liquid can seep into the padding and even through to the floor, causing mold and damage. Make sure to act quickly to clean up liquid spills.

There are many types of cleaning products you can use for carpet cleaning, but you must read the directions thoroughly. Avoid products that have soap, shampoos, and detergents in them, as they may be too harsh and can do more damage than the spot you are trying to remove.

If you care about your carpet, before cleaning the carpet it's always advised to pre-test a spot in an inconspicuous location to make sure it won't damage the carpet.

All powders do not clean; they just help with smells in the carpet. Most vacuum cleaners are not strong enough to vacuum out the powder, so it stays behind and attracts dirt, ultimately making the smell worse.

It's important to keep your carpet looking good, but you do not clean your carpet every week. Doing so can damage the yarn in the carpet, and you might be applying chemicals that are too harsh or that work their way into the carpet, attaching themselves and attracting even more dirt than before. Vacuuming, however, can (and should) be done as needed.

A professional carpet cleaning company can do a thorough job of cleaning, sanitizing, and protecting carpets better than you can on your own, and often more safely if the company uses organic products.