If you're concerned about your family's health, you probably spend plenty of time preparing healthy meals and getting your exercise. But, staying healthy is not just about food and activity. It's also important to spend time in a healthy environment. A carpet that is not maintained properly can harbor infectious bacteria and irritating allergens, which are certainly not good for your health. Follow these carpet maintenance tips for a healthier home – and a healthier family!

Remember to vacuum around the baseboards.

As you walk through a room, you create a tiny little breeze, and it pushes debris towards the edge of the room – and specifically into that little crease between your carpet and the baseboard. Even if you vacuum regularly, you're leaving a whole lot of dirt behind if you skip the area along the baseboard. So, take the time to put the wand attachment on your vacuum and carefully attack this area. You can even wipe the baseboards themselves with a damp cloth if they seem to be dusty after your vacuuming session.

Have your carpet professionally cleaned.

Home carpet shampooers might be good in a bind, and they will get your carpet cleaner than if you were to do nothing at all. However, they just don't get the water as warm as the professional equipment that carpet cleaning companies use. They also don't have powerful enough suction to remove the dirt and debris from deep within the carpet fibers. Having your carpet professionally cleaned at least once a year will ensure that as many allergens and pathogens are removed as possible. You can often find discount coupons for local carpet cleaning companies in your local paper, and many companies offer deals if you have multiple rooms done at once.

Tackle spills immediately.

When you spill something on the carpet, even if it is just water, it is important to dry it up as soon as possible. If you let liquid linger in the carpet, it not only attracts allergens, but it also perpetuates mold growth in the carpeting. Start by placing a towel on the spill and pressing down as hard as you can to soak up the liquid. Don't rub – this will just spread the spill outward. Once you've soaked up as much liquid as possible with the towel, then you can use a spray-on cleaner of your choice to remove any staining left behind.

If you clean up spills promptly, make sure you get the edges when you vacuum, and have your carpet cleaned professionally, your home will be a healthier place. If it's been a while since you last had your carpet cleaned, the best place to start is contacting a local carpet cleaning service.