Carpet Grooming Tools

• Exercising on a clean carpeted floor is more comfortable than on a hard surface floor. Jordan Siemens/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  Many homes and businesses use carpeting as a floor covering. A clean carpet lasts longer than a dirty one. Carpet grooming tools keep the carpet clean and prolong its life by removing dirt and fluffing up the nap. Besides keeping the carpet looking good, a clean carpet is important for sanitation reasons.

Vacuum Cleaners

• Vacuum cleaners suck up the hair, dirt and dust in a carpet. When dust and debris sit on carpets, people walking on the carpet grind in the dirt, which ultimately wears out the fibers. Pet owners find that dumping bagless vacuum cleaners after each use helps the vacuum pick up more dirt and hair. People with allergies can use vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters to cut down on the pollen and dust.

  Indoor-outdoor vacuum cleaners are useful if the carpet is wet from flooding or a broken pipe. The attachments for indoor-outdoor cleaners often lack beater bars that help whisk up dirt. They don't make good vacuum cleaners for continuous or exclusive use on carpeting.

Carpet Rakes

• Carpet rakes have tines on them that pull up the nap on carpets to keep the materials from matting in hallways, on stairs or areas with lots of foot traffic. The rakes, made from plastic or synthetic materials, are pulled in the opposite direction of the matting on carpets. Carpets made with loops or Berber carpets cannot be raked. Doing so might snag the loops, damaging the carpet.

Carpet Shampooers

• Carpet shampooers can be large and elaborate appliances or small, battery-operated appliances designed for minor spills. Carpeting needs to be cleaned with chemicals, steam or water from time to time to keep it looking good and clean for sanitation reasons.

  People can use professional carpet shampooers, rent the equipment at retail stores or buy a carpet cleaner to maintain the carpet and prolong its life. Carpet stain removers can be used before cleaning a carpet with a machine or by spot cleaning to remove stains in specific areas.

Carpet Sweepers

• Sweepers can be powered or manually operated for quick clean-up jobs on carpeting. These sweepers have bristles that sweep up pet hair, dirt, food spills or debris and deposit the waste in containers. The containers have doors that open so dirt can be removed.