However hard we try and keep carpets and upholstery clean, accidents will always happen - be it a carelessly wiped shoe, or an accidentally tipped drink, marks will always appear. In most cases, it is possible to remove the stain immediately using a good quality carpet or upholstery cleaning product. However, in some cases the mark can be more resilient. In cases like this, you may want to call in a professional to make the carpet or furniture look great once again.

Alternatively, you may just want to rejuvenate a carpet or item of upholstery, which has become dirtied over time. This may be as part of a regular 'deep clean' around your house, or you may just feel it needs doing - either way, you will no doubt be delighted with the result.

If you have a carpet requiring cleaning, and you call in a professional to clean it for you, they will either use a cleaning chemical, or a more modern method such as the carbonated cleaning method. This creates millions of tiny bubbles that are forced into the upholstery, and that lift any soiling to the surface, where it can easily be removed. This process does not damage the carpets, and after two hours drying time, they should be ready to walk upon once again.

A similar process may be used for upholstery, and can be complete within 4-6 hours from start to finish - perfect in an emergency situation! Most processes can work on both natural and man-made fibres; and due to the small amounts of water used, the chance for mould and mildew to take hold on the furniture is reduced.

In many cases, insurance companies may pay for carpet cleaning - such as if a window has broken and rain has soaked in, or if your carpet has attained fire or smoke damage. Certain stains may also qualify for insurance removal, although it is likely to depend on the circumstances. In the case of a small stain, it is probably not worth the cost of going through insurance to have the carpet cleaned, as you may end up paying more money in the long term, be it through an increased excess, or an increased renewal premium.

Commercially, carpets should also be cleaned regularly - not only do dirty, soiled carpets reflect badly on the company, they can also in some cases be a health hazard if attention is not paid to them. Commercially, companies involved in properties and hotels should regularly clean their carpets and upholstery - in the case of hotels on a scheduled basis determined based on how quickly the carpets and furniture need cleaning. For companies renting out property, they may wish to clean the carpets and furniture on a scheduled basis, or instead on an 'end of tenancy' basis, so that any additional requirements for cleaning are funded by the occupant.

Many carpet and upholstery cleaners also offer more specialised services, such as mattress cleaning, after-builders cleaning and spring cleaning. Some can offer a 'one stop' cleaning solution, with the ability to clean windows and hard floors as well, along with other most other cleaning services you may require. These companies can be particularly useful when selling or attempting to rent out a home, as it will allow you to present it in the best light possible.

If you do not wish to go to the expense of hiring a professional to clean your carpets, you can always do it yourself. In the case of a spillage or accident, you should blot up the spill as soon as possible, using absorbent kitchen roll or towels. There are then several ways to clean the resultant stain:

• Sprinkle club soda onto the stain, and let it foam, and then allow it to set for a few seconds. Sponge the soda up thoroughly.
• If the stain is old, try mixing detergent (two tablespoons), vinegar (three tablespoons) and warm water (just over a litre). Work this into the stain, and blot dry.
• Or you can use shaving cream - simply spray it onto the carpet, allow it to foam, and rinse with a wet cloth.

After using any of these methods, you will need allow them to dry. Do this by placing a towel on top of the affected area, and then placing a heavy book on top to weight the towel. Once the towel is damp, replace it with a dry one.

Before using any of the above solutions, you should ideally do a spot test in a discreet area of the carpet, to ensure that no damage or discolouration will occur to your carpet once the stain is removed.

You can also shampoo the carpet yourself. In most cases, an aerosol foam spray will be adequate for a grubby carpet, though for a very stained carpet a hot water cleaner (which may be hired) would be better. In either case, always spot-test on a hidden piece of carpet before cleaning.

A hot water machine is used in a similar way to a vacuum cleaner - hot water and carpet shampoo are mixed inside, and it is then sprayed on the carpet by the machine. All you have to do is to move the head of the cleaner around the carpet. Some machines of this type may have a 'suction' feature, which allows you to remove excess water and shampoo once you have gone over the carpet. Otherwise you will have to wait a few hours for the carpet to dry properly.